It was just after 4 pm yesterday when I came across Nabo and Nashipai, the 2 main lionesses from the Koitogor Pride, in the middle of suffocating an adult male impala, in Samburu National Reserve. Nabo held onto her prey’s throat with her jaws whilst Nashipai started eating.
Two lionesses from Samburu, Nabo and Nashipai, kill an impala
Nashipai only ate for a few minutes, stood up and walked off towards the Ewaso Nyiro River. She went for a quick drink at a nearby waterhole and then disappeared from sight. Nabo continued to eat but constantly looked in the direction that Nashipai had disappeared to.
Nashipai leaves to get the cubs
Nabo continues to feed on the impala
About 15 minutes later, I turned around and saw a beautiful scene. Nashipai had gone to get the 5 cubs (2 cubs are Nashipai’s and 3 are Nabo’s). They were all walking in the middle of the river heading our way. They came close and suddenly the cubs saw Nabo eating the impala. They ran towards her and pounced on top of the impala.
Cubs feast on the impala
All 5 cubs ate and ate together with Nabo whilst Nashipai sat nearby waiting and licking the blood off herself. They fought over small pieces of meat and played tug-of-war with the bones and legs.
I watched them finish every single piece of the impala for more than 2 hours. Loirish one of the males eventually showed up. He let them eat for a while before heading to the kill and getting a small share. Nashipai eventually stood up and picked at some remaining scraps.
Loirish, the resident male in Samburu, watches and waits at a distance
Loirish joins the rest of the pride on the impala kill
Kills are hard to see in Samburu because of the thick bush and the lions here are often hunting at night. It has been a long time since I have seen a kill. The lions are doing really well these days. Most of the other animals are struggling in this drought, but the lions just lay in wait along the river and ambush whatever comes down to drink at the waterhole.
This was a great scene and fantastic to watch the 5 cubs of Samburu tear away at an impala together with Nabo and Loirish. Nashipai, my favourite lioness, was amazing. She didn’t each much, left the kill to go and fetch the cubs and even upon return, allowed the cubs to eat. It was a very special few hours…