Cape of Storms and Sharifa - Thank you!
We booked into Urikaruus and were warned about the 3 lions in camp. We met up with rjm who invited us into his unit for a better look at the lions, who were camped out right outside.
Many thanks rjm!

You are a real star!

Belly-up again!

During the afternoon, the lions moved over to the other side of the riverbed.



We decided to go out for a late afternoon drive and headed south in search of the famous Urikaruus leopard trio. Well, no leopards, but we did discover the hyena den and hyenas heading for camp.

We did a quick U turn and headed back to camp to hopefully see some action. All the events that transpired from here made this evening very exciting. Apologies, no pix or video, the action was far too fast for cameras at night, so you will have to bare with my written recap of events.
We arrived in camp, just before gate closing, to see 4 hyenas sauntering towards the waterhole. The lions were still fast asleep at this stage. When the hyenas got to about 100 metres from the waterhole, the lions sprang up(seemed like they had received an electric shock) and galloped towards the hyenas.

Believe me, fat male lions can move VERY fast! The hyenas retreated a little, but then turned around and we had a faceoff of hyenas versus the 2 lions - standing about 20 metres apart, then the hyenas started to laugh. Goosebumpy stuff!
The hyenas eventually backed away and the lions settled down where they were - as if on guard duty.(about 100 metres on the south side of unit one) A little while later, 2 lionesses arrived at the waterhole from the north. 2 lions quickly got up and met them, but immediately a fight between the 2 males broke out with lots of snarling, growls and roars. It was difficult for us to keep track of where the lions were as the fight was fast and furious, and in the dark. Finally, the spot picked up lions skulking off in a northerly direction, while the victorious lion and his lioness lay down in the riverbed.
Then the eland herds started to arrive. After a while I decided to hit the pillow.

Mark stayed up and lo and behold - the lioness then started stalking an eland. She got very close before the eland noticed her and took off. She tried a second time but had no luck. Things then seemed to settle down and we both managed to get some shut-eye. What a night!!!