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On a recent trip to Satara we came across a coalition of 5 Male Lions patrolling the road just off the Sweni trail!

What a sighting it was especially when they opened their lungs & decided to let rip with that Roar

Was trully 1 of my greatest sightings of Lions ever (will try & upload the video)

For those of you who follow 50/50 might have seen the episode of Veldfocus where 4 Male lions attacked another coalition of 2 on the S100! Amazing stuff!!!

Has anybody else come across a big coalition of male lions?

please share....

5 is a huge coalition! You were most lucky to see that!

It gives great security to the coalition and the pride. Leaves very limited opportunity for mating though.

Gunner you were very lucky!
I've only seen the Orpen Gate coalition of 2, and some others down near Skukuza.

Last year December on the H4-1 at the N'watinwambu bridge area - 5 pride males were seen often .

Wow amazing to see that!

The most amount of males that i have ever seen in one place is two on the S25 towards Croc Bridge

Wow Gunner that must have been GREAT!!!

I have seen 4 huge males patrolling the s39 Timbavati Rd

Although I hav not seen them, apparantly there is a coalition of 7 in the Shimuwini area

I will be in the park for a month over December and January and will go and look for that coalition you found!!! What was the road that you saw them on?

Thanks!!

There is a coalition of male lions that number between 5 and 6 (they are not always together) that roam from KNP and the full length of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. They are known as the Mapogos and are notorious. To date they have killed 40% of the lion population in the Sabi Sands and an unknown number in KNP. They were originally called the Spartans but when their marauding personalities came about their name was changed to Mapogos after a security company who has a fearless reputation. Their modus operandi is to cover as much ground as possible and their range of territory appears vast. Once they encounter a pride they kill the males defending that pride, as many cubs as they can and even females who endeavour to protect their cubs. One of the Mapogos is known as Mr. T because of his mane. There is hardly a single pride of lions in SS Game reserve that has not felt the impact of the Mapogos in one way or another. They are magnificent specimens, very large and imposing and it remains to be seen whether any males will ever be able to withstand their massive influence. They are frequntly seen the length of the S36 and I believe are often around Muzandzeni Picnic site as well as Nhlanguleni picnic site! If anyone would like more information please feel free to contact me!

Wow that is really interesting. They sound like quite the vicious bunch Thanks for the info Penny

Have a look here

On 5 July 2008 we came accross what I believe is the same 5 Lions you are referring to - they were next to the Sweni river. These guys seems to be a mean bunch

My neighbour in Satara told me that they stormed 2 4x4's a couple of days earlier and crunched one tyre on each of the 2 4x4's - he saw the 2 tyres. I was ready to leave in a hurry had they got up

Here are 3 of the 5:

Wow really nice photo's

The people in the 4x4's must have invaded their space

I have no idea what happened before the attack.

okay thanks

@ Mlambane...it was approx 8km south of Satara just before the Sweni dirtroad (s126). Do the s126-s36-h7 loop..u might have some luck

@ Johan N...certainly looks like the Males i saw!
Scruffy & mean!

Penny interesting that you mention that the Mapogas lions were known as The Spartans before. The reason for that is that most were born out of the "Dudley" Pride on a farm of the same name owned by the Wilkens family and later after these were thrown out at puberty they joined with others and took up residence on a relations neighbouring farm "Sparta" now known as Londolozi where they joined with others to form the gang. Interesting that you say they have been seen near Muzanzene in Kruger...makes sense as it is not far by foot in lion terms. Luckily they have left the SE corner of Sabi Sands alone where the farm "Charleston" is and places like Kirkman's Camp. The famous area pride there the Charleston Pride has been left alone...probably because of "Big Black" the pride male..Hy skrik vir Niks that lion and also goes into Kruger to bully the males around Skukuza once in awhile I am told!

I wonder what would happen if the Mapogas were to meet the Coalition that Gunner and Johan and others mention East of Satara...my understanding those guys would be cleaned up by the Mapogas as all S100 type lions are moffies

What an interesting thread. It certainly highlights the fact that Lions can at times be their own worst enemy.

I have only ever seen 3 males Lions at a time, even that was quite a thrill.