Description
The Ngati males are the dominant males of a private reserve in the Hoedspruit region of the Greater Kruger National Park. Upon displacing the previous pride males and taking over the Southern Pride, they proceeded to mate with every female in the area. The success of these males has resulted in the pride exploding in numbers to the point of it fracturing into smaller splinter groups. On this evening, we followed the brothers for many kilometres as they patrolled their territory. They were reported the next morning over 20km away from where we had lost them. They control an immense amount of densely occupied territory, floating between various resident prides.
Seeing this warrior that evening, I couldn’t help but notice his sudden age and the toll that controlling so much territory has taken on him. I hope to see this great king again but fear his days of dominance are waning. He has secured an incredible legacy, sired tens of offspring in his lineage and successfully protected them into adulthood.
Newcomers beware and challenge at their peril however, this old boy is still a ferocious and battle hardened warrior, I doubt he’ll go gently into that good night.
