We’re still on a high from our sighting of Rain the cheetah and her cubs when we turn from Nare Link into Sefara Drive in the Pilanesberg National Park, following the road uphill. Before we even crest the rise we become aware of the sound of thundering hooves moving at speed…
“Buffaloes!”
The Park’s buffaloes are so seldomly seen that they’re known as the “ghosts of the Pilanesberg”, and any encounter with them is a thrilling treat. Even more so these particular buffaloes, as they are in quite a rush to get away as quickly as possible, allowing only a few photos as they run past us, thankfully without smashing into our vehicle. Was it us who scared them?
As the buffaloes stampede down into the valley, we get back our composure and drive on. We don’t get very far however before Joubert yells out, again, “Lions!” Could it really be our third lion sighting of the morning!?
Indeed, there obscured behind some twigs and branches, are a pride of 5 lions wrestling with a buffalo cow on the ground! Now the stampeding herd of buffaloes we saw half-a-minute ago makes perfect sense!
As the bellowing of the cow dies down, no longer to be heard above the sound of raindrops on the car’s roof, and her feverish kicking stops, it’s clear that the fight is all over. In the excitement it takes a while for me to figure out that if I drive past the scene we’d have a much clearer view of it looking back. Just as the feeding starts one of the younger lionesses gets up and walks off, presumably to collect the pride’s cubs to join the feast. While we wait almost an hour for her to return, she doesn’t, so the cubs must’ve been quite some distance away. In the meantime the sights and sounds of the lions tearing the buffalo cow open and apart is as bone-chilling as you can imagine.
And to think we’re only half-way through our day in the Pilanesberg!
If you’d like to follow along as we explore the Pilanesberg, a map may come in handy (for a large format version click here)
Scene where we saw the buffaloes and lions on Sefara Drive
If you need to catch up on our drive through the Pilanesberg National Park, you can read all the previous posts here.
To be continued tomorrow.
DeWetsWild 
Well you don’t get much more dramatic than that. What an amazing if rather chilling sighting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scenes like this really brings home just how powerful these big cats are, and how little we humans would be able to do to protect ourselves against them if we couldn’t resort to our destructive technology.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You not only saw a lot of lions, you saw them in situations many tourist will never see. Wonderful shots of lions doing what lions do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We were very fortunate indeed, Siobhan, and what a privilege!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow what an experience and some great footage
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cal. Yes, not something we’d soon forget.
LikeLike
Not so good for the buffalo, but what an amazing sighting! Just imagine me at the computer shaking my head in amazement. Thanks so much for sharing all of this.
janet
LikeLike
It really was amazing, Janet. And we’re grateful both for having the opportunity to visit places like these and the means of sharing it with appreciative people like you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m certainly glad you can as well. I don’t remember how I originally found your blog but I’m happy I did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, Janet. I think many of our connections were made through WordPress’ Weekly Photo Challenge?
LikeLike
Did you follow Orna or Tom from Italy?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The names don’t sound familiar
LikeLike
Doesn’t matter. I found you. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
The feeling is mutual!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, julle is omtrent gelukkig! En dit als in een dag!
LikeLike
My God, I know it’s nature’s way, but that is chilling….
LikeLike
My mond hang oop, de Wet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ons kon ook naderhand nie meer ons geluk glo nie, Una
LikeLike
De Wet, gaan lees my laaste post, asb. Het ek die regte ding gedoen deur hom aan te pass??? Wat is jou mening?
LikeLiked by 1 person
As jou hart rustig is dat sy nuwe blyplek vir hom beter is as by julle het jy beslis die regte ding gedoen, Una.
LikeLike
Vanoggend voel ek sommer baie beter, dis lekker om te weet hy is nou tussen maatjies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ek is bly om dit te hoor!
LikeLike
Think of the babies, Dries. What a drive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will take lots and lots of visits to our game reserves and national parks to top this particular day, Tracy, but we are looking forward to trying!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person