DeWetsWild conducted a two-week tour of the Kruger National Park with altogether nine people to see out 2025 and ring in 2026 and every day for the month of February I’ll be sharing just a few of the many memories our group collected.
As popular as lions are there’s one lion in the Kruger National Park that has attained legendary status, and that’s the white lion male that roams the Satara area. We were fortunate to see him twice during this tour, though but a shadow of the majestic beast he was when we encountered him on New Year’s Day 2022. Then he was one of a coalition of four strong males ruling the area and its pride of females; four years later two of his brothers has already died and they’ve lost control of their pride and territory.
At the first sighting of this trip, the white lion and his brother were in the presence of a much younger male, perhaps a son going by the affection between them. This boded well for the two old gents if the youngster was willing to share his kills with them, and judging by their well-fed bellies that certainly appeared to be the case.
The White Lion lying down while a younger male stands by his side.
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Just a few days later however we found the two older males alone and scavenging at a hyena den. Incredibly their condition deteriorated rapidly in that short time and the expression in the White Lion’s eyes appeared rather bleak and hopeless. It was a heartbreaking encounter. Life in the wild is not easy for lions.
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Satara’s legendary White Lion
Sadly, to the best of our knowledge, “Casper” as he is affectionately known, has not been seen since the flooding that hit the Kruger National Park in middle January. We can only hope that he met a dignified end in that vast wilderness he once ruled along with his brothers.
EDIT 18 February 2026: Good news received from the Kruger National Park that Casper was seen again near Satara on 17th of February.
If you’d like to join me on a guided tour of South Africa’s wild places, of even if you’d just like a bit of help putting your reservations together, don’t hesitate to reach out!
DeWetsWild 