Yes, for sure, hard to miss those along the H10, assuming they are there. That's not always the case.

The plains below the Nkumbe lookout can be chock-a-block with game, but on other occasions there is nary an animal to be seen. Rainfall definitely plays a role, as does the seasonal movement of wildebeeste and zebras up and down the eastern (basalt) side of the park between Croc Bridge (winter) and the Olifants River (summer). Yet another factor is the drought cycle, which causes dramatic fluctuations in the number of buffalo.

Yes they do, but . . . . it all depends!

Individual lion prides have different prey preferences, depending on availability, pride size and strength (= number of males), etc. etc.

In the southern Timbavati, an area with which I'm intimately familiar, the lion prides have a very strong predilection for buffalo, to the point where it is most unusual to see them feeding on anything else. And yes, they do follow buffalo herds, but it doesn't follow that they are constantly on their heels. For starters, they will stay put when they have a kill, for up to several days or maybe even a week. Even when they do follow a herd, they can easily do so by listening. Lions have an acute sense of hearing, they will know exactly where big buffalo herds are even when several kilometers away. Finally, when they do get close to a buffalo herd, they have every incentive to stay out of sight.

So . . . don't expect to see a pride of lions casually strolling right along with every buffalo herd you encounter.


Johan