Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
During today's safari, our guide heard on the radio about a lion that was trapped by buffalo. He quickly drove us to the reported location and we found a female lion standing on top of a termite mound surrounded by a herd of buffalo.
Our guide explained that, unlike many other animals, buffalo will help defend members of their herd if they are attacked. He surmised that this female likely tried to attack a weaker buffalo or at least posed a threat to them in some way. In response, the more dominant buffalo likely chased the lioness and she retreated to the top of the termite mound for safety.
The lioness had already been on the mound for many minutes before we arrived and remained there, shifting her weight, for quite a long time. After about more 20 minutes, the buffalo seemed to lose interest and the lioness made her escape through a zone where there were no buffalo.
The lioness retreated a short distance through the savanna and came to rest in the brush where she was shielded from the herd. After a few minutes, we then saw a male lion emerge from a wooded area and walk toward the area where the lioness was resting. Initially, the male lion did not see the female and began calling for her. Apparently, they were a pair and got separated earlier, probably due to the buffalo predicament.
The male lion came within about 10 yards of the female as he continued to call to her. It was a bit humorous that she clearly knew where he was located was but did not respond to his call. Finally, the male spotted the female when she made some small movements. He approached her and laid down next to her.
As he scooted closer to her, she wasn’t having any of his advancements evident by a few swats and bites she took at him. She was probably thinking, “Where were you when I needed you on the termite mound?” The male then walked a few feet away and laid down for an isolated rest. The female continued her rest as we departed.
This experience was part of The Great Southern African Safari organized by G Adventures working in partnership with National Geographic Expeditions.
You can read about the technical aspects of this trip in the 'Tech on Travel - The Africa Edition' blog post by Allison Sheridan at
podfeet.com/blog/2024/09/tech-on-travel-africa
During today's safari, our guide heard on the radio about a lion that was trapped by buffalo. He quickly drove us to the reported location and we found a female lion standing on top of a termite mound surrounded by a herd of buffalo.
Our guide explained that, unlike many other animals, buffalo will help defend members of their herd if they are attacked. He surmised that this female likely tried to attack a weaker buffalo or at least posed a threat to them in some way. In response, the more dominant buffalo likely chased the lioness and she retreated to the top of the termite mound for safety.
The lioness had already been on the mound for many minutes before we arrived and remained there, shifting her weight, for quite a long time. After about more 20 minutes, the buffalo seemed to lose interest and the lioness made her escape through a zone where there were no buffalo.
The lioness retreated a short distance through the savanna and came to rest in the brush where she was shielded from the herd. After a few minutes, we then saw a male lion emerge from a wooded area and walk toward the area where the lioness was resting. Initially, the male lion did not see the female and began calling for her. Apparently, they were a pair and got separated earlier, probably due to the buffalo predicament.
The male lion came within about 10 yards of the female as he continued to call to her. It was a bit humorous that she clearly knew where he was located was but did not respond to his call. Finally, the male spotted the female when she made some small movements. He approached her and laid down next to her.
As he scooted closer to her, she wasn’t having any of his advancements evident by a few swats and bites she took at him. She was probably thinking, “Where were you when I needed you on the termite mound?” The male then walked a few feet away and laid down for an isolated rest. The female continued her rest as we departed.
This experience was part of The Great Southern African Safari organized by G Adventures working in partnership with National Geographic Expeditions.
You can read about the technical aspects of this trip in the 'Tech on Travel - The Africa Edition' blog post by Allison Sheridan at
podfeet.com/blog/2024/09/tech-on-travel-africa
