For some months now rumours have been floating around about the presence of lion cubs in the Majete Wildlife Reserve. We can now reveal that there are actually two clubs! This is fantastic news for the reserve - which has only in recent years become a big five destination - and fantastic news for Malawi!

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - November 7th, 2013 - For some months now rumours have been floating around about the presence of lion cubs in the Majete Wildlife Reserve. Whilst they have been spotted, no announcement could be made until photographic proof had been obtained. We can now reveal that there are actually two clubs! This is fantastic news for the reserve - which has only in recent years become a big five destination - and fantastic news for Malawi!

The cub was spotted by a guide at Robin Pope Safaris’ Mkulumadzi Lodge whilst out on a game drive. In his own words, this was his experience!

"Last Monday having braved the weather, which promised a storm, we headed out for an afternoon drive, eager to do some birding. We went out of camp heading west and after only a few kilometres we stopped to put on ponchos and put cameras away as we were starting to feel rain drops. But having prepared for the rain and unwilling to give up we continued our drive. Going further west we saw a couple of bird species and a sun squirrel before reaching "Njati" road.

The rain had by this point disappeared and we were sitting near a junction watching a lazy cisticola, which was sitting on a branch nearby whilst we tried to figure out what was in its beak, when we suddenly heard the lions start calling. We quickly turned ourselves around and headed down the road in the direction of the calls, we hadn't gone far when we heard them calling again. We stopped to see if we could pick them out through the bushes and grass, and instead saw two very nervous looking waterbuck. We drove a little further and this time when they called they were closer. Pulling off on the side of the road, we sat waiting and watching in the direction from which we had heard them. We came to the conclusion that they must have made a kill to be calling as much as they were.

As our discussions continued our patience was rewarded when a head appeared some distance away! It was one of the males, he stood and watched us for a minute and then walked over into the shade and collapsed; then a smaller head appeared, then another! TWO CUBS! I could barely contain my excitement and then proud mother "Shire" appeared, the lions stayed some distance away on the ridge, the cubs playing with each other and annoying their mother and "Sapitwa" (the male lion) too!

After a few minutes we saw the fresh carcass of a young male waterbuck lying in the grass, it was between the lions and us, so we backed off and gave them the space that they needed to feel comfortable to start feeding. It seemed that they had made the kill and then having secured dinner went to collect the cubs, cool down and catch their breath, before coming back to feed.

Once we'd backed off, the cubs and "Shire" made their way over to the carcass pretty quickly and while Mum tried in vain to have a bite to eat the cubs climbed all over her and her meal until she gave up and let the cubs have their fun first. Just before we left, the cubs having satisfied their curiosity, climbed off their dinner and Shire was able to tuck in; at that point we left so that they could all continue undisturbed. We managed to get some photographic evidence, finally, and are completely ecstatic to report that there are indeed two cubs.”

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