Cheetahs return to Eswatini after more than 35 years

Four cheetahs have been reintroduced to Eswatini, marking the return of the species to the Kingdom after an absence of more than 35 years. For travellers interested in wildlife, the reintroduction adds another potentially exciting species to Eswatini’s safari offering.

Two females and two males are now living in Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve, where conservationists hope they will establish a breeding population.

Cheetahs return to Eswatini

The four cheetahs are currently the only cheetahs in Eswatini. The females arrived from Nyosi Wildlife Reserve in South Africa in late 2025, while two males from Dinokeng Game Reserve were added in April 2026.

The animals have been monitored closely since their release. The females have already adapted well to their new surroundings, hunting successfully and establishing territories. The males are ranging through the northern and eastern parts of Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve.

Importantly, tracking data shows the males and females now occupying neighbouring areas. This raises hopes that the cheetahs could eventually breed, although there is no guarantee that cubs will be born.

If breeding is successful, the new population could become part of the wider southern African cheetah metapopulation, helping to strengthen the species beyond Eswatini.

Why Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve was chosen

Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve covers around 13,000 hectares and supports a healthy range of prey species, including impala, nyala, kudu, wildebeest, warthog and reedbuck.

The reserve also offers an important advantage for cheetahs: there are no lions and relatively few leopards and hyenas. These larger predators can compete with cheetahs and pose a particular threat to cubs.

The four animals are fitted with tracking collars and are monitored daily, allowing conservationists to follow their movements and respond to potential problems.

What the cheetah return means for travellers

For visitors, the reintroduction gives Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve and the wider Lubombo region another attraction for wildlife enthusiasts.

Seeing a cheetah in the wild is already a highlight of a southern African safari, and the possibility of encountering one in Eswatini adds a new dimension to the country's wildlife experiences. However, travellers should not expect guaranteed sightings. With only four animals in a large reserve, finding them will depend on their movements and the effectiveness of ongoing monitoring.

The more significant tourism benefit may therefore be longer term. If the population breeds successfully and expands to other protected areas, cheetahs could become an increasingly important part of Eswatini's safari offering.

For now, the return of four cheetahs represents an important conservation milestone — and another reason for wildlife-focused travellers to keep an eye on Eswatini.

A first step towards a breeding population

The immediate priority is to establish a viable breeding population. The males and females are already using neighbouring areas, but conservationists caution that successful breeding and raising cubs cannot be taken for granted.

If the project succeeds, however, Eswatini could once again have a self-sustaining cheetah population after more than three decades without the species.

For travellers, that makes this a development worth watching: Eswatini's cheetahs are back, and the next important sighting could be the first cubs born in the Kingdom in decades.

 

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Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Lion Survey Underway: What visitors need to know

South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) are carrying out a new lion survey in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, with fieldwork continuing until October 2026.

If you are visiting the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the coming weeks, you may notice research vehicles operating in the park alongside the usual SANParks vehicles. The survey is aimed at building a better picture of the park's lion population — including how many lions there are, where they occur and how they move through the Kgalagadi landscape.

Tracking Kgalagadi's lions

The survey is being conducted by SANParks in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and will cover different sections of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Researchers are using vehicle-based surveys and camera traps to collect information. One particularly useful method involves photographing the whisker spot patterns of individual lions.

Every lion has a unique arrangement of whisker spots around its muzzle. By photographing and comparing these patterns, researchers can identify individual lions and gradually build a more accurate picture of the population.

The resulting data will help SANParks and its partners better understand the size, distribution and movements of lions in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

What does this mean for visitors?

For most visitors, the survey should have little impact on a Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park safari. You may, however, come across SANParks or EWT research vehicles displaying official branding, particularly when researchers are working near lions.

Researchers may occasionally stop close to lions to photograph their whisker patterns. If you encounter a research vehicle or a lion being studied, the same basic safari rules apply:

• Keep a respectful distance from lions and other wildlife.
• Do not crowd animals or research vehicles.
• Give researchers enough space to carry out their work.
• Follow instructions from SANParks staff and research teams.
• Never compromise the safety of yourself, other visitors, researchers or wildlife to get a better photograph.

For visitors, it is essentially another reminder that the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a working conservation area as well as a spectacular wildlife destination.

Why the survey matters

Reliable information about lion numbers and movements is important for the long-term management of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Lions are a key predator in the park's ecosystem, and understanding how the population changes over time helps conservation managers make better-informed decisions.

The current survey runs until October 2026, with the information collected contributing to the ongoing conservation and management of lions in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

For visitors, there is also a small bonus: if you come across one of the research teams, you may get to see some of the science behind the wildlife sightings that make a Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park trip so special.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park visitors should therefore give research teams and wildlife the space they need — and enjoy watching the researchers at work from a safe and respectful distance.

 

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Kruger National Park: Matekenyane Lookout Point temporarily closed due to lioness with cubs! [update #2]

update (06 October 2025): SANParks has informed on 03 October 2025 that the Mathekanyane Lookout Point in Kruger National Park has been temporarily closed again, due to a lioness with small cubs spotted by rangers while on patrol.  

update (26 September 2025): SANParks just announced that the Mathekanyane Lookout Point in Kruger National Park is open again. Rangers were at the lookout point until 18:00 on Wednesday, 25 September 2025 when the lioness moved with her cubs. She has been seen moving again this morning towards the Mathekanyane Lookout Point. Visitors are advised to be extra vigilant around the area. If the lioness is spotted settling on the lookout point again, Mathekanyane Lookout Point will be closed until she moves with her cub. 

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the temporary closure of the Matekenyane Lookout Point in the southern region of Kruger National Park. The popular viewpoint has been closed to visitors after rangers confirmed the presence of a lioness with cubs in the immediate area.
The decision was made to ensure the safety of both park visitors and the animals, as lionesses with cubs are highly protective and can become aggressive if disturbed. SANParks rangers will continue to monitor the situation closely and will reopen the area once it is considered safe. Updates will be provided as the situation develops.

About Matekenyane Lookout Point
Matekenyane Lookout Point is one of Kruger National Park's most scenic spots, offering panoramic views of the surrounding bushveld. Located in the southern part of the park between connecting Skukuza Rest Camp and Tshokwane Picnic Site,, it is a popular stop for visitors who want to stretch their legs, enjoy a picnic, and take in the breathtaking landscape. The lookout often provides excellent opportunities for spotting wildlife from a safe distance, making it a must-visit stop when open.

 

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Mountain Zebra National Park introduces two lions from Addo Elephant National Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced a significant development at Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP), situated just outside Nxuba (formerly Cradock) in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. On 11 July 2025, two male lions from the nearby Addo Elephant National Park, named Niklaas and Witwarm, were relocated to the National Park as part of SANParks’ ongoing predator management programme.

The lions were initially placed in the Mountain Zebra National Park's bomas to acclimatise to their new environment before being released into the park itself on 29 July 2025. This strategic relocation is part of SANParks’ broader conservation strategy to mimic natural ecological processes, maintain genetic diversity, and ensure balanced predator-prey dynamics in protected areas.

The move comes after the passing of Mountain Zebra National Park's legendary resident male lion, Nomad, who had lived far beyond the average lifespan for wild males. Nomad was humanely euthanised to prevent potential injury or death from confrontations with the newly introduced coalition—an unavoidable risk in the park’s open ecosystem.

By introducing Niklaas and Witwarm, SANParks aims to replicate natural dispersal patterns found in unfenced, free-roaming environments. This approach not only safeguards the long-term health of the lion population but also prevents overpopulation and inbreeding, in line with SANParks’ predator management policy.

Mountain Zebra National Park is currently home to four lionesses, and park management is optimistic that the new males will soon contribute to the next generation of lions. Visitors may have the rare opportunity to witness these magnificent predators as they establish their territory in their new home.

While the loss of Nomad marks the end of an era for regular visitors, the arrival of Niklaas and Witwarm ensures a vibrant and sustainable future for lions in Mountain Zebra National Park.

Also read:  Two male lions relocated to Addo Elephant National Park to strengthen genetic diversity! >>

 

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South Africa: New lion research project launched in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks), in collaboration with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), has launched an exciting new lion research project in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a premier wildlife destination spanning South Africa and Botswana. The initiative aims to gather essential scientific data on the park’s lion population—determining how many lions live here, where they roam, and how they navigate this vast arid landscape.

Lions are apex predators that play a critical role in maintaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem. To manage and conserve them effectively, SANParks needs accurate, up-to-date information on their numbers, movement patterns, and territories. Over the coming months, field teams will use safe, non-invasive research methods - such as remote cameras, track identification, visitor sightings, and detailed photographic records - to build a comprehensive understanding of the park’s lion dynamics.

Visitors to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park may notice clearly marked SANParks or EWT research vehicles. Researchers may occasionally approach lions briefly to capture identification photographs, focusing on distinctive features such as whisker spot patterns, scars, and other unique markings.

SANParks kindly requests all guests to give research teams plenty of space and to drive respectfully without crowding lions. By doing so, visitors actively contribute to the success of this conservation effort.

Guests with questions about the project are encouraged to speak to SANParks staff at reception. Researchers may also be available for informal, safe conversations in designated public areas, offering visitors a unique opportunity to learn more about lion conservation firsthand.

This collaboration between SANParks and the EWT marks a significant step forward in protecting one of Africa’s most iconic and endangered predators- and offers every park visitor the chance to be part of that story.

 

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Two male lions relocated to Addo Elephant National Park to strengthen genetic diversity!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has successfully introduced two male lions into Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa's Eastern Cape. The pair, estimated to be around seven years old, were relocated from the Twee Rivieren section of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and released into their new environment on 10 July 2025, following a period of acclimatisation in a holding boma.
This relocation forms part of SANParks' ongoing efforts to enhance the genetic diversity of lions in Addo Elephant National Park. The two males join two lionesses that were translocated to the park in March 2025 from the !Khamab Kalahari Reserve, situated on the southeastern edge of the Kalahari. The introduction of these lions brings strong new bloodlines to the population, contributing to the long-term sustainability of the species within the park.
With these additions, Addo Elephant National Park now hosts a total of nine lions in its main game viewing area, and an additional three lions in the Nyathi section of the national park.
To assist in monitoring, both new male lions have been fitted with GPS collars. These devices allow rangers and researchers to closely observe their movements, preferred habitats, interactions with other lions and predators, as well as prey selection. The data gathered will support SANParks in managing lion numbers relative to the Addo Elephant National Park's carrying capacity and prey availability.

This translocation is part of a broader conservation strategy to mimic natural ecological processes, including the rotation of individual lions between national parks to promote healthy population dynamics and social structures.

In parallel, two older male lions, Niklaas and Witwarm, were relocated from Addo Elephant National Park to Mountain Zebra National Park near Cradock. The two are currently being held in a boma as they adapt to their new surroundings before release.

Eastern Cape: Two new lionesses released into Addo Elephant National Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the release of two newly introduced lionesses into the Main Camp/Colchester area of Addo Elephant National Park on 03 March 2025.
The two-and-a-half-year-old sisters were transferred from the !Khamab Kalahari Reserve, located on the southeastern edge of the Kalahari in the North West Province, in December 2024. After spending time acclimating in a boma within the park, they have now been set free.
These lionesses bring valuable genetic diversity to Addo Elephant National Park's lion population, contributing to a stronger and healthier gene pool. The park is currently home to five other lions in the game viewing area, with an additional three residing in the Nyathi section.
Both lionesses have been fitted with tracking collars, allowing rangers and researchers to monitor their movements, interactions with males and other predators, and hunting patterns. The data collected will help maintain a balanced lion population in relation to Addo Elephant National Park's size and prey availability. This initiative is part of a broader conservation strategy aimed at replicating natural processes that regulate lion social structures and population dynamics, including the exchange of individuals between parks to promote genetic diversity.

Eswatini: Cheetah spotted for the first time in over 30 years!

The Times of Swaziland, a daily newspaper in Eswatini (formerly called Swaziland), is reporting that a cheetah has been spotted in Eswatini for the first time in over 30 years. According to the newspaper, the aninmal was spotted by rangers at around 15:00 on 16 September 2023 during a game drive in the Mlawula Nature Reserve in the country's Lubombo Region. The Times of Swaziland is quoting the Director of Parks at the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), Thulani Methula, saying that cheetahs were thought to be a locally extinct species around the 1970s but said four more cheetahs were reintroduced between 1988 and 1990 at a place called Mapelepele at Mlawula (Nature Reserve). He further said that the last sighting of a cheetah in the Eswatini was in 1991. The ENTC has since installed cameras around the area the cheetah was spotted in the Mlawula Nature Reserve to find out if it is a single animal or a family of cheetahs that has moved into the area. We'll keep you posted!

Photo (taken in Kruger National Park) by Ron Ansell on Unsplash

The Mlawula Nature Reserve is located in the Lubombo Region in north-eastern Eswatini about 100km from Manzini. The Nature Reserve is covering an area of approximately 16,500 hectares and is adjacent to Mbuluzi Game Reserve, Simunye Nature Reserve, and Hlane Royal National Park. According to ENTC's website, the Mlawula Nature Reserve "offers rare opportunities for visitors to walk self-guided on the trails through the bushveld".

Mozambique: Big cats are back in Zinave National Park!

A female and a male leopard have been introduced into Zinave National Park in the Inhambane Province of Mozambique. The two predators were initially introduced into the 18 600 ha sanctuary established within the National Park, but, as big cats do, they soon ventured further, exploring the surrounding habitat within the greater 408 000 ha protected area. The leopards, which were sourced from Karangani Game Reserve in south-western Mozambique, are the founder animals of what will hopefully become a significant leopard population for the region. The two leopards are being closely monitored by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the staff of Zinave National Park as they settle into the National Park. Tracking data seems to indicate (December 2020) that they are doing well and have already begun to establish new territories.

The extensive rewilding efforts in Zinave National Park, which was ravaged during the Mozambique civil war that ended in 1992 and subsequent poaching, form part of a larger restoration and development programme that has been accelerated under a 20-year co-management agreement signed in 2015 between Mozambique's National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the Peace Parks Foundation. About 2 300 mammals from 14 species,  including 200 elephants in 2018 and a clan of four spotted hyenas in 2020 (they have already produced two cubs!), have been since been introduced into Zinave National Park, with wildlife numbers now flourishing to around 6 500 animals.

A nomad male lion has also been seen in Zinave National Park. According to the Peace Parks Foundation, a camera trap recently (December 2022) captured the first known image of a male lion in the National Park for several (four?) decades. The photographed lion is a young adult male estimated at between 4 to 5 years of age, which has probably settled in the Zinave National Park along with his female companion.

Mozambique: After 60 years, cheetahs return to Maputo Special Reserve!

Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) in cooperation with the Peace Parks Foundation and support from the Ashia Cheetah Conservation, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance has re-introduced four cheetahs to the Maputo Special Reserve in southern Mozambique, where the species was wiped out more than 60 years ago. The big cats are currently undergoing an acclimatisation period, before being released into the 104 200 ha reserve, completing this reintroduction of the world’s fastest land mammal. Two male cheetahs were flown in from the &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, whilst an adult female and her sub-adult female cub were flown from the Waterval Private Game Reserve near Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
The reintroduction of the cats into the Maputo Special Reserve is part of an ambitious goal to establish a healthy metapopulation (a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some level) that contributes to the conservation of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), a species which has been eliminated from 90% of its range in Africa, with an estimated population of only 6 600 individuals remaining.

The Maputo Special Reserve is located on Maputo Bay, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of the city of Maputo, Mozambique. In 2018, the Peace Parks Foundation signed a partnership agreement with Mozambique’s National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) to jointly develop the Maputo Special Reserve and the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve according to a strategic business plan, with the Peace Parks Foundation providing technical and financial support for conservation and tourism development activities.

Addo Elephant National Park: Lion relocated to Shamwari Private Game Reserve!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that one of Addo Elephant National Park’s most popular lions has been successfully relocated to the Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The lion known by some members of the public as Jack is four years old and has pure Kalahari genes. The move forms part of the Carnivore Management Plan of the Frontier Region (the administrative area of the Addo Elephant, Camdeboo, Karoo and Mountain Zebra National Parks). This plan aims to restore or mimic the natural social dynamics of lion behaviour that would be found in large conservation systems such as the two million hectare Kruger National Park or three million hectare Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Due to the continued severe drought experienced in Addo Elephant National Park over the past seven years, the lion population will remain small to assist in the recovery of the prey species and predator-prey dynamics in the national park. After Jack’s move, only five lions will remain in Addo's main game viewing area. The removal and reintroduction of male lions into and out of Addo Elephant National Park also plays an important role in preventing inbreeding within this population and therefore aids in maintaining the genetic integrity of its lion population.
Shamwari Private Game Reserve has two prides of lions in their reserve.  It is hoped that Jack will join up with what is known as the Shamwari northern pride.  
Shamwari Private Game Reserve is located 75 km outside Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in South Africa's Eastern Cape.

Zambia: Cheetahs have returned to the Bangweulu Wetlands after almost a century!

African Parks, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that manages 19 protected areas in 11 African countries, has announced that the Bangweulu Wetlands in Zambia has received a small founding group of cheetahs – the first of their species to return to this community-owned protected area in north-eastern Zambia in almost a century. The relocation of an initial three male cheetahs from South Africa took place in December 2020 resulting from a collaboration between Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), African Parks, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Ashia Cheetah Conservation and National Geographic.
The cheetahs were safely released into temporary enclosures especially designed to support their acclimation and will be fitted with tracking collars to enable their long-term monitoring. The founder population is genetically unrelated and was sourced from three reserves, namely Mountain Zebra National Park (Eastern Cape), Rogge Cloof (Northern Cape) and Welgevonden (Waterberg, Limpopo). According to African Parks, the Bangweulu Wetlands is of suitable size (6,570 km²) and habitat to support a viable cheetah population. Its connectivity to other protected areas provides the added potential of establishing a healthy metapopulation to promote the long-term persistence of the species in the region.

Bangweulu Landscape - Credit: African Parks/Steve Lorenz Fischer

The Bangweulu Wetlands is designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International and as a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance. Located in north-eastern Zambia, the community-owned protected area is one of Africa’s most important wetland systems containing a unique floral and faunal diversity. The Bangweulu Wetlands supports 50,000 people who rely on the landscape’s rich resources. Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), six Community Resource Boards (CRBs) and African Parks partnered in 2008 to manage this vital 6,645 km² aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem.

Cheetahs reintroduced in Malawi after a 20 year absence!

A small founder population of four cheetahs has been successfully relocated to Liwonde National Park in Malawi. The relocation of the cheetahs follows a 20-year absence of the species in the country. The four predators were translocated from four South African game reserves: the Phinda Game Reserve and Welgevonden Private Game Reserve each made a male cheetah available, while Mountain Zebra National Park and Amakhala Private Game Reserve each made a female cheetah available.

Liwonde National Park is located in southern Malawi, about 160km north of Blantyre. It is situated on the left bank of the Shire river between Lake Malombe and Liwonde. Although only about 580km² is size, the national park is perhaps the most popular of all the game parks in Malawi.

The translocation of the four cheetahs was led by African Parks, a conservation non-profit that manages national parks and protected areas on behalf of governments across the continent, in partnership with South Africa's Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Malawi's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

Escapee Sylvester a step closer to become the King of Addo!

update (24 Jan 2017): Sylvester, South Africa's most talked about lion, his coalition partner, the younger male he has been bonding with in the boma since May 2016 and in the 200 hectares enclosure since November 2016, as well as the two lionesses the two lions had been in the enclosure with, have been succesfully released into the Kuzuko contractual area (15000 hectares) in Addo Elephant National Park'.

South Africa's most famous lion was moved out of the holding boma in Addo Elephant National Park's Kuzuko contractual area into a larger 200ha enclosure. The lion, nicknamed "Sylvester", got relocated into the boma from Karoo National Park at the end of May 2016.
Sylvester and his coalition partner, the younger male he's been bonding with in the boma since May 2016, joined up with the two females on the enclosure. According to South African National Parks (SANParks) spokesperson Fayroush Ludick, the decision to let the two male lions out was based on Addo Elephant National Park management's opinion that the two had settled and bonded sufficiently in order to start a new coalition and lead Kuzuko's pride in future. Addo Elephant National Park's management will monitor the situation over the next days and weeks, paying particular attention to their social interaction, before making a decision about when to release the four lions into the entire 15 000 hectares of Kuzuko.
Sylvester gained popularity when he first escaped from Karoo National Park in June 2015, and managed to evade capture for over three weeks. He was then fitted with a combination satellite/VHF collar to find his location should he manage to get out again. This collar then alerted authorities on 28 March 2016 that the lion had once again left the park's boundary, and played a big role in tracking him and returning him back to the park much quicker – three days later on 31 March 2016.

South Africa: Sylvester, the lion, will be relocated to Addo Elephant National Park! (April 2016) >>

South Africa: Sylvester, the lion, will be relocated to Addo Elephant National Park!

update (30 May 2016): Sylvester was successfully relocated from Karoo National Park just outside Beaufort West to Addo Elephant National Park's Kuzuko contractual area about two hours outside Port Elizabeth.  He’ll be calling a boma within an existing 200ha enclosure (which houses two nearly two-year-old lionesses) home for the next few months. The hope is that over time, the three will bond and form their own pride, led by Sylvester.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that Sylvester, the lion which escaped from Karoo National Park at the end of March 2016, will be relocated to Addo Elephant National Park. The young lion (3 years) will be moved into a boma within an existing 200ha enclosure in the Kuzuko contractual section of Addo for him to become bonded with the two (2) young females who are currently in the enclosure. The lions will then be released into Addo Elephant National Park to be free-ranging. The fence between the Kuzuko contractual section and the neighbouring Darlington section of the park is due to be dropped soon which will then provide the three lions with 60 000ha over which to roam.

Zambia to lift ban on hunting leopards and lions!

Zambia is set to lift a 2013 ban on the hunting of wild lions and leopards in order to raise funds after it established that the population of the big cats in the country was higher than previously thought. According to Zambia's Minister of Tourism and Arts, Jean Kapata, leopard hunting resumes in the 2015/16 season (which begins in July 2015), while the lion huning will only resume in the 2016-17 hunting season.

Zambia in 2013 banned the hunting of lions and leopards, saying that the country is seeing more value in game viewing tourism than in trophy hunting and that big cat numbers in the country are too low to have a sustainable hunting industry.
According to a recent aerial survey done by the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, Zambia is currently home to an established number of 4,000 lions and to more than 8,000 leopards.

 Zambia bans hunting of lions and leopards >>

Marakele National Park welcomes two new lions

To diversify the gene pool for lions in Marakele National Park, South African National Parks (SANParks) has released to new lions into the park. The cats, which are both male, were trans-located from Pilanesberg Nature Reserve in the North West Province. They arrived in Marakele National Park in March 2014 and were kept in a boma to acclimatise to the new surroundings and strengthen the bond with one another.
In 2013 SANParks already introduced two male lions as well as four lion cups to Marakele. The translocation of the two new cats brings the total number in the Park to 23 lions.

Marakele National Park is located in the Waterberg Biosphere in South Africa's Limpopo Province and covers about 670 square kilometres. The Park's accommodation options include two camp sites, namely Tlopi Tented Camp and Bontle Camping Site, and the Motswere Guest Cottage, a farm-house turned guest cottage self-catering unit.

Mabula Private Game Reserve introduced first female cheetah

The Mabula Private Game Reserve in Limpopo has released a first female cheetah to the reserve in December 2013. This follows the successful release of two male cheetahs into the reserve in January 2012. The two brothers have been studied extensively in order to determine if they would adapt to their new home and to what extend they would impact their prey species. The results of the studies convinced the Mabula management to introduce a female to the property to join the two brothers.
The new female cheetah was born in the Southern Cape and came to the Mabula Private Game Reserve in November 2013 when she was 20 month old. She was placed in a boma in order for her to re-orientate herself to her new surroundings before she was introduced to the Mabula Private Game Reserve.

The Mabula Private Game Reserve is a private game reserve situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is about 12,000 hectares in area and is about 45 km from Bela Bela (Warmbaths). The reserve is home to the Big 5, the Small 5 as well as to further sixty species of mammals and about three hundred bird species.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park: Lions reintroduced after a 44-year absence!

A first family of four lions - an adult female and three sub-adult offspring (a male and two females) - were recently released to the uMkhuze section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu Natal after a 44-year absence. The four are the first of a total of eight planned for this section of the park. The lions were translocated from Tembe Elephant Park in northern KwaZulu Natal and had spent five weeks in a purpose-built boma to acclimatise them to their new environment before being released. Two more females and a coalition of two males (brothers) will follow to form the base of the new iSimangaliso lion population.

The addition of lions gives the iSimangaliso Wetland Park the Big 7 status because it is now home to the Big 5 (lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, rhino) as well as whales and sharks in the marine section.

Zambia bans hunting of lions and leopards | UPDATE: Zambia bans hunting of all wilflife

update (22 Aug 2014): Zambia has lifted a ban on hunting for species other than wild cats.The suspension of cat hunting remains in force until a survey to ascertain their numbers is complete.

update (11 Jan 2013): According to a report in the Zambia Daily Mail, Zambia's Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo extended the ban on hunting from lions and other big cats to all wildlife in Zambian game reserves and parks. The newspaper is quoting the minister saying: "This move is aimed at ensuring that we restock our fast-depleting game life and conduct a census of what we have and what we do not have".

Zambia's government has banned the hunting of lions and leopards. According to country's tourism minister, Sylvia Masebo, Zambia is seeing more value in game viewing tourism than in trophy hunting, which (only) brought in about $3m in 2012. The minister also pointed out that the population of big cats in Zambia is currently way to low to have a sustainable hunting industry. The country is home to approx. 4,500 lions and an unknown number of leopards.

Zambia's neighbor Botswana recently decided to ban all trophy hunting from 2014, while Kenya  halted hunting for sport already decades ago.