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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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.

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.

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.

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 >>

Kevin Richardson: Lions - The new endangered species? (video)

A team from GoPro's production crew recently visited Kevin Richardson, also known as the "lion whisperer", to explore the danger and beauty of his passions for lions and their future. Kevin's "Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary" is located just an hour north east of Johannesburg and half an hour from Pretoria in the Welgedacht Private Game Reserve, which forms part of the Dinokeng Game Reserve. Since 01 Nov 2013 Kevin's Wildlife Sanctuary is open to the public. Tours include a welcome refreshment, sanctuary tour and a guided game drive with a Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) guide in the greater area of the Big Five Reserve, as well as a boma braai lunch at the end of the tour. For more information please visit Kevin's website! Kudos GoPro!