Chongo

Chongo is the dominant male of the Saba Bora, the coalition of seven brothers that took over the Namiri Plains of Tanzania’s eastern Serengeti in 2023. He is by far the biggest and most developed of the seven, with a black mane, a scarred nose and, since 2024, only one working eye. Guides first nicknamed him BK, short for Bob Junior Killer. When fans objected that the name was unkind to the memory of Bob Junior, the guide Tariq Said Sarico, who follows the coalition, renamed him Scarnose, or Chongo, Swahili for one who sees with only one eye.

The Saba Bora, Swahili for “the best seven”, are seven brothers who swept onto the Namiri Plains of the eastern Serengeti in early 2023 and ended the seven-year reign of Bob Junior and Marley. On 11 March 2023 three of them killed Bob Junior. They took over the Semetu Pride, Bob Junior’s own pride, and in early 2024 the Punda Kopjes pride. Two younger brothers joined them for a time in 2024, and later that year three of the seven split away as the Wasafi Boys.

Chongo’s injury came when he was cornered by a herd of buffalo; he escaped, but the wounds cost him the sight of one eye. He remained the coalition’s leading male, usually in the company of his brother Kiduku, and in 2024 was seen with a lioness and young cubs. He is still alive.