Presumed dead

Dark Mane

Also known as Dark-maned Majingilane · The Last of the Majingilane

c. 2004 – 2018

Born in Orpen area, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Dark Mane was the leader of the Majingilane, the coalition of male lions that ruled the Sabi Sand Game Reserve beside Kruger National Park from 2010 to 2018. Named by guides for his heavy dark mane, he was the first-ranked male of the four, and with his brother Scar Nose formed the core of the coalition: if two Majingilane were seen together, it was almost always these two.

The Majingilane were born around 2004–2005, most likely in the Orpen area of Kruger National Park, and arrived in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in early to mid-2010 as a coalition of five. On 8 June 2010 the Mapogo males Mr. T and Kinky Tail caught and killed the youngest of them, and that same night the remaining four hunted down Kinky Tail and killed him. When all five Mapogos came for revenge in July, the four withdrew into Kruger, then returned. Over the next eight years they ruled almost half of the Sabi Sand, dominating the Tsalala, Breakaway Tsalala, Fourways, Styx and Sparta prides and later following the Mhangeni lionesses west.

After Hip Scar died in 2017 and Golden Mane in early 2018, Dark Mane and Scar Nose finally split up, both thin and ageing. In April 2018 Dark Mane was reported badly emaciated, unable to hunt for himself, and was last seen in the deep south of the reserve. Within weeks of Scar Nose he was gone, at about 13 or 14. His body was never found; fittingly, the most dominant of the four was the last to go. In the east the Birmingham males and in the west the Matimba males took over their land.

~8Years of reign

~13Age when last seen

5Prides at their peak

4Males in his coalition

Profile

Identity

Name: Dark ManeThe name he is best known by
Nicknames: Dark-maned Majingilane
Origin of the name: Named by Sabi Sand guides for his most obvious feature
Sex: Male
Distinguishing features: A heavy, dark mane; the leader of the coalition
Weight: Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg

Birth & Family

Born: c. 2004 – 2005
Birthplace: Orpen area, Kruger National Park, South AfricaNot confirmed; some accounts say the Manyeleti area next to Kruger
Birth pride: Information not availableNot known; reportedly a pride with a reputation for hunting buffalo
Father: Information not available
Mother: Information not available
Siblings: Dark Mane, Scar Nose, Hip Scar, Golden Mane and a fifth male (brothers or close relatives)

Reign

Pride king: Yes, the first-ranked and most dominant Majingilane
Prides ruled: Tsalala, Breakaway Tsalala, Fourways, Styx and Sparta prides; later the Mhangeni prideDominant over five prides at once at their peak
Pride size: Information not available
Reign: About 7–8 years (2010 – 2017/2018)
Ruled with: His Majingilane brothers
Coalition: The Majingilane
Home range: Central and eastern Sabi Sand Game Reserve, including Londolozi, South Africa
Territory size: Information not availableAt their peak the coalition ruled almost half of the Sabi Sand

Death

Died: c. April 2018Last reported in the deep south of the Sabi Sand, badly emaciated; his body was never found
Age at death: About 13–14 years
Cause of death: Probably old age and starvationNot confirmed, since no body was found
Place of death: Information not availableNot known; he was last seen in the deep south of the Sabi Sand
Burial: Information not availableHis body was never found

Names & Meanings

Dark ManeName

Named by Sabi Sand guides for his dark mane. Also written Darkmane or Black Mane.

Dark-maned MajingilaneFull name

The form used by Londolozi rangers.

MajingilaneCoalition name

Coined for watchmen who patrol the night, marching with intent and never changing course.

Family & Lineage

Not knownParentsTheir parents were never identified; they arrived from Kruger as young adults.

Dark-maned MajingilaneDark Manec. 2004 – 2018

Brother · second-rankedScar NoseDark Mane’s constant companion. Died in early 2018, the third to go.View record →Brother · third-rankedGolden ManeAlso called the Missing Canine male. Died in early 2018 after a buffalo injury.View record →BrotherHip ScarThe limping, gentle one at the back. The first of the four to die, in February 2017.View record →

BrotherThe fifth MajingilaneThe youngest of the five. Killed by the Mapogo males Mr. T and Kinky Tail on 8 June 2010.

OffspringCubs of the coalitionFathered with the Majingilane brothers across five prides; in a coalition, which male fathered which cub is not known. The Tsalala pride alone had 11 cubs by them, of which 3 survived to 2012.

Life Story

c. 2004 – 2005
Born, most likely in a pride near the Orpen area of Kruger National Park; some accounts say the Manyeleti area, in a pride known for hunting buffalo.
Early – mid 2010
Arrived in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve from Kruger as one of five young males.
May 2010
The coalition was seen for the first time on Londolozi.
8 June 2010
The Mapogo males Mr. T and Kinky Tail killed the youngest Majingilane. That night the remaining four, including this male, tracked down Kinky Tail and killed him.
July 2010
When the five remaining Mapogos marched east for revenge, the Majingilane withdrew into Kruger, then returned once the Mapogos had gone.
2010 – 2012
Took control of most of Londolozi and the central Sabi Sand, and became dominant over five prides: Tsalala, Breakaway Tsalala, Fourways, Styx and Sparta.
October 2012
The coalition caught an intruding young male on their southern boundary and mauled him until a bull elephant charged and he escaped.
2011 – 2016
Ruled with his brothers, most often in the company of Scar Nose. Once fought Hip Scar to settle who would mate first with two Sparta lionesses, establishing the hierarchy for good.
February 2017
Hip Scar, the first of the four, died.
Early 2018
Golden Mane died after a buffalo injury, leaving only Dark Mane and Scar Nose.
Early April 2018
Reported on Sabi Sabi badly emaciated, then found in the deep south of the reserve.
c. April 2018
Disappeared, a few weeks after Scar Nose died. The last of the Majingilane.

Legend & Truth

The last to go

Londolozi’s rangers ranked Dark Mane first and Scar Nose second in the coalition, and the two outlived the others. Some fans believe Scar Nose was the leader; most accounts give the top place to Dark Mane.