Deceased

Ginger

Also known as Ginger Matimba · Hairy Belly’s Partner to the End

c. 2006/07 – August 2019

Born in Ngala Game Reserve, beside Kruger National Park, South Africa

Ginger was one of the six Matimba males and, after the coalition split, one half of the Southern Matimba with his brother Hairy Belly. He was named for the reddish colour of his mane. With Hairy Belly he fought some of the most famous lions of the Sabi Sand, including the Mapogos, the Majingilane and the Birmingham males.

The Matimba were six male lions from Ngala Game Reserve beside Kruger National Park in South Africa: five related males born around 2006–2007 in the Birmingham Pride, most likely sired by the three older Skybed males, and an older outsider, Ndhuna, whom the pride adopted. In 2010 they took over the Manyeleti Game Reserve, becoming the pride males of all its prides, and spread into Kruger, Ngala and the northern Sabi Sand. After Ndhuna disappeared in 2012, the five split into two groups: the Northern Matimba (Shaka, Slit Nose and White Face) and the Southern Matimba (Hairy Belly and Ginger).

In the south he and Hairy Belly ruled the Nkuhuma Pride and its breakaway, took the Torchwood Pride in 2013 and held the Styx Pride, until the five Birmingham males drove them out in late 2015. After years on the edges, the two old brothers returned in late 2017 and early 2018 to take the Othawa Pride in the western Sabi Sand. In 2019 Ginger developed a severe case of mange; he fought it for a while, but died in August 2019, at about 12 or 13, leaving Hairy Belly the last Matimba.

Member of the coalition The Matimba View the coalition
~12Age at death
6Males in his coalition
~9Years of reign
2Southern Matimba

Profile

Identity

Name
GingerThe name he is best known by
Nicknames
Ginger Matimba
Origin of the name
Named for his reddish mane
Sex
Male
Distinguishing features
A ginger-coloured mane
Weight
Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg

Birth & Family

Born
c. 2006 – 2007
Birthplace
Ngala Game Reserve, beside Kruger National Park, South Africa
Birth pride
Birmingham Pride
Father
Information not availableBelieved to be one of the three Skybed males; not confirmed
Mother
Information not availableA lioness of his birth pride; not identified
Siblings
Shaka, Slit Nose, White Face, Hairy Belly and Ginger; Ndhuna (adopted)

Reign

Pride king
Yes, a pride male of the Southern Matimba
Prides ruled
Nkuhuma, Torchwood, Styx and Othawa prides, among others
Pride size
Information not available
Reign
About 9 years (2010 – 2019)
Ruled with
His brothers; after 2013 Hairy Belly
Coalition
The Matimba
Home range
Manyeleti and the Sabi Sand, especially the south-east and later the western sector, South Africa
Territory size
Information not available

Death

Died
August 2019
Age at death
About 12–13 years
Cause of death
Disease: a severe mange infestation
Place of death
Western Sabi Sand, South AfricaNot recorded exactly
Burial
Information not available

Names & Meanings

GingerName

For the reddish colour of his mane. Not to be confused with Ginger of the Inselberg Males in Kenya.

MatimbaCoalition name

Usually translated as strength or power in Xitsonga (Shangaan). They are also called the Phelwane or Clarendon males.

Family & Lineage

Believed fathersSkybed malesThe three older Skybed males ruled Ngala when the Matimba were born and are believed to have sired them. Not confirmed.
Birmingham Pride lionessMotherNot individually identified.
Ginger MatimbaGingerc. 2006/07 – 2019
Adopted brother · the eldestNdhunaAn older male from another pride, adopted into the Birmingham Pride. Disappeared in 2012.View record →Brother · Northern MatimbaShakaThe Matimba with piercing eyes. Died c. 2015–2016.View record →Brother · Northern MatimbaSlit NoseKilled by the Avoca males in January 2017.View record →Brother · Northern MatimbaWhite FaceThe last Northern Matimba; died of old age in December 2017.View record →Brother · Southern MatimbaHairy BellyThe last of all six; died in early 2021 at about 15.View record →
OffspringCubs of the coalitionFathered with his brothers across the Manyeleti and Sabi Sand prides. In a coalition, which male fathered which cub is usually unknown.

Life Story

  1. c. 2006 – 2007

    Born in the Birmingham Pride of Ngala Game Reserve, beside Kruger National Park.

  2. 2010

    With his brothers took over the Manyeleti Game Reserve, becoming pride male of all its prides.

  3. 2010 – 2012

    The six expanded into Kruger around Orpen, into Ngala and into the northern Sabi Sand.

  4. 2012

    Ndhuna, the eldest, disappeared.

  5. Late 2012 – 2013

    The coalition split into the Northern Matimba (Shaka, Slit Nose, White Face) and the Southern Matimba (Hairy Belly, Ginger).

  6. 2013

    With Hairy Belly held the Nkuhuma Pride and took over the Torchwood Pride.

  7. July 2014

    Fought two young males of the Fourways coalition with Hairy Belly.

  8. Late 2015

    Driven out of the Styx Pride area by the five Birmingham males.

  9. 2016

    Fought the Majingilane for ground in the western Sabi Sand.

  10. Late 2017 – early 2018

    Took the Othawa Pride with Hairy Belly.

  11. 2019

    Developed a severe case of mange.

  12. August 2019

    Died of mange, leaving Hairy Belly the last Matimba.

Legend & Truth

Mange

Mange is caused by mites and usually strikes lions already weakened by age, injury or hunger. At about twelve, after years of fighting, Ginger could not recover.

Two lions called Ginger

This Ginger, of South Africa’s Matimba coalition, is not the Ginger of Kenya’s Inselberg Males.

Photographs

Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon

More photographs

Film

The film of Ginger Matimba’s life is coming soon

Animation

An animated story of Ginger Matimba’s life is coming soon

Documentaries & Features

ArticleAugust 2019

Matimba Male Lions

Big on Wild

A history of the six Matimba males, written in the week Ginger died.

View

Sources

Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.

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