Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand
Daniel Huertas
The rise and fall of the Mapogo coalition, filmed over many years in the Sabi Sand. Shown in the United States as the series Lions of Sabi Sands on Animal Planet.
Presumed dead
Makulu
Also known as Makhulu · The Outsider Who Led the Mapogos
c. 1998 – c. 2013
Born in an unrecorded place
Makulu was a male lion of South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve, beside Kruger National Park, and the oldest, largest and darkest-maned member of the Mapogo coalition, the six males who dominated the Sabi Sand from 2006 to 2012. His name, also spelled Makhulu, comes from the Zulu and Xhosa word for big, and it is also used for a respected elder. He was not born with the other five. In July 2000, about a month after the Sparta Pride lost a young male of around 20 months, an outside male of the same age attached himself to the pride. The West Street Males, who would normally have chased off or killed him, tolerated him, and many guides believe this was because he was the son of one of them by a lioness of another pride, which would make him the Mapogos’ half-brother.
He grew up as the big brother of the five Sparta cubs, left the pride with them around 2005–2006 and became one of the boldest hunters of a coalition that specialised in buffalo. In 2006 the six took the northern Sabi Sand, and Makulu is usually described as their leader. In June 2007 he fought Mr. T and won, biting through one of his paws. The coalition split: Mr. T and Kinky Tail went east, while Makulu stayed in the west with Pretty Boy, Rasta and Dreadlocks. He is thought to have fathered most of the Mapogos’ first cubs.
In 2010 Kinky Tail was killed, Mr. T came back west, and Rasta and Dreadlocks were lost, leaving three. On 16 March 2012 the four young Selati males killed Mr. T, and Makulu and Pretty Boy, then about 14 and 11, fled east as nomads. Against expectations they survived the rest of the year and were still killing buffalo in late 2012. Pretty Boy reportedly died at the end of November 2012 with Makulu beside him. Makulu was last seen alone at MalaMala in January 2013, at about 15. His body was never found.
~6Years of reign
~15Age when last seen
8Prides ruled with the coalition
6Males in his coalition
Profile
Identity
- Name
- MakuluThe name he is best known by
- Nicknames
- Makhulu, Ngalalekha (reportedly), Makhulu Mapogo
- Origin of the name
- From the Zulu and Xhosa word for big, for his sizeWho first used the name has not been documented
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- The largest of the Mapogos, with a heavy black maneBigger and darker than the other five
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- c. 1998Some sources give 1997; no exact date exists because he was born outside the Sparta Pride
- Birthplace
- Information not availableNot known. One account says he came from the Kruger; some former rangers think he was a young male raised by the Tsalala Pride
- Birth pride
- Information not availableNot known. He joined the Sparta (Eyrefield) Pride in July 2000, at about 20 months old
- Father
- Information not availableBelieved by many guides to be one of the West Street Males, which would make him the Mapogos’ half-brother; not confirmed
- Mother
- Information not availableA lioness from outside the Sparta Pride; her identity has not been documented
- Siblings
- Mr. T, Kinky Tail, Pretty Boy, Rasta and Dreadlocks (believed half-brothers)Some sources say he was not related to them at all
Reign
- Pride king
- Yes, usually described as the leader of the Mapogo coalitionSome accounts say Mr. T led the coalition in its last years
- Prides ruled
- With the Mapogo coalition: Othawa, Ximhungwe, Styx and other Sabi Sand pridesThe coalition reportedly controlled up to eight prides at different times
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- About 6 years (2006 – 2012)
- Ruled with
- The Mapogo brothers; from 2007 mainly Pretty Boy, Rasta and Dreadlocks; from 2010 Mr. T and Pretty Boy
- Coalition
- The Mapogo Coalition
- Home range
- Sabi Sand Game Reserve: the northern Sabi Sand, then the western sector; as a nomad after March 2012, the east of the reserve and the edge of Kruger National Park
- Territory size
- Information not availableAbout 70,000 hectares is often given for the whole coalition at its peak; not verified
Death
- Died
- Information not availableLast seen in January 2013; reportedly thought to have died around March 2013
- Age at death
- About 15 yearsHis age when last seen; some sources say 16
- Cause of death
- Information not availableNot known; his body was never found. Old age, rival males or hunger are all possible
- Place of death
- Information not availableNot known. He was last seen at MalaMala, beside the Sabi Sand
- Burial
- Information not available
Names & Meanings
MakuluName
From the Zulu and Xhosa word for big or impressive, because he was larger and older than the other five. The word is also used for a respected elder. Who first gave him the name has not been documented.
MakhuluOther spelling
The spelling used by Londolozi and many guides. Both forms are correct.
NgalalekhaReported nickname
Reportedly used at Londolozi and said to mean Lion King. This comes from a fan page and has not been confirmed by the lodge.
Makhulu MapogoName used by fans
Fans often add the coalition name after each member’s name.
Family & Lineage
Believed father’s coalitionWest Street MalesFive males, also called the Sparta Males, who sired the other five Mapogos. Many guides believe one of them also fathered Makulu with a lioness from another pride. Not confirmed.
LionessMotherA lioness from outside the Sparta Pride whose identity has not been documented.
MakhuluMakuluc. 1998 – c. 2013
Believed half-brother & last partnerPretty BoyStayed with Makulu to the end. Reportedly died of tuberculosis in late November 2012, with Makulu beside him.View record →Believed half-brotherMr. TAlso called Satan. Lost a fight to Makulu in 2007 and was killed by the four Selati males on 16 March 2012.View record →Believed half-brotherKinky TailAlso called Shaka. Killed by the four Majingilane males on 8 June 2010.View record →Believed half-brotherRastaStayed in the west with Makulu after 2007. Disappeared in late July or early August 2010; believed killed by the Majingilane, though some suspect poachers.View record →Believed half-brotherDreadlocksStayed in the west with Makulu after 2007. Left the reserve in late 2010 and was killed by people outside it.View record →OffspringThe first Mapogo cubsAs the oldest male he is thought to have fathered most of the coalition’s early cubs. His cubs with the Othawa lionesses were reportedly killed by the other five during the split of June 2007.
DescendantsHis lineMapogo daughters lived on in prides such as the Othawa and Mhangeni, but which lions were his own offspring is not documented.
Life Story
- c. 1998
Born outside the Sparta Pride. His birth pride and parents are not known.
- May – June 2000
The Sparta Pride lost a young male of about 20 to 21 months.
- July 2000
A young outside male of about the same age, later named Makulu, joined the Sparta Pride. The lionesses did not readily accept him, but the West Street Males let him stay.
- 2000 – 2005
Grew up with the five Sparta cubs born in 2001–2002, acting as their big brother.
- c. 2005 – 2006
Left the pride with the five young males. As nomads the six became expert buffalo hunters and also took hippos, young rhinos and giraffes.
- 2006
The Mapogos took the northern Sabi Sand, killing one of the four resident males and driving off the rest, then killed the eleven cubs of the Othawa Pride.
- February 2007
The coalition killed and ate a male known as Rocky.
- June 2007
Fought Mr. T and won, biting through one of his paws. The coalition split; Makulu stayed in the west with Pretty Boy, Rasta and Dreadlocks. His cubs with the Othawa lionesses were reportedly killed by the other Mapogos at this time.
- December 2007
The Mapogos defeated the two Kahuma males and took the Styx Pride lionesses.
- Mid-2010
After Kinky Tail’s death, Mr. T returned west. Makulu and the others accepted him back, even though he killed cubs in their Ximhungwe Pride.
- Late 2010
Rasta and Dreadlocks were lost. Makulu, about 12, was now the oldest of three: Makulu, Pretty Boy and Mr. T.
- Early March 2012
The last three Mapogos clashed for the first time with the four young Selati males; Pretty Boy was injured.
- Early March 2012
Reportedly filmed courting a Ximhungwe lioness at about 13½, days before the Selati takeover.
- 16 March 2012
The Selati males killed Mr. T. Makulu and Pretty Boy fled east, towards the Dudley area.
- 2012
Fought two Kruger males, Freddy and Limper, for a new territory and lost, though Limper later died of his injuries. The pair were seen entering Kruger National Park.
- October – November 2012
Seen again on Londolozi, feeding on a buffalo they had killed and looking healthy.
- Late November 2012
Pretty Boy reportedly died of tuberculosis, with Makulu still beside him.
- January 2013
Last seen alone at MalaMala, at about 15, the last of the six Mapogos.
Legend & Truth
The outsider
Most young males who wander into another pride are chased away or killed by its males. Makulu was not only tolerated but grew up to lead the coalition, which is why many believe he shared a father with the other five.
How old was he?
Sources give his birth as 1997 or 1998, so his age when last seen is reported as 15 or 16. Either way he lived far longer than most wild male lions, especially for a fighter in a contested area like the Sabi Sand.
Who was the leader?
Makulu is usually called the leader, and he beat Mr. T in their 2007 fight. Some later accounts describe Mr. T as the leader after he returned in 2010. Lion coalitions do not have formal leaders, so both views can be found.
No known ending
Unlike Kinky Tail and Mr. T, whose deaths were filmed, Makulu simply disappeared. No body was found, so how and when he died is not known.
Photographs
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Film
The film of Makhulu’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of Makhulu’s life is coming soon
Documentaries & Features
Lions of Sabi Sands — The Six Gangsters
Animal Planet
The episode on the six Mapogos and their first territory.
Lions of Sabi Sands — The End of the Mapogos
Animal Planet
The arrival of the Selati males, the death of Mr. T and the flight of Makulu and Pretty Boy.
The Week in Pictures #60
Londolozi Blog
Photographs of Makulu and Pretty Boy back on Londolozi, feeding on a buffalo in their last months together.
Legend Lives On: Mapogo Lions over the Last Year
Sun Safaris — Chloe Cooper
The story of Makulu and Pretty Boy after Mr. T’s death, up to Makulu’s last sighting.
The Mapogo story
WildEarth
An early account of the six Mapogo males, including how Makulu joined the Sparta Pride.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Mapogo lion coalition
- Secret Africa — The Notorious Mapogo Lions
- Sun Safaris — Legend Lives On: Mapogo Lions
- Londolozi Blog — The Week in Pictures #60
- WildEarth — The Mapogo story
- WildFact forum — The Mighty Mapogos (Makhulu’s origins)
- WildFact forum — Mapogo Coalition (Makhulu’s age)
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.