Matimba Male Lions
Big on Wild
A history of the six Matimba males, written in the week Ginger died.
Disappeared, presumed dead
Ndhuna
Also known as The Adopted Matimba · The Eldest of the Six
c. 2001 – 2012
Born in an unrecorded place
Ndhuna was the sixth member of the Matimba coalition and the only one not born with the others. He came from another pride, the Iamula Pride, and was taken in by the Birmingham Pride of Ngala Game Reserve, where the five Matimba brothers were born. He was several years older than them, and when the coalition formed he was its senior male; his name echoes induna, the word for a chief or headman in the Nguni languages.
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).
Ndhuna went missing in 2012, during the height of the Matimba’s rule over Manyeleti. It was never confirmed whether he died of old age or in a fight with rival males. His disappearance is usually given as the moment the coalition began to break apart: within a year the five brothers had split into northern and southern groups.
6Males in his coalition
1Outsider among them
2010Took Manyeleti
2012Disappeared
Profile
Identity
- Name
- NdhunaThe name he is best known by
- Nicknames
- Nduna
- Origin of the name
- Information not availableNot documented; it resembles induna, a chief or headman
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- Information not available
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- Information not availableNot recorded; he was several years older than the other five, perhaps born around 2001
- Birthplace
- Information not availableNot recorded
- Birth pride
- Iamula PrideLater adopted by the Birmingham Pride of Ngala
- Father
- Information not available
- Mother
- Information not availableA lioness of his birth pride; not identified
- Siblings
- Adopted brother of Shaka, Slit Nose, White Face, Hairy Belly and GingerNot related by blood
Reign
- Pride king
- Yes, the senior male of the Matimba coalition
- Prides ruled
- With the Matimba: the Manyeleti prides
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- About 2 years (2010 – 2012)
- Ruled with
- The five Matimba brothers
- Coalition
- The Matimba
- Home range
- Manyeleti Game Reserve and Ngala, beside Kruger National Park, South Africa
- Territory size
- Information not available
Death
- Died
- Information not availableDisappeared in 2012; never found
- Age at death
- Information not availableSeveral years older than his brothers; age not recorded
- Cause of death
- Information not availableNot known: old age or rival males
- Place of death
- Information not available
- Burial
- Information not available
Names & Meanings
NdhunaName
Also spelled Nduna. Echoes induna, a chief or headman in the Nguni languages; who named him is not documented.
MatimbaCoalition name
Usually translated as strength or power in Xitsonga (Shangaan). They are also called the Phelwane or Clarendon males.
Family & Lineage
Iamula PrideParentsHe was born into the Iamula Pride; his parents have not been identified.
The adopted MatimbaNdhuna? – 2012
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 →Brother · Southern MatimbaGingerHairy Belly’s partner to the end; died of mange in August 2019.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
- Before 2006
Born in the Iamula Pride, several years before the other five Matimba.
- c. 2006 – 2007
Adopted by the Birmingham Pride of Ngala, where the five Matimba brothers were born.
- 2010
With the five younger males took over the Manyeleti Game Reserve.
- 2010 – 2012
The six ruled Manyeleti and spread into Kruger, Ngala and the northern Sabi Sand.
- 2012
Disappeared. Whether he died of old age or in a fight was never confirmed.
- Late 2012 – 2013
The five brothers split into northern and southern groups.
Legend & Truth
An adopted brother
Like Makulu of the Mapogos, Ndhuna was an outsider tolerated and raised by another pride. Older and unrelated, he still became part of one of Kruger’s strongest coalitions.
Photographs
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Film
The film of The Adopted Matimba’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of The Adopted Matimba’s life is coming soon
Documentaries & Features
Sources
- Big on Wild — Matimba male lions
- Africa Geographic — The lion coalitions of the Greater Kruger
- WildFact forum — A compiled history of the Matimba coalition
- WildFact forum — Matimba’s male lineage
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.