Matimba Male Lions
Big on Wild
A history of the six Matimba males, written in the week Ginger died.
Deceased
Shaka
Also known as The Matimba with Piercing Eyes · The First of the Northern Matimba to Fall
c. 2006/07 – c. 2016
Born in Ngala Game Reserve, beside Kruger National Park, South Africa
Shaka was one of the six Matimba males and, after the coalition split, one of the three Northern Matimba with Slit Nose and White Face. Guides also called him the Matimba with piercing eyes, or blue eyes, for his strikingly pale stare. His name recalls the Zulu king Shaka.
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).
The Northern Matimba stayed dominant over Ngala, northern Manyeleti and the Orpen area of Kruger. Shaka was the first of the three to die. Accounts differ on when and how: one lodge report says he was killed by the Avoca males around late 2015, while others give June 2016 and blame either the Skybed males or poachers.
6Males in his coalition
3Northern Matimba
~6Years of reign
1stNorthern Matimba to die
Profile
Identity
- Name
- ShakaThe name he is best known by
- Nicknames
- The Matimba with piercing eyes, or blue eyes
- Origin of the name
- Recalls the Zulu king Shaka
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- Strikingly pale, piercing eyes
- 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 Northern Matimba
- Prides ruled
- With the Matimba: the Manyeleti prides; later prides of Ngala and northern Manyeleti
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- About 6 years (2010 – c. 2016)
- Ruled with
- His brothers; after 2013 Slit Nose and White Face
- Coalition
- The Matimba
- Home range
- Ngala, northern Manyeleti and the Orpen area of Kruger National Park, South Africa
- Territory size
- Information not available
Death
- Died
- c. 2015 – 2016Late 2015 or June 2016, depending on the source
- Age at death
- About 9–10 years
- Cause of death
- KilledReportedly by the Avoca males; other accounts name the Skybed males or poachers
- Place of death
- Ngala or Manyeleti area, South AfricaNot recorded exactly
- Burial
- Information not available
Names & Meanings
ShakaName
Recalls Shaka, the 19th-century Zulu king. Who named him is not documented.
Matimba with piercing eyesNickname
Also “blue eyes”, for his pale, striking eyes.
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.
Piercing eyesShakac. 2006/07 – c. 2016
Adopted brother · the eldestNdhunaAn older male from another pride, adopted into the Birmingham Pride. Disappeared in 2012.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
- c. 2006 – 2007
Born in the Birmingham Pride of Ngala Game Reserve, beside Kruger National Park.
- 2010
With his brothers took over the Manyeleti Game Reserve, becoming pride male of all its prides.
- 2010 – 2012
The six expanded into Kruger around Orpen, into Ngala and into the northern Sabi Sand.
- 2012
Ndhuna, the eldest, disappeared.
- Late 2012 – 2013
The coalition split into the Northern Matimba (Shaka, Slit Nose, White Face) and the Southern Matimba (Hairy Belly, Ginger).
- 2013 – 2015
Ruled Ngala, northern Manyeleti and the Orpen area with Slit Nose and White Face.
- c. late 2015 – June 2016
Killed, reportedly by the Avoca males; some accounts say the Skybed males or poachers.
Legend & Truth
When and how?
A lodge report attributes his death to the Avoca males in late 2015; fan histories give June 2016 and suggest the Skybeds or poachers. No body was publicly reported.
Photographs
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Film
The film of The Matimba with Piercing Eyes’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of The Matimba with Piercing Eyes’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.