The Return of the Othawa Pride: A Honeymoon Safari in Sabi Sands

Editor’s Note: This article contains a firsthand account of a remarkable lion conservation story in Sabi Sands, The Return of the Othawa Pride. Since the writer's visit, the oldest Ximhungwe lioness has sadly passed away due to hyena-related injuries, a reminder of the fragile balance in the wild.

One of the dominant males of the region, seen here resting near his pride — a key figure in the fragile revival of the Othawa and Ximhungwe bloodlines.

“The South African savannah is a special place — beyond the spectacular wildlife sightings and unique scenery lie stories of resilience and endurance.”

A Honeymoon Safari in Sabi Sands: The Return of the Othawa Pride

During her South African honeymoon, Australian journalist Anna Rawlings visited the legendary Sabi Sands Game Reserve, a land of iconic wildlife and powerful predator stories.

Safari tradition: cold beer, golden hour, and the hum of the bush. Honeymoon bliss for Anna & Nick in the heart of Sabi Sands.

What began as a romantic getaway soon became something far more meaningful: a rare glimpse into the rebirth of the Othawa and Ximhungwe prides, two lion lineages on the brink of extinction.

Meeting the Lion Queens of Sabi Sands

On day two of our safari honeymoon, we encountered three lionesses dozing in the brush. Our guide Tim identified them as a mother with her sub-adult daughters. He hinted at a fourth female nearby — one hiding newborn cubs in a den by the river.

One of the Ximhungwe lionesses — part of a rare alliance between two unrelated females, united not by blood but by survival.

This was the Ximhungwe pride, but a unique formation of it: two mothers from separate bloodlines who had formed an alliance in their nomadic days. Not sisters, but survivors. Their union was a beautiful example of instinctive cooperation for survival, rather than competition.

We left the lionesses to their slumber with the promise we might see them again, awake and active, closer to twilight. That promise stayed with us for the rest of the day.

“The little females are the next generation of the Othawa Pride, their existence a testament to their mother’s resilience, the pride is back from the brink.”

Elephants, Encounters, and Awe in the Bush

We left the lionesses and stumbled into another unforgettable scene. Soon after, we spent hours with a herd of elephants. Two boisterous teenagers tussled, their tusks clashing with a sound that set my teeth on edge. Then, the curtain of grey hides parted to reveal a calf — a tiny trunk waving curiously at us. I made eye contact with a boldly lashed amber eye, and the moment stretched. Then, the herd moved on, and I realized I hadn’t breathed.

Sabi Sands Leopard Cubs. Spotted ghosts in the golden grass — leopard cubs in Sabi Sands, playful and perfectly wild.

“Time slows down when I make eye contact with a boldly lashed and curious deep pool of amber.”

From Slumber to Sunset: Lion Behavior Unfolds

That evening, the Ximhungwe lionesses stirred. One sub-adult lioness sprawled in front of our vehicle as her sister walked past us, close enough to hear the sand shift beneath her paws. Their mother lay sphinx-like, bathed in golden light. I felt, rather than heard, the vibration of her call , a low, commanding sound that echoed deep inside.

The lions had passed — but their story remained pressed into the earth.

The Othawa Pride: A Legacy in Question

The next morning, we met the male lion who fathered the sub-adults. He was asleep in the rain, indifferent to the ticks on his ears or our silent reverence. Tim told us he was usually seen with his brother, part of a coalition. And that the fourth lioness we’d heard about had finally emerged the day before, lean from tending to cubs.

“Not sisters, but survivors.”

Our guide shared a revelation: the older lioness had given birth to two cubs, both male. A future coalition. She had hidden them away, but they were alive and well.

“I feel, rather than hear, the vibration of her call — a hollow yet commanding contralto that lingers into the night and deep into our memories.”

And then came the real joy. At Dulini River Lodge, our guide showed us photos he had taken himself: two tiny lion cubs, sisters, playfully gnawing on sticks and tumbling in the dry riverbed. The next generation of the once-struggling Othawa Pride. A bloodline that had nearly ended was now clawing its way back.

Lion Coalitions, Cubs, and the Circle of Survival

This moment felt monumental. The Othawa Pride had survived. The Ximhungwe coalition had adapted. Through loss and hardship, the lions of Sabi Sands found a way forward. We felt lucky to witness a piece of that.

A bloodline reborn. These Othawa cubs — daughters of a once-fractured pride — are living proof that the wild finds a way.

“Through natural instinct and a deep need to survive – they have produced offspring and, optimistically, will thrive.”

We were told one of the Ximhungwe lionesses was a breakaway from the Othawa pride. The history of these lions, the territorial disputes, the heartbreak of infanticide — it all made the cubs' existence more remarkable. These were not just animals. They were legacies.

Leopards, Chameleons, and Other Wild Surprises

Each game drive brought something new. Like, our tracker, paused the vehicle to show us hardworking dung beetles rolling their prize. He pointed to a chameleon, nearly invisible among the leaves. We trailed two sub-adult leopard cubs as they played, pounced, and preened. Their mother lay concealed in the bush nearby, stalking a meal.

First spotted on a termite mound. Later, bellies full from a fresh kill. These four moved as one — a family in the wild, just days from independence.

These moments blurred the line between observation and immersion. Even a lesson about tree tannins, passed on by Tim, captivated us. Trees, he explained, not only defend themselves chemically when grazed but send pheromonal warnings to neighboring trees. Everything in the bush is connected, reactive, alive.

Luxury in the Wilderness: Dulini Lodge Moments

Between drives, we relaxed in our private deck hot tub overlooking the river. One afternoon, a hippo emerged to graze while we soaked. That evening, elephants materialized out of the greenery as if conjured. Dulini’s vehicles carried hidden coolers with gin and tonics and kudu biltong, served as we watched the sky fade from pink to indigo.

Where the wild whispers beyond your window. The luxury of Dulini River Lodge begins with stillness, space, and soul.

“It’s a 360-degree experience, and our heads are on a swivel as the vehicle churns through river crossings, mounts sandy banks and cruises the tracks.”

Our open-sided vehicle became our second home. We opted not to use the pop-up roof once, preferring ponchos in the rain to limit our view. The experience was 360 degrees. Every turn, every pause, held a surprise.

Stars, Stillness, and Lasting Impressions

One night, Tim radioed the lodge to say we’d be late. He cut the engine in a clearing, and we tipped our heads back. The stars spilled out across the sky. Then, in the stillness, we heard the soft, deliberate footsteps of elephants passing around us, brushing against the vehicle like silent shadows.

A cheetah’s body is built for bursts — but the hunt begins in stillness. Here, she stalks a wildebeest herd, every muscle calculating the moment.

“Even a lesson about tree tannins is enthralling.”

We learned that most animals see game vehicles as neutral. To a lion, we were no threat. Not prey. Not predator. Just a strange rock that moved and smelled of oil. This allowed us to come close — close enough to count the spots on a leopard, or see the ripple in a lioness's shoulder.

🧡 African Safari Mag Readers on Honeymoon at Dulini River Lodge. Anna and Nick soak in the magic of Sabi Sands — luxury, wildlife, and once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Conclusion: Nature Finds a Way

The South African savannah is more than a destination. It's a living, breathing storybook of resilience and rebirth. From the fragile rise of the Othawa cubs to the bond of unrelated lionesses, we left Sabi Sands filled with awe and hope — and a vow to return.

About the Author

Anna Rawlings is an Australian journalist and wildlife enthusiast based in Brisbane. By day, she reports for Channel Nine, and by passion, she follows the stories of the natural world — especially those that unfold in Africa's wild places. Her recent honeymoon safari through Sabi Sands, South Africa, inspired this piece, blending her storytelling instincts with a lifelong love for animals and conservation.When she’s not behind a camera or microphone, you’ll likely find her in nature, notebook in hand.

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