So it’s been five years. Five years around this time the Majingilane shocked the world by killing two of the six mighty Mapogos – Kinky Tail and Rasta. And a few months later Dreadlocks falls at the hands of a fucking poacher. Five years and I’m still wondering what could have been.
The Mapogo was six lion-strong coalition. You’d think it was next to impossible to topple them out of at least one of their broad territories. But greed (or just their nature) got the better of the two youngest and arguably the two most famous. Makhulu might have something to say about that but we can’t deny the duo who split gained massive followers of their own when they stayed east and left the other four in the west midyear of 2009.
Mr. T is my personal favorite. The thug with the mohawk. The most mobile of all six. In their early days they were frequently caught in cam resting and we used to see Rasta, Dreadlocks, Kinky Tail and Pretty Boy almost always lying and being lazy and shit. Dreads was even caught once too tired to stand up to pee. Makhulu at that time was the family guy who always stayed with the lionesses. He barely joins the other five. But T was always moving, he was always on patrol. There was something about him the great Khimbini Hlongwane has noticed long before fanboys like me started to get hooked. That fateful day, March 16, 2012 almost two years after his closest brother Kinky Tail fell to the Majingi’s, was one of the worst days of my life and I’m not even exaggerating. I was dreading for that day I’ve long known was bound to happen. Pretty Boy was still badly injured from the first fight with the Selati, Makhulu too old at that time to involve himself. Mr. T had to face those four younger Selatis alone. He knew he couldn’t win that fight but he had to stay behind to buy his older brothers some time.
I understand what happened to Dreadlocks was inevitable. Rangers were aware he made it a habit to go over the northern border to hunt for food by himself. Hence he was called the Buffalo killer (that dude you saw in Caught in the Act fighting 20+ hyenas in a wallow for a buffalo carcass he just killed alone is Dreadlocks). That border wherein poaching is legal. But for the other casualties? What if Kinky Tail and Mr. T never split? Or if it was bound to happen what if T didn’t persuade the other four to get back at the Majingi’s? Or if they were keen on avenging KT, what if all five remaining joined the Battle of the Elephant Plains? Not just the twins Rasta and Pretty Boy?
Too many what if’s. I have nothing against Majingilanes and Selatis, I believe all lions are magnificent but I grew to love the Mapogos. I was used to seeing a maximum of two dominant males in a pride. And they only control pride. The Mapogos didn’t. They killed all resident males in Sabi Sands and owned all prides in the area. They totally changed lion dynamics as I understand it. Their victims Rockie, Blondie, the fifth Majingilane and all those others who were not lucky enough to receive nicknames from the guides were beautiful too but I’ll always have bias towards this coalition.
They ruled the west for six years starting in 2006, the east for four and they were held responsible for at least 110 lions in that stretch. They were a force to be reckoned with.
It will take time before I ship another coalition. I thought Solo and Cleo were the next but the latter died too soon.
Big Mak, Dreads, Rasta, PB, T and KT I will always adore these guys. Up until now I’m still trying to figure out which is worse, Kinky Tail, Rasta and Mr. T’s death that was caught on video (Rasta’s only audio) or Dreadlocks, Pretty Boy and Makhulu’s which remain unknown and will stay as such.
But one thing remains certain, the reign of terror, the roars and the legend you left in the plains of the Sabi Sands will forever remain. I hope to get there someday. At least you all don’t have to fight anymore. Sleep well.
