S8/Imbali Male

The S8/Imbali male (also known as Einstein) is a male lion currently found in the south east section of the Manyeleti Game Reserve, the northern section of the Sabi Sands as well as the western section of the Mluwati Concession in the Kruger National Park.

Adult years
Due to the remoteness of the areas involved not much is known about the early years of the S8/Imbali Male. He arrived in the territory of the Imbali pride in around April 2019 and had taken control of the pride a few months later.

Since then the S8/Imbali male has raised many cubs with the Imbali lionesses, turning the Imbali Pride into a mega pride of 21 individuals as of 2021. The S8 Male has also made occasional forays into the northern areas of the Sabi Sands game reserve. It was here he has been observed mating with lionesses from the Talamati and Torchwood Prides.

The S8/Imbali male is also believed to be the dominant male of the Imbali Breakaway Pride, also known as the Einstein Pride. The pride was named after the S8/Imbali male, who is named Einstein by the rangers of the Mluwati Concession.

In mid 2021 the S8 male had began pushing further south into the Sabi Sands and was a regular sighting on the property of Buffelshoek. It seemed he had managed to gain control of a portion of the Talamati Pride and was frequently observed with 3 of it's lionesses.

The first known interaction between the S8 Male and Dark Mane Avoca (the dominant male of the Talamati Pride) occurred on the 16th of September 2021. The Talamati Pride and Dark Mane were on a Buffalo kill which attracted the attention of the S8 Male. He arrived on the scene and observed the pride and Dark Mane before seemingly deciding to walk away. In doing so he was spotted by the lions who promptly fled south towards Djuma. This response seemed to ignite a chase reaction from the S8 Male and he pursued the lions while vocalising before eventually returning to his territory.