A gruesome sight

Cruelty near Shingwedzi

Sometimes, you witness things that are both extraordinary and horrifying at once. It was one of those mornings that felt unusually quiet. We had seen a few birds and even a side-striped jackal in the early darkness, but nothing remarkable. Jacobine was about to comment on how still the morning seemed when we descended into a valley—and there they were: lions!

Three lionesses had found a buffalo and were feeding on it. But as we stopped, we noticed something disturbing—the buffalo was still alive, its pitiful moans filling the air. It was painfully aware that it was being eaten. Trapped in the mud from the day before, it had been unable to escape. In search of water, the lions had stumbled upon the helpless creature and seized the opportunity for an easy meal.

We parked and watched, though the sight was sickening. The lions, drenched in blood, tugged at the buffalo with brute force, tearing bites from its back as it mooed weakly. Its cries grew fainter as time passed. For about half an hour, we were the only ones there, observing as one of the lionesses eventually moved away from the riverbed, no longer interested in feeding.

Had they already had their fill overnight, perhaps after another kill? Were they here only for a drink? That seemed likely, making the scene even more agonizing to witness. As more vehicles arrived, we decided it was time to leave. Both of us felt ill from what we had seen, reminded once again of nature's brutal reality.

It also brought home the harsh truth of how much the world has changed since humanity’s perfect beginning in paradise. Even in moments like these, nature teaches us lessons about the fragility, complexity and brevity of life.

Lionesses feeding on buffalo

Lioness leaving the crime scene