Orphan lionesses return to Hoanib

Saturday 27 March 2021

When the floodwaters arrived during the night of 19/20 March 2021, the two lionesses had to abandon the remainder of their two zebra carcasses. For the next six days they continued to search for prey mainly along the northern bank of the Hoaruseb River (see map). The conditions had changed – the floodwaters engulfed most of the green vegetation and fresh water along the dry riverbed and the animals vacated the area. Early on 26 March 2021 the lionesses swam through a fast flowing river and moved back to the Hoanib Floodplain.

Movements of the Orphan lionesses after arrival of the Hoaruseb floodwaters

Rain clouds continued to build every afternoon and as a result the water level of the flooding Hoaruseb river continued to rise.

Buildup of rain clouds east of the Hoaruseb on 25 March 2021

Dramatic buildup of cumulous clouds

The Hoaruseb river in full flood at the border of the Skeleton Coast Park

The mouth of the Hoaruseb river

Location where lionesses crossed the flooding river