14 July 2014
One morning at the end of last week, three lionesses came out of the Sticky Thorn thicket at Singita Kruger National Park with nine cubs. Nothing unusual there. But one of the cubs was a little bit special - he is white.
White lions are exceedingly rare in the wild but are indigenous to Timbavati in small numbers.
White cubs are not albinos but the result of a genetic mutation. In all likelihood, the gene has come from the Timbavati white lions through the coalition of five males which took over the Shishangaan pride late last year.
This little rarity is likely to be between three and four months old and the lionesses will still keep him and his siblings hidden for at least the next two months. In an incredibly fortuitous encounter, one of our guests at Lebombo, Jamie Kramer, took these incredible photos but sightings cannot be guaranteed.
(words by Deirdre Opie, head guide at Singita Kruger National Park)
