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• The Lion Called Kapama

The Legend

There is a local legend about Shangaan chiefs in the area. The legend states that the bravest of the chiefs would be honoured by being reborn as a lion. 

The last chief of this bloodline was Kapama, whom after the reserve was named, and it is said that if you looked into the eyes of one of the Kapama lions you would see into the soul of a Shangaan chief. The legend is as follows: A lone lion named Kapama lived on the land, but he was no ordinary lion. He was a massive beast who was also extremely cunning.

Each young man in the village tried their best to hunt the lion and each was unsuccessful. The people of the village came to believe that Kapama was, in fact, an ancient king, cursed to roam the land in an animal’s body.

Survival Skills

When the land suffered a severe drought and the people and animals in the area struggled to survive, somehow the great Kapama managed to find water and would also track the fattest game. The young men who used to hunt the lion, grew to revere him and started following him instead, and by so doing, were able to feed their families and tribes. After many months the rains fell again, and it fell hard. A new river was created in the downpour and the river was named Kapama. After this, the great lion “king” was never seen again.