‘The Lions Rule’ is the saga of three lion families linked together by a strange, charmed place called the Glade: a beautiful oasis in Ruaha National Park where there is always water. The Glade is the territory of two old lionesses and their cubs. The Glade pride can bring down an adult giraffe – a remarkable skill. A magical Baobab forest spreads out beyond the Glade. This is the territory of the Baobab pride. They are the largest pride in all of Ruaha. The third pride are drifters – lean, mean and ruthless. They are the Njaa. The Njaa follow the buffalo. The herd is their territory and they are experts in the dark art of the buffalo kill. All three prides are lead by lionesses; there are no adult males in residence. This will play a major role in their fates
Episodes
In the heart of the Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, the small Kapunji Valley is a lush paradise. The animals living in the park are also aware of this and all flock to the oasis. Normally lions hunt baboons, but here in the valley they seem to have made a kind of pact and live peacefully side by side. The baboons live in the baobab forest two kilometers away. The Njaa lions are not restricted to a fixed territory, they follow the huge herds of buffalo that migrate from the highlands for miles into the plains to the waterholes. The pride of lions, which normally lives in the baobab forest, is already waiting at the waterhole for the buffalo to start their hunting offensive at the right moment. But the Njaa pride does not want to leave "its" buffalo to the baobab pride without a fight and tries to drive the "poachers" away. After fierce fighting, the baobab lions have to admit defeat and retreat.
Lion roars can be heard from the nearby Ruaha Valley. Nomads from several prides in different territories hunt buffalo with united strength. The nomadic Njaa lionesses also follow the herds of buffalo, which they regard as their "territory". The largest pride in the Ruaha Park lives near the Kapunji Valley. A giraffe has come to the valley to drink. Observed by the baobab lions, the Kapunji lions sneak up on them. Then something extremely rare happens: the baobab lions help the kapunji lions to kill the giraffe and then devour it together with them.
The Kapunji pack has a new leader. The cubs still have nothing to fear, because the lion is their father. The balance of power has also changed in the other packs. The dominant Njaa male has returned and proves to be a valuable support for the group. Two lone lions appear in the baobab forest. This means that there are now two displaced young lions in the valley. When they meet, they kill their first buffalo together: this experience bonds them together forever.
