Londolozi Blog

24 Hrs with the Sparta Pride Cubs

by James Tyrrell on May 17, 2012

It is not often one gets to spend time with the same animals on three consecutive drives. The nature of the business means that you are invariably looking for leopards on one drive, lions the next and elephants after that, or some variation on the theme. Recently though, I was fortunate enough to be with [...]

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Camp Pan Male Hoists Impala Kill

by Rich Laburn on May 16, 2012

in Leopards of Londolozi,Wildlife Diary

It is always a pleasure and a privilege to watch the Camp Pan Male Leopard hunt. More often than not he is an extremely successful apex predator and both his enormous size and considerable experience have given him the edge in maintaining his condition, strength, patrolling intensity and hence his territory. He still remains as [...]

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Why are female hyenas bigger than males?

by Adam Bannister May 15, 2012

In the 1960′s the chimpanzee expert, Jane Goodall, arrived in the Ngorongoro Crater expecting to dislike Spotted Hyenas. However, it did not take long for them to win her over. “Hyenas are second only to chimpanzees in fascination,” she wrote; “they are born clowns, highly individualistic.” It was not just her who had a fascination [...]

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Experience our Honeymoon Safari

by Rich Laburn May 14, 2012

Africa…The very name of the continent is romantic. One of the last wild places where the great herds of elephant still roam, where the night is sequined with a million stars and where lions may be found gliding across a clearing in the dawn light. At Londolozi we have come to understand that safaris are [...]

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A Specialist Photographic Safari

by Rich Laburn May 12, 2012

Many of you will remember, and hopefully participated in, the Star in Your Own Safari competition that we ran in partnership with Safari Interactive Magazine a few months back. The winner was Christine Lamberth and here is the video of her starring in her own Specialist Photographic Safari at Londolozi. Christine was kind enough to [...]

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The Week in Pictures # 41

by Talley Smith May 11, 2012

This week brought a new twist on the recent leopard drama. The rutting season of the impala also made sure there was plenty of full-bellied lions and leopards, as the testosterone-fueled rams spent more time chasing one another than detecting predators nearby. The vegetation is getting drier and the air clearer, making for excellent photographic [...]

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The Sparta Cubs are Alive

by Adam Bannister May 11, 2012

Not too long ago I defined the word HOPE using a remarkable sighting of a baby rhino. Well this morning, we at Londolozi, clearly define the word JOY! The morning was thick with mist and pregnant with expectation. The rangers and trackers were out at first light. The winter morning chill is an ideal way [...]

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The fate of the two ‘motherless’ Sparta cubs

by Adam Bannister May 10, 2012

The body of a single Sparta lioness was found a few days ago. It can now be confirmed that she is indeed the mother of the two 7-8 month old cubs. This was tragic news for the much loved pride. The question on everyone’s minds was, or rather still is, what will happen to the [...]

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How to Track a Lion

by Alex Van Den Heever May 9, 2012

For many visitors to the bush, the art of tracking and following an animal is both mystical and fascinating to experience. One of the oldest known art forms, tracking is as ancient as man itself yet today it is a diminishing aspect of indigenous culture which is being kept alive by the Tracker Academy. In [...]

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Saddle-billed Stork and the ‘Big 6 Birds’

by Adam Bannister May 8, 2012

The Big 5 represent the 5 game species that were most desired as hunter’s trophies in times gone past. They now represent the 5 species that visitors to classic African wilderness areas most want to see. The Kruger National Park set about establishing the ‘Big 6 Birds’ in an attempt at mirroring what the traditional [...]

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Leopard Dynamics: The Opposing Strategies of the Maxabene Young Male Leopards

by James Crookes May 7, 2012

The Maxabene 3:2 and 3:3 young males were born to the Maxabene 2:2 female in October 2008. This means that in April they turned 3 ½ years old. Whilst both were quite late in reaching independence, both are now independent of their mother and one would expect that they would be in the process of [...]

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The Week in Pictures # 40

by Talley Smith May 4, 2012

If you have been following the blog recently, you will know by now that this week brought very sad answers to our questions about the Sparta Pride. Despite trying to be passive observers of the wilderness, it is always an emotional event for us to learn of the demise of a creature who for years [...]

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BREAKING NEWS: Sparta Pride Lioness is Dead!

by Adam Bannister May 2, 2012

It is with a heavy heart that I bring you sad news from this mornings drive. The body of an adult lioness was found. Although nearly impossible to identify, it appears as if she is the lioness from the Sparta Pride whom had the 2 cubs aged between 6-8 months. We can not confirm the [...]

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The Beat of the Buffalo

by Adam Bannister May 2, 2012

Buffalo thrive at Londolozi. It is always exciting to sit amidst a large herd of buffalo, staring in awe at the sheer abundance, size and behaviour. There is never a dull moment in a herd like this and it enables plenty of opportunity to sit back relax and soak in raw Africa! I thought I [...]

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In the Footsteps of Nelson Mandela

by Rich Laburn May 1, 2012

On visiting Londolozi in 1992 Mandela saw the vision that was being lived by the employees and management in collaboration with nature. “During my long walk to freedom, I had the rare privilege to visit Londolozi. There I saw people of all races living in harmony amidst the beauty that mother nature offers” – Nelson [...]

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From the Lens of our Guest

by Rich Laburn April 30, 2012

I first met Belinda on the Varty Camp deck after another extraordinary afternoon in the Londolozi wilderness. We got chatting and she mentioned that she was a keen photographer and an avid follower of the blog. After requesting some of her pics, which she obligingly sent through, I am now able to share with you [...]

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New Sparta Pride lion cubs

by Adam Bannister April 29, 2012

It is with great joy, that we at Londolozi, are able to show you pictures and a brief video of the newest lion arrivals to the area. The Sparta lions have three precious new cubs to add to their ever-growing pride. We are still unable to accurately sex the cubs but, now that they appear [...]

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A Wake of Vultures

by James Tyrrell April 28, 2012

I have always been amused by collective nouns. An obstinacy of buffalo, an implausibility of wildebeest, and my personal favourite, a parliament of owls. None of these is more appropriate than the one referring to a group of vultures on a carcass. A ‘wake’ is certainly an apt title for the raucous, squabbling group of [...]

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The Week in Pictures #39

by Talley Smith April 27, 2012

This week, once again, the lions were relatively quiet and elusive around Londolozi, leaving room for incredible sightings of other top predators: leopard, hyena and even wild dog. The young Mashaba Female is growing up, and also contributing to some territorial disputes amongst the females of the south eastern section of Londolozi. The wild dogs [...]

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Wild Dog Feeding Frenzy

by Adam Bannister April 26, 2012

The pack of eight Wild Dogs ran with purpose, coursing along the Guarri thicket line, searching intently for a morning meal. It was easy to see that they were attempting to flush a poor unsuspecting animal of out of hiding. They would then use their superior numbers and incredible speed and endurance to chase down [...]

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On the Road Again – An Accountant’s Blog

by David Dampier April 25, 2012

On the 13th April, after injuries, sickness and misfortune plagued the rest of the ranging team, our Head Guide turned to the accounting department for help and experience…and so with great excitement I closed my laptop, dusted off my camera and birdbook and headed back into the field accompanied by repeat guest, Kendra Clarke and [...]

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Breakaway Tsalala Pride: ID Kit

by Adam Bannister April 24, 2012

Identifying lions can be extremely difficult to do. The reason being that they all look very similar and they appear to be in constant change, in terms of identifying features.Cuts, bruises and scars are continually changing the facial features of the cats. There are obvious exceptions to this; for example the Tailless Female. One method [...]

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A Late Lunch at Londolozi

by Rich Laburn April 23, 2012

The long hot days of summer are over and the Londolozi wilderness is now experiencing the pleasurable autumn months in what is widely considered to be the best time of the year to visit. The rhythmn and cycle of life at Londolozi changes during this period as the lengthy days become shorter, game drives spend [...]

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Showcasing: The Tutlwa Female Leopard

by James Tyrrell April 22, 2012

I remember the first time I saw the Tutlwa female. Draped over a fallen Marula tree on Ximpalapala crest, north of the Sand River, she was gazing longingly at a distant herd of impala, imagining a nice easy meal. It was not to be though, as the impala were way out in the open, and [...]

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The Westphals on Safari

by Rich Laburn April 21, 2012

The Westphals are one of our favorite repeat guests to Londolozi. Each time they come it seems sightings get better and more fun is had. This last year, they visited us during New Years and their son Jake was kind enough to cut us a video with some of the amazing footage he captured whilst [...]

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The Week in Pictures # 38

by Talley Smith April 20, 2012

This week, the recent lion drama subsided somewhat, leaving room for fantastic leopard viewing as well as time with the ‘smaller’ things. When the lions are vocalizing and patrolling their territory with the same intensity as they were last week, the leopards tend to make themselves scarce, as they are so vulnerable to lions. This [...]

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Misty Mornings: a photographers dream

by Adam Bannister April 19, 2012

We are currently in the midst of one of my favourite times of the year. The reason: the unbelievable mornings. The bushveld is always pretty, but it is now that I think it is spectacular! Each morning, I jump out of bed, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and then drive out of camp, hoping [...]

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How Elephants Have Fun

by Adam Bannister April 18, 2012

Of late I have written a lot about the outrageously exciting lion dynamics that are currently playing out at Londolozi. I may indeed be a ‘lion man’, but I certainly appreciate the numerous other wonders that take place here, on a daily basis. The other day I witnessed one of the most sensational lighthearted events [...]

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The Tracker Academy on CNN

by Rich Laburn April 17, 2012

Over the last week, Alex van den Heever and Renias Mhlongo have been featured on CNN’s African Voices talking about the Tracker Academy and their longstanding friendship. There are three videos below which take you through the story of how they began working together at Londolozi, Renias’ childhood in the bush veld and on a [...]

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Meet the Londolozi Chefs

by Rich Laburn April 16, 2012

Every guest who visits Londolozi will experience the flavor, taste and vibrant diversity of the cuisine prepared by the Londolozi kitchen. So who are these wonderful people who prepare, craft and present the sumptuous cuisine through the 5 Londolozi Camps? Keep reading and find out as we introduce you to the Londolozi Chefs…

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Maxabeni Young Male Hauls Warthog Out Burrow

by James Tyrrell April 14, 2012

We were almost back at camp when we received the radio call from ranger Helen Young. Enoch Mkanzi, who tracks with Helen, had used his almost supernatural powers of sight to spot a leopard in the distance, lying up on a termite mound. As they approached the mound to ascertain exactly which leopard it was, [...]

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The Week in Pictures # 37

by Talley Smith April 13, 2012

Each week when I go over my photos to put together this post, I am blown away by the amount of incredible things we see within only seven days here. This week was no exception. Without question, the lions stole the show, with many different prides and coalitions traversing Londolozi. At one stage during the [...]

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Could these be some of the last photos of Mapogo?

by Adam Bannister April 12, 2012

Lion Warfare is so apparent at the moment that the still nights are punctuated by the continual sounds of lion roaring. A wondrous sound, guttural, deep and heart-felt. Deep into the night you can hear these giants as they attempt to sort out territorial disputes and differences. There are currently six coalitions of lions that [...]

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How to Identify Individual Leopards

by James Crookes April 11, 2012

At Londolozi we are incredibly lucky to have been viewing leopards regularly since the 1970s. This can be attributed to a couple of factors. Firstly, Londolozi offers prime leopard habitat as there are many seasonal rivers with the associated riparian vegetation offering good cover as well as potential den sites. These areas of dense vegetation [...]

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Lion Warfare: Autumn 2012

by Adam Bannister April 10, 2012

A few weeks ago the four members of the Southern Coalition launched a successful attack on the remaining members of the Mapogo Coalition. This attack left the infamous Mr T (aka Satan) dead and last two remaining Mapogo members fleeing for their lives. The demise of this king has left many a question mark as [...]

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An Easter Market

by Rich Laburn April 9, 2012

Once a year a variety of hare comes to visit the beautiful yet dangerous grazing grounds of Londolozi. Our guests this weekend were invited to see this special creature on their Easter morning game drives and follow the trail of white bunnies to a unique Easter Market in the middle of the wilderness. Hunting started [...]

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Showcasing the Leopards of Londolozi

by James Crookes April 7, 2012

I’ve just returned to Londolozi after two weeks of leave so, whilst I haven’t been around to capture all the latest happenings, the two week break gave me a chance to go through some of my leopard photography from the previous 6 weeks. I thought that this would be a good opportunity to showcase some of [...]

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The Week in Pictures # 36

by Talley Smith April 6, 2012

Two weeks away from the bush and so much has changed! Winter is truly upon us, with the vegetation getting drier, the nights colder, and the migratory birds heading back north. As is the case most of the time after Freddy and I have been on leave, we are very keen to see our feline [...]

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Original Tsalala Tailless Female Alive

by Adam Bannister April 5, 2012

An outstanding morning of lion viewing at Londolozi Game Reserve… The much loved Tailless Female was found together with the core of the Tsalala Pride. This pride has been operating under the radar of late and it is heart warming to see them all in good health. Two interesting pointers here is that the Tailless [...]

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About The Hazyview Digital Learning Center

by Rich Laburn April 4, 2012

With the construction of the Hazyview Digital Learning Center now firmly underway, we thought we’d tell you a little bit more about this project and what it means for the future of education in South Africa and rural communities surrounding Londolozi. The Digital Learning Centre which will be managed by the Good Work Foundation (GWF) [...]

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New Hyena Den Found

by James Tyrrell April 3, 2012

An active spotted hyena den can give one a fascinating insight into the lives of these often misunderstood carnivores. Observing the interactions of the adults with the cubs and the antics of the cubs themselves can provide endless hours of viewing pleasure while out in the bush. It was therefore with great excitement that we [...]

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Back in the Ranger seat

by Adam Bannister April 2, 2012

After a two and a half week break from the bush it is wonderful to be back at Londolozi. Walking straight back into a loving ‘extended family’ is heart-warming and makes the lengthy travel process fade into oblivion. To see the many smiley faces gives me an idea of the feeling of welcoming that guests [...]

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A Brand New Jaguar Cub

by Rich Laburn March 30, 2012

Our friends at the Caiman Ecological Refuge in the Pantanal, South America, sent us through this fascinating footage of a female jaguar, named Chuva, with her brand new cub. Jaguar expert and guide, Helder Brando, tells us a little bit more about this special creature. “On the eve of another campaign of the Onçafari Project [...]

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Earth Hour 2012

by Rich Laburn March 29, 2012

“Hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world unite each year to support the largest environmental event in history – Earth Hour. More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 alone, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also [...]

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The Month of March

by Rich Laburn March 28, 2012

As March comes to an end, so do the blisteringly hot days of summer at Londolozi. The season has definitely eased into the early annals of Autumn and the once overgrown grass of the January floods have steadily been grazed down by the herbivore species. March has provided fantastic game viewing, interesting lion dynamics and [...]

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Welcome Back!

by Rich Laburn March 27, 2012

Our long time repeat guest, Sonja Waldl, was recently welcomed back to Londolozi for another special safari. Having returned more than eleven times, Sonja has become a much loved member of the Londolozi family. Driving with Julius and Robert and staying in Tree Camp, here are a couple of pictures from her recent stay as [...]

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Hazyview Digital Learning Center Underway

by Rich Laburn March 26, 2012

Over the last few weeks, the construction of the Hazyview Digital Learning Center has finally begun. This exciting project has been months in the making and years in the dreaming however it is now underway and will soon be open for the rural learners of the communities around Hazyview, Mpumalanga. The Digital Learning Center aims [...]

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Meet Our New Exec Chef: Anna Ridgewell

by Rich Laburn March 22, 2012

We are very proud and excited to introduce Londolozi’s brand new Executive Chef: Anna Ridgewell. Anna grew up in Zimbabwe before training at Silwood in Cape Town. Having worked at many of the Cape’s top restaurants as well as Southern Africa’s top luxury lodges over the past decade, Anna is an accomplished and imaginative Exec [...]

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A Study of Londolozi

by Rich Laburn March 21, 2012

Kate Albert, a member of the Royal Photographic Society in the UK, kindly sent through an album of her favorite images taken during her recent visit to Londolozi. An ARPS in the Royal Photographic Society, Kate’s images demonstrate an acute eye for the smaller aspects of life throughout Londolozi. Whilst her images of the mammals [...]

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Tracking Lion

by Rich Laburn March 20, 2012

The male lion tracks are fresh from this morning; they lay on top of the rain that came during the night. Before we leave Alex gathers us into a group. “Ok guys, do you know what to do if you encounter a lion? When it growls at you or when it charges you?” The students [...]

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