Our week started with dinner under a striking lunar eclipse. Although the African sky is breathtaking enough already, it was still a treat to witness this rare event.
A Brown-headed parrot pauses in the search for Torchwood fruits. This thorny tree bears its pecan-shaped fruits in winter, attracting many fruit-eating birds, vervet monkeys and elephants.
The Camp Pan Male watches from a termite mound for any signs of prey. We have been locating this male slightly further south of his usual territory ever since his fight with the Dudley Riverbank 5:5 Male. In this sighting, he came across the scent mark of another leopard and quietly investigated for a while, seemingly with a heightened concern for any intruders.
The Camp Pan Male, despite his battle wounds, is still magnificent as he walks into the morning light.
The Causeway, our gateway to the Northern side of the Sand River, at dawn.
A female cheetah watches nervously as vultures start to land, surrounding her and her impala kill. They would eventually chase her off, but luckily not before she had had a decent meal.
A White-backed vulture descends in pursuit of the cheetah's prize.
The Sand River below, a Green-backed heron stands in wait for the winter sun to warm up before his day of fishing.
A young hyena cleans its mother, who had returned to nurse her cubs after a night of successful scavenging. We have been treated to wonderful sightings of these relaxed and curious youngsters at a den site which appears to be housing at least 10 cubs.
A Southern Pride Male poses sleepily in a red bushwillow thicket. Unable to cope with the aggressive dominance of the Majingilane Coalition, these young males have a long road ahead of them before they will be able to claim territory of their own.
A klipspringer catches the remains of the afternoon light. This diminutive antelope is a rare and elegant sight commonly found amongst the rocky boulders and dense surrounds.
The Ravenscourt Female and her cub turn in stride. The previous night, after her kill was stolen by hyenas, she had dispersed the cubs in the chaos. We were fortunate enough to find her the next morning as she collected both youngsters from their respective hiding spots.
The Ravenscourt Female and cub listen out for hyenas as they search for the second cub. They were right to do so: soon after this photo was taken, a young hyena ran out and tried to snatch the cub. Instinctually, the cub fled up a nearby tree, while the mother stood her ground and hissed until the hyena backed down.
The Ravenscourt cub dutifully runs to its mother after being called from its hideaway.
This Yellow-billed oxpecker, rare to the area, seemed as curious as his host about the disruption to their evening routine!
Two buffalo bulls have a disagreement at the waterhole.
Wonderful shots! Someday????
Hi Carol, All photos were taken by Talley Smith. Thanks for your comment.
Great pictures, nice to have visual updates
Lovely photo’s! Wish I were there!
Janet
Talley they are fantastic pics, great to see the leopard cubs.
Thanks for sharing Sue
Fantastic Vulture, Cam pan is too good as all photos
Stunning photos! I close my eyes…and I’m there. :).
Just stunning
Keep them coming Talley!!! We love seeing all your photos! xoxox
My Friday ritual now includes visiting the Londolozi blog! LOVE all the shots but the heron and the oxpecker on the nyati are AWESOME!!
Talley: Absolutely stunning photographs I cannot wait to come next Fall.
xoxoxoxo
I feel like I can touch these animals on the screen. Great photography!
Talley! Spectacular photos!! Better than any I’ve seen in print anywhere! The synchronous leopards are amazing!!
As Tripp says – “Keep them coming!”
UW
lovely! thanks for sharing. great photos.
Beautiful photos!! Hope to come for a visit in the next year or two.
Once again T you are rocking and rolling—- big challenge is to keep the Standards up as you have set a pretty High Bar!!! WELL DONE!!! Beautiful Pictures – With Shan in Paris, We are very home sick looking at these
Thanks Talley beautiful photos. I love the green-backed Heron standing on one leg.
I agree Sue, the Greenback Heron is one of my favourites from this weeks collection as well.
Amazing photos Talley, enjoyed them so much. Thanks!
Every image is a winner. As a professional photographer, I would have been ecstatic to have captured each and every one of them.
Those photos are so fabulous!!! Talley you took amazing pictures. I am so sorry that we missed the Leopard Cubs they looked adorable. Our family is so homesick for Londolozi-we can’t wait to return.
Talley, these are FANTASTIC! Love receiving the blogs each week. See you in May~
Linda
These are phenomenal Talley!!! Just purchased my new camera and expecting it next week. Will get some practice taking shots of the wildlife that is Cup Match!!! Keep em coming. November is not long away now!!! xxx
Talley Talley Talley!!! These are too much. The snaps of the mother leopard with her cub are hypnotic.
You really have the eye, Fair-Blue. CAN’T WAIT to come see it all in person. xxoo to you