This week again I had the pleasure of spending time with several experienced and devoted photographers. Many had come to Londolozi in the hopes of photographing a leopard. Fortunately for us Mother Nature, as well as Freddy ‘Eagle Eyes’ Ngobeni, did not disappoint. We were treated to a variety of sightings of the Maxabene Female, the Vomba Young Female, the Dudley Riverbank 5:5 Male, the Marthly Male, and the Vomba Female, to name only a few! Otherwise we took some time to enjoy the remaining winter colours and light, sharing photography tips and embracing the bushveld. Enjoy this week in pictures…
The Vomba Young Female breathes heavily after taking down an impala. In the middle of the day, we stumbled across her with the carcass, having killed only moments before. The last thing we expected to see in the heat of the day!
The Vomba Young Female looks up to make sure the coast is clear while feeding on her impala kill later on that afternoon. After so many months of hunting small prey and getting it stolen by her father, the Camp Pan Male, it is wonderful to see this young leopard killing larger prey more frequently, and actually getting to enjoy it! However, on this day she faced another challenge: the kill seemed too heavy for her to hoist in the nearby marula tree. After attempting to carry it up, and falling back down several times, we left as night fell and she ravenously fed on as much as she could before the hyenas found her. Indeed, upon investigation the next morning, the hyenas had polished off the carcass - hopefully not before she could get her fill.
At one point, she tried to mask the evidence by burying the remnants before trying to hoist the carcass.
Something spooks the sunbathing hippos, causing them to crash into the water, as the oxpeckers scatter. It turned out to be only a passing nyala!
The Dudley Riverbank 5:5 Young Male walks in front of some wildebeest, who were clearly more interested in him than he was in them. His battle wounds from his fight with the Marthly Male seem to be getting better, and he made a territorial appearance this week in the eastern section of Londolozi, perhaps inching back in to reclaim lost ground.
A White rhino bull after having enjoyed a roll in the mud on one of the first hot spring days, cooling him down as well as helping with parasite control.
A Side-striped jackal peers back at us after having been stirred from a mid-afternoon nap. Despite their increasingly common occurrence on Londolozi, these shy creatures have proven difficult to photograph!
The Vomba Female hunts impala using a Marula tree as cover.
A Malachite kingfisher stares into the Sand River from his perch on a Phragmites reed. These striking birds are considered a rare find, and we were lucky enough this week to have one frequenting a river crossing point.
One of the Majingalane Males (Dark Mane/Sore Foot), and a Sparta Pride Lioness. We saw these two mating earlier in the week. His foot, with the injury to the pad of a toe previously shown in the Week in Pictures, seems to be almost healed, despite the fact that he still limps slightly.
The Maxabene Female walks down the road with a spring in her step. With a full belly, she had clearly eaten recently, and was patrolling her territory, scent-marking heavily. There had been another female in the area, the Tamboti Female, and Maxabene seemed to want to leave a clear message that this was her ground.
Some impalas stare and alarm at the Maxabene Female walking past, as she displays the white of her tail to indicate she is not interested in hunting them.
On a quiet afternoon in the open plains of southern Londolozi, a zebra stares at a young waterbuck bull passing by.
Two Little bee-eaters huddle in for warmth on a chilly morning. We are currently awaiting the return of the migratory bee-eater species for the summer, but we are lucky enough to have these colourful birds here all year round.
Framed by the golden reeds, the Vomba Young Female sits next to the Sand River. I included this photo this week at the risk of 'overkill' of this individual leopard... but sometimes it just seems that certain leopards present themselves in a good photographic opportunity more often than others! It has certainly seemed lately as though this female likes the camera!
Herds of buffalo and elephant blanket the landscape in the late afternoon light.
Flowering at the end of winter, Impala lillies provide a bright splash of colour to the dry and tawny bushveld.
The Vomba Female courts the Marthly Male. Female leopards are usually quite persistent in their attempts to get a male to mate, and this was no exception. She pestered the Marthly Male to the point of him actually growling and swinging his claws at her before finally giving in to her charm.
The Vomba Female and Marthly Male post mating, in an intense moment.
Talley,
I’m going to love looking at your blog every week. You even have a “Merle” photo (impala lillies).
Miss you, Freddie and our 12 hr. drives. Give my regards to Shayne next time you see him. I look forward to watching him grow up.
Your photos are breath taking (away)!
Merle
Thanks Merle, Shayne is growing before our very eyes and getting into more and more trouble! David Dampier will be posting some great shots of their latest shenanigans soon so keep an eye out. Miss you guys!!
Tyson needs his head looking at for keeping such a beauty waiting and then scrapping with her! Maybe he had a headache !!!
It is wonderful the way you re-connect us to Londolozi and take us on a journey through your words and magnificent photographs. I am in awe of your talent young lady.
With thanks to all of you who work on the Blog and give us such pleasure – here’s wishing you a great weekend …
Thanks Sheena, have a fantastic weekend as well. So pleased to hear that the blog continues to re-connect you back to Londolozi and gives you so much enjoyment. Rich
You’re right Sheena, Tyson is certainly living up to his ‘bad boy’ image! Thanks so much for checking out the pics 🙂
Those are some truly beautiful pictures! And I say GOOD for the Vomba female! But the incredible birds and the leopards just take my breath away and make me want to come back! And the Impala lilies are gorgeous! Don’t have any pictures of those! I am looking forward to watching how your spring and summer unfold as we in Massachusetts head toward autumn and winter! It’s always a pleasure to revisit through your blog! Thank you.
Thanks Geri, I am trying to focus more on the birds, so I’m glad you’re enjoying them. The heat is definitely on… the migrants should be coming back soon!
One of my favourite “Week in Pictures”. This one has been a special delight.
Thanks Penny, this week was special for me too 🙂
Just stunning … thank you for taking me on a journey to my beloved bush … the Vomba female is a pretty little lady, so no overkill in photos, she really loves the camera and I love seeing her. So glad 5:5 Dudley male healing – he is special. Many thanks Londolozi and all the team.
Couldn’t agree with you more about the Vomba Young Female Liz. She is the image of a perfect female leopard. Thanks for your comments and glad you enjoyed the pics. Rich
I recently got a closer visual of 5:5 and he is healing, but it’s quite a scar on his lip! I hope to include a photo next week. Vomba and her daughter the Vomba Young Female remain favourites of all the rangers.
Question about the young Vomba female. We saw her mating with Dudley Riverbank 5:5 male repeatedly in May. Would she still be seeking mates if she were pregnant?
Hi Jo Lynne, just out of curiosity, did you actually see the Vomba Young Female mating with 5:5 or was she just courting him? Or perhaps you’re referring to the Vomba Female?
The answer is no, she shouldn’t still be seeking mates if she were pregnant. However, female leopards sometimes mate with unfamiliar males if they are pregnant or have small cubs for appeasement/distraction reasons. Male leopards sometimes kill the cubs of unfamiliar females. The theory is, a male won’t bother future cubs of a female if he has mated with her (as he is presumably the father). And females have been seen to ‘lure away’ unfamiliar males from their cubs/den sites by enticing him to mate, so that he doesn’t pose any risk to her cubs. In these cases she is not receptive, and it is said that both lion and leopard are of the few mammals who will mate for reasons other than reproduction.
I’m a little late in replying – yes, it was the Vomba 3:2 Female that we saw mating with Dudley Riverbank 5:5 in May. I had trouble finding a shot that showed her left side clearly. Elmon took some good video of the event. Inspiring to see his enthusiasm for these animals after so many years of observing them.
I have been confused when there are references to the Vomba Female on the blog. I am going to assume that any reference to Vomba Female means the 3:2 and that Vomba Young is the 3:3.
Thank you for the information on female lions and leopards protective mating practices.
From now on I will keep my Vomba females straight,
Haha it can be a bit trick at times Jo Lynne, but just you are correct in assuming that the Vomba Female is the Vomba 3:2 Female and the mother of the Vomba 3:3 Young Female. For a more detailed understanding of these leopards and their spot patterns, be sure to check out the Leopards of Londolozi website – http://www.londolozi.com/leopards
Freddy was my daily hero while out in the bush. Amazing ability to sight ….and he was a wizard with my small camera….taking video footage while I lumbered away trying to perfect my photo technique with a Nikon (and Mike Miller tried patiently to guide me through that process.) Love seeing these photos and daily planning on when I can return.
Freddy is a true genius in the art of tracking, and his humility, kindness and love of all animals amazes me more and more each day. I’m so glad you had the opportunity to spend time with him, and hope to see you back here soon!
Always impressive Talley! I would like to know what the numerics after a leopards name mean….ie. 5:5?
UW
Hi Willy, the numerics refer to the spot patters on either side of the leopards snout. Each leopard will have an individual spot pattern which helps us to identify him or her. To find out a bit more about the spot patterns and see some clear examples, visit our Leopards of Londolozi website – http://www.londolozi.com/leopards . Thanks for your questions. Rich
Thank you Rich,
I was guessing at 4:5 being the fouth out of five cubs, so I am glad you cleared up this for me. I looked at the web site too. As we all know a leopard never changes his spots(!), that does make an excellent method of identification.
Thanks,
Willy
Talley your blog teaches me something every week! Didnt know about the leopard showing the white of it’s tail meaning it wasn’t cruising for dinner! Love the two bee eaters!
Awesome images, and love those impala lillies! Great to see some of the fab Londoz plants included in the blog as well as the magical beasts!
My favorite collection of photos so far.
Always awesome!