Once again a magical week at Londolozi draws to an end and I am privileged enough to be able to share my pictures with all of you. In this work cycle I have also welcomed a new camera into my life and I am loving it. I have acquired a Canon 7D mark II and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with and a marked improvement on my previous older Canon model (50 D).
I start off my Week in Pictures with one of the bushveld’s entertainers. This female warthog looked at us with curious and weary eyes before backing off into her burrow to sleep for the evening.
Warthogs use termite mounds as a burrow as a safe haven from predators.
A magical time of the day, roughly 20 minutes after sunset in the winter afternoons, an infrared light is scattered through the air in long waves, creating the most vibrant colours. ISO 1600, f9, 1/80
Another interesting character here at Londolozi is the one and only female ostrich who has now decided she has had enough of the south and has crossed the river to the north of the property. She has been seen hanging around Ximpalapala koppie. She always provides a great sighting and when seen often comes right up to the vehicle almost as if to say hello. She is perhaps also responsible for one or two scratches on the Londolozi Land Rovers (she has a tendency to investigate everything with her beak!) ISO 400, f4.5, 1/2000.
A rare and incredible afternoon was spent with this beautiful cat. A male cheetah treated us in the late afternoon. The cat is seen sniffing a fallen marula tree while he scanned the surrounding areas for potential prey. ISO 500, f5.6, 1/3000
Cheetahs will often climb onto elevated “perches” to get a better view of the surrounding areas as they scan for potential prey. ISO 560, f.4.5, 1/2500
Two young giraffes following a small journey while ox-peckers hitch a free ‘meal on wheels!’ ISO 400, f5.6, 1/ 2000
On an afternoon drive we were sitting with a breeding herd of elephants when all of a sudden the peace and quiet was broken by monkeys giving their unmistakable chirp indicating that there was a leopard nearby. We started up and rushed off to find the source of the chaos and saw monkeys screaming at the top of some marula trees – all looking into the clearing beyond. Then we saw her…the Tamboti female casually walking through the long grass holding onto a massive male vervet monkey she had obviously just surprised and killed. She continued walking until a hyena came bounding in. Without hesitation she made her way up a tree with a very satisfied look on her face. ISO 400, f4, 1/2000
The Tamboti female holding onto her meal firmly before she began plucking her victims fur in order to eat. ISO 400, f4.5, 1/3000
One of the two Matshipiri males waking up from a nap startled by some movement in the nearby bushes. We are still unsure of who will challenge the Majingilane. Are the Matshipiri coalition a possible threat? ISO 400, f5.6, 1/2500
A Tsalala lioness gave us a great look at her perfectly adapted pads that serve as a “silencer” while they stalk their prey. ISO 200, f4.5, 1/3000
One of the Sparta lionesses hears something in the distance that pulled her attention away from her carcass for just a second. The Sparta lionesses have had it hard in recent times and are currently down to just two. ISO 400, f4.5, 1/ 3000
The Tutlwa female joins this Week in Pictures. We found her one afternoon enjoying a bushbuck that she had hoisted into a leadwood tree to keep safe from a prowling hyena underneath. ISO 400, f4.5, 1/2500
Everybody loves baby animals. Does it get better than leopard cubs? Well in my opinion anyway, there is nothing better. One of the cubs watches a hyena skulking around in search of scraps from the bushbuck that her mother, the Mashaba female, had killed earlier. ISO 560, f5.6, 1/3000
The Mashaba female letting the hyena know that he is most certainly not welcome around her or her babies. ISO 400, f4,5, 1/2000
The two cubs watch their mom’s reaction on the ground and huddle together in the safety of a gardenia tree. ISO 560, f5.6, 1/3000
I finish off this Week in Pictures with one of the cubs climbing a marula tree which I have post-edited in monochrome using the over-exposure tool in Lightroom. They are not yet steady climbers but are certainly getting there fast. ISO 400, f4, 1/3000
I hope you all have a great weekend and also hope you enjoyed this Week in Pictures.
Written and photographed by Londolozi Ranger Nick Kleer.
Thanks a lot. Gorgeous, gorgeous pictures! Look at those beautiful creatures.
I am really sad about the news of Sparta lionesses. Do you know what had happened to them? Who attacked them?
Hallo Jo
I am a wildlife artist and I absolutely enjoy looking at your photography, escpecially with your new camera. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi, it’s Nick who share his wonderful photos. Not me.
Stunning pics this week Nick. Love the sunset. Awesome lion images.
Awesome Photographs! Hoping to visit Londolozi soon!
Awesome pics! Really sad about Sparta, we viewed them at 8 strong last year and can’t believe they are down to 2. Gotta think the Birmingham boys are most likely coalition to make moves in sabi sands after they have been pushing the Matimbas around for the past 2 weeks. Can’t wait to see what happens.
Great pictures! I feel bad for the monkey.
Can you please update us on what happened to the Sparta Pride? There were 7 when we were there. If the 3 boys were kicked out that should have left 4 females alive and well. I can’t believe there are only 2 left. This is so sad.
What amazing shots. Love the leopard cubs.
Hope they grow and enrich the line for many ears to come.
Your superb photos of the wonderful creatures at Londolozi go a long way toward keeping us connected to that extraordinary place. We can’t wait to get back. Thank you!
Nice images, Nick! And you finally got that Mark II – congrats!
Very lovely pic of the Sparta lioness. You have caught a most interesting expression in the eyes! Thank you, Nick. Wendy M
These great photos are really raising the excitement level for my visit in early November!
Great pictures, I have a Canon 6D and think that the 7DMk11 would be a very useful stablemate especially for wildlife and airshows.
Nick, Great images! So happy to hear you got the new 7D! Still thinking about our special hippo sighting with you! Ready to do it again now! 😉 Best, Michael & Terri
Nick your photo’s are fabulous! Great job on the blog!! We can’t wait to return in 2017 we wish it was sooner! Take care, Terri
Thank you everyone for the kind words. I really appreciate them!! The young Sparta males left the pride a while back now and then there was a body found on Sabi Sabi to our south of a lioness who we presume is one of the Sparta lionesses because she has not been seen for a few weeks now. The young Sparta lioness has also not been seen for a few weeks now but possibly is still alive and well. We can only hope but it is a tough life for these animals!!
Lovely photos and great blot too.. enjoyed reading thoroughly. Will be in Sabi sands in couple of weeks from now, however your blog inspires me to plan visit to this place on my next trip to SA..
Nick, continue your fabulous work and keep posting stuff for wildlife enthusiasts like us to enjoy watching and reading.
Thank you once again.
Wonderful photos, especially of the big cats. The Sparta lioness looks a little vulnerable— its a great shot. So sad to hear about their troubles. Hopefully, they can rebound.
Beautiful images Nick! I’m so sorry to hear the sad news for the Sparta pride and the loss of at least one Lioness and possibly two. Life is so hard for these beautiful animals.