Adam Bannister

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 [...]

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Majingilane mates with Sparta Lioness

by Adam Bannister March 15, 2012

Exciting news from Londolozi is that the one lioness from the Sparta Pride is mating! We were fortunate enough to watch the Scar-Nose as well as the Dark Maned Majingila Males mate with this female. Recently, the Majingilane Males followed this lioness all the way west out of their territory. Deep into enemy land they [...]

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Buffalo chase off Majingilane Males

by Adam Bannister March 13, 2012

One of the reasons I love the bush is that you never really know what could unfold. It was meant to be a morning drive to go and see the large herd of buffalo that had made its way onto Londolozi. There we were sitting in the long grass taking photos of the buffalo as [...]

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Leopards Fight in Marula Tree

by Adam Bannister March 12, 2012

The Maxabeni Female superbly hoisted her latest kill into the branches of a Marula tree. She fed for a while before settling down for a little sleep. She had been magnificent and deserved a rest. The kill was safe up in the tree…or was it? We saw him approaching from the north. The massive frame [...]

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Tsalala Sisters remain strong

by Adam Bannister March 7, 2012

The Tsalala Pride have had a rough last few months. It’s sad to think that only four months ago they had eight very healthy cubs. Now this pride’s precious cargo has been whittled down to just three. Initially there were four males and four females…now it is only three females that remain. Here is a [...]

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Lion Warfare: Mapogo vs. Southern Males

by Adam Bannister March 6, 2012

Stories from the western part of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve are traveling on the winds. The winds of change. It sounds like there is an epic tale unfolding. A tale that, although not currently occurring on Londolozi soil, will undoubtably have a influence on the lion dynamics closer to home. From the sounds of [...]

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Hyenas Kill Buffalo Calf

by Adam Bannister March 3, 2012

A couple of nights ago the four Majingilane Brothers killed a female buffalo at Londolozi. It was incredible to watch them tear apart the carcass and feed throughout the night. We decided to go and sit with them the next morning, at day-break, to see if we could film any interesting encounters between the members [...]

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Tsalala Pride: Caught in the raging torrent

by Adam Bannister February 29, 2012

It has been over a month since the floods that ripped through the area. It is only now that we are starting to truly understand the way that it may have changed the animal dynamics in the area. I mentioned it some days ago when we spoke of the Tsalala Pride and how they appeared [...]

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Africa in Abundance

by Adam Bannister February 28, 2012

There is nothing more spectacular than watching an animal in the wild. Perhaps the only thing that can rival this is to see not just one animal but lots of animals. Great big herds of individuals making up groups that simply take your breathe away. Traditionally, it has been East Africa that has been known [...]

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The Sparta Pride is Growing Up

by Adam Bannister February 27, 2012

It has been a while since we first showed you footage of the two Sparta Pride cubs. These two cubs, assumed to be the region of 5-6 months are in great shape. The wonderful thing though, is not just their health, but the fact that they appear to be getting on well with the ever-growing [...]

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How fast can a Cheetah run?

by Adam Bannister February 25, 2012

Londolozi’s Electric Landrover can go from 0 to 60km/h in just over 10 seconds. A Ferrari Enzo can go about 8.1 meters per second, which takes it from zero to 95 kph in about 3.3 seconds. A Cheetah picks up speed faster than both this electric land rover and sports car! It’s body accelerates at [...]

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The definition of HOPE: Rhino Calf

by Adam Bannister February 22, 2012

A couple of days ago, we at Londolozi tried to define LOVE through the use of imagery and footage, filmed here on site. A wonderful short video was produced that, in my opinion, captured the essence and variety of love that takes place in the bushveld. Now I want to try and show you my [...]

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Sparta Pride kill Wildebeest

by Adam Bannister February 21, 2012

The three Sparta Pride females meant business. You could see it in their stride. Days of unsuccessful hunts had left them hungry. The night was pitch dark; the moon had yet to show face and the stars were being slowly covered by an approaching bank of clouds. As the lionesses moved in sync through the [...]

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When an Elephant dies…

by Adam Bannister February 19, 2012

This piece was written 2 years ago but we decided that it was worth being shown again as it really does show an incident that is fascinating to watch unfold. People often ask me what kills elephants and what tends to happen to the body after the death. I just though that we would re-post [...]

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Goodbye to the Sycamore Fig

by Adam Bannister February 18, 2012

The great floods of January 2012 will forever be remembered and spoken about at Londolozi Game Reserve. The sheer volume of water that poured down the Sand River was staggering. Leaving a wake of change in it’s path, this river showed us that humans will never be able to control Mother Nature! I use the [...]

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Update on the Tutlwa Female

by Adam Bannister February 15, 2012

It has been over three weeks since the big floods that changed the course and appearance of the Sand River. Only in the last few days have the water levels subsided enough for us to be able to rebuild Taylor’s Crossing and so enter the northern parts of Londolozi. On the very first drive north [...]

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Why do Zebras have Stripes?

by Adam Bannister February 6, 2012

I love collective nouns… A murder of crows, a cloud of bats, a confusion of guinea fowl, a mischief of mice, a prickle of porcupines, a bloat of hippos, a gulp of swallows and my all time favourite a dazzle of zebra. So what exactly ‘does’ the dazzling ? The key with zebra is to [...]

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The Lion Dynamics after the Flood

by Adam Bannister January 30, 2012

After a lengthy break from the bush it is wonderful to be back. I have returned to a very different landscape having missed the monumental floods nearly two weeks ago. I drove around yesterday and am simply amazed by how the area along the river has changed so dramatically. Over the next few days whilst [...]

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Side-Striped Jackal : Monogamy is still alive

by Adam Bannister January 10, 2012

In the animal kingdom monogamy is the exception rather than the rule… One of the cutest of all the animals out here in the bushveld is the Side-Striped Jackal; being small and secretive they are often overlooked. They are delicate creatures; light on their feet as they dance through the grass. These animals are a [...]

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Animal Spirit Guide : African Elephant

by Adam Bannister January 7, 2012

Some of you may be aware of Dr Steven Farmer,the shamanic practitioner, psychotherapist and professional healer. Through his numerous texts and talks he aims to facilitate and inspire a deeper awareness and appreciation for our relationship with Spirit and the natural world. He speaks a lot about the use of Animal Spirit Guides. They show [...]

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Tsalala Lion Cub killed by Majingilane Male Lions

by Adam Bannister December 29, 2011

It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of yet another loss to the Tsalala Pride. On the evening of the 26th December 2011 the Majingilanes were on a rampage. All four of them had grouped together and when a distant call of the Tsalala Pride could be heard it was a [...]

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On Safari with a Fisheye Lens

by Adam Bannister December 26, 2011

I must start off by wishing you all a Merry Christmas. I trust that you had a wonderful day and that you were surrounded by friends, family and loved ones. As a wildlife photography fanatic I am continually seeking new ways to shoot and portray images in nature. One quite exciting idea that I have [...]

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Unusual Nyala Colour morph

by Adam Bannister December 22, 2011

The Nyala is one of the most beautiful antelope you will see at Londolozi. What stands out with the Nyala is the extreme sexual dimorphism, with the two sexes looking completely different. You could even be excused for thinking that they are two different animals entirely. Both sexes have a white chevron between the eyes, [...]

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Four Majingilane Males together with Sparta Pride cubs

by Adam Bannister December 20, 2011

As mentioned a short while back the Sparta Pride appears to be on the mend. The one lioness has two cubs that are thought to have been born around September this year…they are incredibly cute. They play around with not a care in the world, oblivious to the chaos that surrounds them. Two days ago [...]

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Rangers and Trackers Teambuilding

by Adam Bannister December 19, 2011

The Rangers and Trackers were randomly divided into two teams; these teams would compete against each other in the inaugural ‘Boerewors Week‘. A week set aside in the busy calendar year to strengthen partnerships, morale, improve skills, increase banter and have great fun amongst work colleagues. All done to shape this already superb field guiding [...]

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The Hyenas vs the Leopards

by Adam Bannister December 15, 2011

In mid December each year a Soccer match is played as a curtain raiser to the Staff Christmas Party. The well know Londolozi Leopards; our very own established football team consisting of butlers, gardeners, and trackers take on the make-shift team nicknamed the Londolozi Hyenas… to call the Hyenas a Soccer/Football team is a huge [...]

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5 month old lion cub survives 5 weeks alone!

by Adam Bannister December 12, 2011

This is a story so unbelievable that only Nature could have the creativity and courage to let it play out. This is a story that shows the fighting spirit, resilience and the complexity of Africa’s most revered mammal…the Lion. The star of the show is a member of the Tsalala Pride. This time, however, the [...]

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Impala and Wildebeest Babies

by Adam Bannister December 7, 2011

This is one of my favourite times of the year to be in the lowveld…the lush green grass, dry heat, late afternoon thunderstorms and most of all the babies…Impala and Wildebeest newly borns running around the bush make for a magical season of joy and festivity. I trust you will enjoy this very small collection [...]

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New Lion Cubs at Londolozi

by Adam Bannister December 5, 2011

It is with much excitement that we can confirm that there are two new additions to the Lions of Londolozi. In the last 3 weeks we have started seeing two cubs belonging to one of the Sparta Pride lionesses. Although we can not be completely sure as to a date of birth we speculate it [...]

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Jerry Hambana gets into photography!

by Adam Bannister December 2, 2011

The photography bug really has taken hold of everyone here at Londolozi. Here we feature something a little bit different from pictures taken by our talented guiding team. Instead we show off some of the work taken by our newest up and coming photographer…one of our most talented trackers Jerry Hambana…

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Nyeleti Young Female Leopard

by Adam Bannister November 22, 2011

One has to page through the Londolozi sightings book all the way back to 13 March 2011 so as to find the last confirmed sighting of the Nyeleti 4:4 Female… since then she has all but disappeared. Now we as Rangers are very hesitant to declare an animal as dead but one has to think [...]

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Current composition of the Tsalala Pride

by Adam Bannister November 21, 2011

After a difficult couple of weeks for this pride they at long last managed to make a substantial kill, pulling down a large Buffalo cow not far from the Londolozi Camps. It was an absolute delight to see these lions with fat bellies after what can only be described as a nightmare period in their [...]

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Impala Birthing Season Approaches

by Adam Bannister November 14, 2011

Many scientists, taxonomists and experts in the evolutionary field consider the Impala the archetypical antelope; with it’s body form bearing resemblance to many other bovids. A hugely successful antelope remaining almost unchanged since the Miocene (6.5 million years). One stratergy, amongst many, which the Impala uses is to breed on masse at a very specific time of the year.

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Hyena bites Lioness’ Tail off

by Adam Bannister November 12, 2011

The last 10 days have provided some fascinating developments for Londolozi’s Tsalala Pride. I need to wind back the clock to the night of the 1 November. That night the 2 sisters managed to kill a zebra in a region that historically is some distance south of their territory. At this stage the Tailless Female [...]

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Leopards, Lions, Hyenas and Tree Climbing

by Adam Bannister November 7, 2011

What goes up must come down… The one thing I love about Leopards is that they can climb trees: and they make it look so easy. I have always loved to climb but I have certainly never managed the grace and agility of these spotted cats. When I’m up in a tree I feel free [...]

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Wild Dogs and Wild Beasts

by Adam Bannister November 1, 2011

The khoikhoi called them “Gnou” after their unusual sound; the Afrikaners called them Wildebeest, or “Wild Beast,” for the menacing appearance presented by its large head, shaggy mane, pointed beard, and sharp, curved horns. They roam over much of the African grasslands, open plains and dry woodlands. Here at Londolozi they are a characteristic species [...]

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