Wildlife Diary

Lion Warfare: Tailless Female and the Tsalala Five

September 1, 2011

Rangers, trackers and guests have always had a soft spot for the Tailless Female. Her story is one of bravery and courage. The fact that she has no tail makes her so distinct looking that it is impossible to not recognise her instantly. About twelve moons ago she broke away from the Tsalala sisters, taking with her the 4 surviving youngsters from their 2008/2009 litter. They formed the Breakaway Tsalala 5 Pride and they moved off north and west of Londolozi in an attempt to get away from the onslaught of the Majingilane Coalition.It was sad to see them go but regular updates from neighbouring lodges confirmed their well-being…

The Leopards of Londolozi #5

August 31, 2011

Although sightings of any of the big, territorial males were scarce, the females and sub-adults certainly were not. Many of the regulars were seen, and there was a truly exceptional sighting of all three of the Nyalethi youngsters together, reminding us once again how fortunate we are as guides to be working on such an [...]

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Is the Nottens Female too old to mate?

August 29, 2011

Rangers and trackers search game paths hoping to see the tell-tale track of Nottens; finding her is like hitting the jackpot.The question is…at her old age will we see her have one last litter before her days are up..?

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Photographing the Epic Majingilane Coalition

August 27, 2011

It’s not often that we as photographic guides are given the privilege of being able to set up in advance for the ‘perfect’ photograph. We are usually trying to predict the future and capture the moment in split seconds. On this particular day we used our knowledge of animal behaviour and this allowed us to [...]

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The Week in Pictures # 9

August 26, 2011

This past week I didn’t spend as much time on traditional safari but rather driving the specialised Photographic Vehicle, which meant that we were able to stay out in the bush all day, patiently spending large amounts of time with various animals. Our guests were particularly keen birders, and therefore in addition to tracking the usual suspects like the Sparta lions and various leopards, we had the privilege of being able to sit in great birding spots to enjoy the view and hone our bird photography skills – in my mind the most difficult animals to photograph. The three days we spent on the Photographic Vehicle came to its pinnacle on the final night when we discovered a new access to the den site of the younger Tsalala cubs. We spent a few breathtaking moments as these youngsters curiously approached us… see for yourself!

guest choice to stay out

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The Campbell Koppies Young Female and Cub

August 25, 2011

The infrequently seen Campbell Koppies female was sighted on northern Londolozi two days ago. Having just killed an impala ewe, she proceeded to hoist and feed before making a contact call. Within minutes, much to our delight, her cub appeared to join in the feeding. It turned into, however, a comedy of errors which only served to display the young cub’s inexperience in dealing with hoisted carcasses. Here is the story below…

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The Leopards of Londolozi #4

August 24, 2011

For a day there was not a leopard to be seen. In spite of the hard hours tracking and eyes desperately searching the winter bush, these beautiful creatures remained elusive. And then, seemingly all at once, the flood gates opened and individuals appeared sauntering down a dirt track, appearing from behind a bush and even mating with each other. After a day of silence they were back, as magnificent as ever. This week we saw, amongst others, the Vomba 3:2 Female, The Maxabene 3:2 Young Male, the Short Tail 5:4 Male and the infrequently seen Maxabene 3:3 Male (b.2006). Enjoy…

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A Londolozi Safari

August 23, 2011

Our recent guest, Rita Shaw, shares some of her best images from her stay at Londolozi Tree Camp. An avid fan of the blog and past visitor to Londolozi, it is wonderful to be able to share some of her images below…

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Marthly Male Kills Baboon

August 21, 2011

Last week, the Marthly 3:2 Male Leopard crossed south over the Sand River, out of his usual domain in the north, walked straight through camp, and killed an unlucky female baboon. It seem as though the Marthly Male, or Tyson as he is affectionately known, had taken it upon himself to regulate the baboon population, leaving his territory with purpose and ignoring the abundance of easier prey in camp such as bushbuck and nyala. After all, baboons are no friends of leopards: they often spot them with their unbelievable eyesight and give away their presence to potential prey with deep alarm barks…

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The Connoisseur Club on Safari

August 20, 2011

I have grown up in a well-known hospitality family and first started working in the restaurant, resort and catering business when I was 14. The most significant business concept that I was taught and that I have tried to live by in the over 40 years since, and the 25 years at my own restaurant and catering business is to “treat my guests as I would expect to be treated”. Londolozi is the epitome of that concept. We have never experienced such genuine and professional hospitality anywhere else in the world…

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The Week in Pictures # 8

August 19, 2011

What a different, striking week at Londolozi. As you will see from the pictures below, it was not just the usual lion and leopard sightings but also the more scenic misty mornings and winter bird life. Coupled with that was an extraordinary sighting between wild dogs and elephants. The pack gave us a fantastic few sightings before disappearing into western Sabi Sands. Also of note were the males from the Southern pride who continue to survive despite the tough conditions between male lions. With a bit of luck we will continue to see more of these good looking young males. As always, enjoy this week in pictures…

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Lion Warfare: Majingilanes mating with Sparta Lionesses

August 18, 2011

For the last year the Sparta Pride have been on the back foot continually running away and avoiding any conflict with the four Majingilane Males. Seldomly seen venturing near their traditional hunting fields of the past in fear that they will be met by a show of force! That has all now changed…

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The Leopards of Londolozi # 3

August 17, 2011

Leopard viewing in the last few weeks seems to have justified many peoples view that August is prime bush time. At least fifteen different individuals allowed us to spend some time with them over tha past two weeks. These are just some of the shots enjoyed during this time. We hope you enjoy this next installment…

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Wild Dogs Chased by Elephants

August 16, 2011

The pack of wild dogs began moving just before sunset. A balmy winter’s afternoon breathed across of the open savannah as the pack ran in a westerly direction. The alpha female led the charge followed by the other adults with the young pups and a limping male close behind. Ardently searching for an opportunity to hunt, the dogs covered a massive amount of terrain as they got a feel for the rhythm of the bushveld. What they could not have excepted, however, was an encounter with Africa’s largest living land mammal – the elephant…

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Tsalala Cubs Brave Sand River

August 15, 2011

We thought we had missed the sighting of a lifetime. 4 wet cubs from the Tsalala Pride lay next to a finished impala carcass, bellies full and eyes closed. They had come south and somehow crossed through the Sand River to eat with the two Tsalala lionesses. It was hard to imagine these young cubs tentatively standing on the banks of the Sand River, dabbing their paws in the flowing water before rushing through to the other side. Yet the cubs had done it, courageous in the face of a challenge and growing up as only lions do. The only disappointment was that we had missed it – or had we…?

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Spotted Hyenas : Love them or Hate them

August 14, 2011

We all have our own opinions about hyenas…Some think that they are the most foul things in the world ; conniving, silly and dark (an image enhanced by their portrayal in the Lion King). Others are their biggest fans and preach about the good they do for the health of an ecosystem. Often operating in clans, it is thought that they developed this social behavior in response to increased pressure from rivals on carcasses, thus forcing them to operate in teams. At Londolozi we have a very healthy population of Spotted Hyena and whether you like them or not one can’t help but acknowledge their entertainment value!

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The Week in Pictures # 7

August 12, 2011

I always find it interesting to look back at what the bushveld presents to me on a weekly basis. On some occasions I will spend hours with just a single leopard, watching its movements, behaviour and delighting in the spectacle which it puts on for my guests and I. It is easy to forget about everything else until that animal melts into the bush and I have to find another to replace their presence. It seems as though the Dudley 5:5 Male was a regular feature of my weekly post, however this last week I have barely seen him. Instead my love affair with the Camp Pan Male has been rekindled as he has treated my guests and I to various spectacular sightings and interactions. I guess it is the unpredictable nature of the bush that makes guiding at Londolozi so exciting and our relationships with these animals so special. Although I have long since learnt never to be certain as to what a drive will present, I do know that it will always be special. Enjoy the pictures…

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My Ten Days at Londolozi

August 11, 2011

Our recent guest, Francesca, spent 10 days at Londolozi with her family. Driving with Jess Boon and Jeffrey Mhlongo, she was able to capture a spectacular album of images during the course of her safari. Witnessing leopards mating, the infamous Majingilane Coalition, adorable Tsalala Cubs as well as the Marthly Male amongst others, below is a selection of her finest images…

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The Tsalala Ten

August 9, 2011

The faces in my car were all smiles; the most satisfied and happy silence I have ever experienced. Everyone stared down between the rocks. We had all fallen in love…fallen in love for the delightful scene playing out in front of our very eyes…fallen in love with the Tsalala Ten!

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Lioness Kills Impala Next to Landrover

August 8, 2011

The impala saw the lioness too late. Already in mid-stride, the tawny flash bore down on the helpless ewe and smothered it within seconds. Barely a moment after alarming in fright, it now lay in a heap as another victim of nature surrounded only by the eerie silence pervading the bushveld. The odd click of a camera stirred the scene and the lioness turned to drag her prize away from the front right tyre of the vehicle where she had crashed down moments earlier. For the photographers, the adrenalin slowly ebbed away as they gasped in amazement at just how closely they had witnessed natures primal rhythms in motion…

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The Blues of the Bushveld

August 5, 2011

Blue is probably the last colour you think of when you think of the bushveld; especially whilst in the throws of a dry winter! Here are a couple of photographs we have gathered together to show just how beautiful blue is and how wonderfully it can be expressed out here at Londolozi. Enjoy…

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Lion Warfare : Countdown to bloodshed

August 4, 2011

The stage is now set for the “Battle of The Sands”. Potentially an epic clash that will see two Male Lion coalitions face off against each other is on the cards…the prize…dominance, territory, access to prides and females and ultimately fathering offspring and the spreading of a gene line…

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Safari in Syd Afrika!

August 1, 2011

Johanna Hagman visited Londolozi in January 2011 together with her family, including her grand parents and her cousins. This is an article she wrote for the WWF Panda Magazine in Sweden…

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Rare Black Rhino Spotted!

July 28, 2011

One of the other rangers had seen tracks and dung of a black rhino a few days before so it had been on my mind that this was a possibility. As I saw it I immediately, even from the little I could see, thought it just looked different. Not wanting to shout out “Black Rhino” and then loook silly when a young white rhino wandered out, I held my tounge and reversed a few meters for a better view. Then, in a typical display of Black Rhino behaviour, it ran out of the thicket towards us to investigate, a bunch of leaves dangling from its mouth…

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The Leopards of Londolozi # 2

July 27, 2011

The Leopards of Londolozi continue to allow us into their intricate and elusive lives as displayed by this weeks selection of images. Camp Pan is still holding onto his territory and is demonstrating just how much of a fight he is prepared to put up in order to keep it – there is definitely a lot left in the tank of this leopard. The Nyaleti Young Female was also sighted a few times and provided for some spectacular photographic opportunities just prior to her hunt of an impala. And, of course, what would today’s Leopard blog be without a mention of the spectacular sighting of last week’s mating epic between the Dudley 5:5 Male, the Mxabene Female and the Tamboti Female. Enjoy…

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The Tree Climbing Lions of Londolozi

July 26, 2011

It is not common to witness lions climbing trees. Leopards are the most notorious tree climbers of all the big cats, however every so often lions will ‘break the rules’ and venture upwards into the arboreal realms. Notorious at Lake Manyara, in Tanzania, the tree climbing lions spend much of their time in the upper branches of the trees to escape the wrath of the dreaded flies and insects which constantly pester them.

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The Emsagwen 6:4 Male Leopard

July 25, 2011

There is a battle brewing in the northern parts of Londolozi. The Emsagwen 6:4 Male Leopard is starting to extend his boundaries westwards into Marthly reaching out into the heart of the Marthly Male. We watch with interest as to whether anything will develop between these two brutes of the leopard world…

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The Week in Pictures # 6

July 22, 2011

Great Tuskers are always a special sighting. Magnificent and established, these old bulls are a proud testament to strength, wisdom and peace in the bushveld. This last week saw such a Tusker move through Londolozi, a unique sighting in addition to all the other interesting big cat movements going on. The Tsalala Pride seem at home at their new densite with exceptional viewing of the older cubs over the past few days. Of course, what would a week in pictures be without the magnificent Majingilane Coalition. Not only did we witness one of them mating with a female from the Sparta pride, but we also the whole coalition together early one evening. Take a look for yourself…

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A Leopard Threesome

July 20, 2011

To see leopards mating in the wild is a very special event which only a handful of people ever get to see! To watch 3 leopards involved in this marathon act is something I had never even contemplated…

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Patience is a Virtue

July 19, 2011

I recently had an American couple as guests. Very keen photographers, so they decided to take a private vehicle for their stay. We had a fantastic few days, with some amazing sightings. But the reason for this was patience and perseverance. They loved seeing all that nature had to offer, and enjoyed learning about our amazing surroundings! Everything from the exquisite Nyala, to the playful dwarf mongoose, not to mention the elephant and one or two of the other Big 5 members! One particular sighting, however, we would not have been rewarded with if it weren’t for our patience…

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Tutlwa Female’s New Leopard Cub

July 18, 2011

Last October the Tutlwa 4:3 female leopard gave birth to a single cub. Denned between large granite boulders in a thin tributary close to the Sand River, both cub and mother were elusive and infrequently seen. Months later, the details surrounding the demise of her cub are still a mystery. Spending much of her time [...]

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The Week in Pictures # 5

July 15, 2011

The heart of winter has descended upon us, yet it seems as though spring is already here. With an assortment of cubs, pups and foals, one could be forgiven for thinking the season of renewal has already arrived. This past week delivered more fantastic game viewing of diverse wildlife such as wild dogs, the Tsalala lionesses, the Nyeleti Young Male and a stunning cheetah amongst other things. Take a look to see for yourself…

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My friend Solly

July 14, 2011

There is nothing more rewarding in the bush then tracking down ‘your own animal’. The thrill of chase…the ultimate hide and seek. Even if you don’t find the animal, the excitement of searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack is the essence of raw joy! The trackers at Londolozi are superb and this ‘needle’ is often uncovered. We are treated to spectacular sightings and it is thanks to the trackers that you leave here with poster size images of wildlife at it’s best. But there is so much more to the tracker – ranger relationship…

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The Leopards of Londolozi # 1

July 13, 2011

This week marks the start of a new weekly blog post about the Leopards of Londolozi. We will be showcasing the leopards who have been taking center stage for the past week, with photo’s of their exploits and some information regarding who has been doing what. Hope you enjoy catching up on these magnificent cats that we are so fortunate to share time with!

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Nothing is as cute as Wild Dog puppies…

July 12, 2011

Babies of any animal are cute…but not much can beat a baby African Wild Dog, or 7 of them for that matter! Yesterday the much loved wild dog pack came across onto Londolozi and bought with them their precious cargo. We sat enthralled as they played around the vehicles and ran up and down the [...]

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First Images of the New Tsalala Pride Cubs

July 11, 2011

It is with huge excitement that we, at Londolozi, are able to share this magical moment with you. Caught here is the first ever footage of the newest addition to the Tsalala Lion Pride. Although we have been aware of these cubs for the last six weeks we have not been able to get a good view of them…

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The Week in Pictures # 4

July 8, 2011

The Week in pictures at Londolozi Game Reserve. A fascinating beginning to July with many sightings of elephant herds, the Sparta lionesses and the Dudley 5:5 Young Male and Vomba Female together, as well as a trip back to the one of the early members of the Londolozi family…

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A Massive Journey of Giraffe

July 5, 2011

I love it when nature throws a curve ball! Something that I don’t really understand or can’t fully explain. I had one of these moments this week when I watched a journey of over 40 Giraffe running around a clearing at Londolozi…

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The Week In Pictures # 3

July 1, 2011

The week in pictures at Londolozi Game Reserve from the 25th June to the 1st July. Some wonderful images from Talley, which include a new, unknown male leopard…

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Majingilane Coalition: One Year Down the Lion

June 30, 2011

It was a cold July morning and they were all balled up in a mass of tawny hair underneath the glorious Ximpalapala Koppie. At that stage they looked calm and peaceful; I had no idea of the fury that they would spin over the next 12 months as they swept through the northern Sabi Sands in a quest for total pride domination..!

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Wild Dogs Moving Closer…

June 27, 2011

It is with great excitement that we have learned that a pack of Wild Dogs is currently denning not too far west of our boundary at the moment. Initially the pack settled for a termite mound in the far western sector of the Sabi Sands meaning that for months they were relatively immobile moving only short distances from their den-site. But as the pups are growing older so they are more capable of moving further distances…

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Lion Warfare: Styx Pride at Londolozi

June 26, 2011

I can’t remember when a portion of the Styx Pride was last seen at Londolozi. It certainly has not been this year…

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The Week in Pictures # 2

June 24, 2011

The week in pictures at Londolozi Game Reserve from 18 to 24 June 2011…

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Cheetah Hunts and Kills Impala

June 21, 2011

The Butlers at Varty Camp heard the alarm calls on the clearing opposite the deck; next thing they saw impala running in all directions. Something was amiss. They got on the radio and put out a message on the airwaves about what they had seen and heard. Lady luck shone down on me as I was a mere 2 minutes away…

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Found! – Tsalala cubs still alive

June 20, 2011

The Majingilane males had caused havoc. After killing one of the Southern Pride young males they had run north and scattered the Tsalala lionesses and the four older cubs who were with them. The two lionesses and two cubs regrouped, however the remaining two were nowhere to be found.

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The Wacheche Leopard Cub – Photographs

June 16, 2011

The moments passed slowly as we waited for the cub to walk out on the road. Shy yet curious it eventually followed its mother, The Wacheche Female, onto the road and walked down the road behind here. With territory in the deep south of Londolozi, she is not frequently seen but when she is, her cub is usually with her and thus presents a truly memorable sighting…

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Lion Warfare – Southern Pride Sadness

June 14, 2011

The Majingilane Coalition and the Southern Pride were close to each other. Both prides lying unaware of each other’s presence a mere 900 meters apart, we knew we were in for a potential evening showdown as dusk settled in. First the Southern Pride yawned, stretched and then rose to begin walking east into Majingilane territory. Moments later the radio crackled – the Majingilane Coalition were now also active and beginning their routine patrol…

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Dudley 5:5 Male – Back in Action!

June 13, 2011

Still licking his wounds from an epic battle with Camp Pan no more than 3 weeks ago, the Dudley Riverbank 5:5 Male appears to be well on the mend. His neck and face still bears evidence in the forms of cuts and scars but at the end of the day success, in leopard speak, is judged by the territory you occupy and the females you mate with. So far so good for the 5:5 Male! He is currently strutting his stuff in the eastern sections of Londolozi and mating with the Vomba 3:2 Female…

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Buffalo Attacked by Lionesses – Escapes Death

June 8, 2011

It was as if they were gladiators fighting in an arena. A moment of raw African Magic happening right in front of us! The spectators sat transfixed; from start to finish they starred, a medley of emotions… joy, shock, horror, awe, love and hate. The whole event will remain embedded in the memories of those fortunate few who got to witness the battle. WARNING: Not for sensitive viewers….

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The Original Tsalala Four

June 6, 2011

Somebody will look for the tracks on every game drive, around every corner and under every bush. The water holes are scoured, old carcasses are analyzed and common resting spots, such as Marthly Pools, frequented. All this to no avail… the new Tsalala Pride lion cubs are well hidden and we are literally pleading with them to give us just a glimpse…

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