The week started off really well when we discovered the 4 Sparta lionesses, their 7 cubs and 3 of the Majingilane coalition all feeding on an adult giraffe. With their numbers growing, the Sparta pride seems to be focussing on larger prey species. After a couple of zebra kills in recent months, they made this giraffe kill.
While on the subject of ‘big’ kills, we found the Maxabene 3:2 young male feeding on a zebra foal that he had killed and hoisted into a Lowveld milkberry tree. The Maxabene 3:2 and 3:3 males are not shy of pushing their boundaries as far as prey size goes. Between them, they have killed zebra, wildebeest and a young buffalo.
We had a couple of rainy days, but all in all, the game viewing was great. The highlight, for me, was seeing my favorite female leopard, the Dudley riverbank female, and her 8 month old cub. Despite sometimes finding tracks, they have managed to elude us for weeks now and it is always a privilege to find them in the beautiful, dense bush along the Tugwaan drainage line.
This week, I also managed to capture some of the other aspects of the natural world at Londolozi, including a painted reed frog and one of the dramatic sunsets we’ve had following all the rain.
I hope you all enjoy the slightly different angle on this week in pictures.
Taking a break from feeding on the giraffe, a Sparta cub suckles from one of the lionesses. I love the facial expression.
The lionesses were all extremely lethargic after feeding on the giraffe for a few days, but this didn’t do much to discourage the cubs’ playfulness. I managed to catch this cub just as he straddled a lionesses head in an effort to induce a reaction.
A juvenile bateleur captured in amazing morning light. These raptors have this brown plumage for 7 years before they develop their beautiful adult plumage.
A couple of weeks ago we established that the tailed female from the Tsalala pride had cubs that she was keeping in a den along the Manyeleti River. This week, however, we found her mating with the dark maned Majingilane male. In all likelihood this means that she has lost all the cubs, as there would be no other reason for her to come back into oestrus. We also haven’t seen the cub of the original tailless female for some time now, so we assume that it has unfortunately suffered the same fate.
This was my favorite find of the week! As we rounded one of the final corners on the way back to camp, I had a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. It turned out to be a painted reed frog perched in the fork of a buffalo thorn branch. These frogs are responsible for the high pitch ‘pinging’ sound that one often hears at waterholes on summer evenings.
My other highlight of the week was seeing the Dudley Riverbank female and her cub. We haven’t seen her for quite some time and this week she eventually turned up. As we arrived at the sighting, she called her cub, who came bounding over and sidled up to her, clearly happy to be reunited with its mother.
The Maxabene 3:2 male sitting in the lowveld milkberry tree in which he hoisted a zebra foal. This isn’t the first time he’s killed a zebra and his brother has even killed a buffalo calf before. Clearly, these young male leopards aren’t afraid of a challenge.
One of the most spectacular birds, a saddle billed stork, forages in a pan. These birds show clear sexual dimorphism, with this being a female due to the yellow eye. The male has a dark eye.
An inquisitive rhino calf leaves its mother’s side for a second and stares at our game drive vehicle, providing a great photographic opportunity.
The beautiful, lantern like, flowers of the sickle bush which can be seen all over Londolozi at the moment.
A buffalo cow looks up while wallowing with other members of the large herd of buffalo. I like the effect of all the flies around her head.
A male tree agama lizard, with the exception of his blue head, shows excellent camouflage against the bark of a torchwood tree. The female would be similar to the male, but without the blue head.
A breeding herd of elephants feed alongside a fig tree. I love the effect of all the green that surrounds the elephants.
Another one of my reflection images. An elephant drinks from Taylor’s dam with its trunk fully extended.
A dramatic scene as the sun sets over another day at Londolozi. One can see the Drakensberg mountain range on the horizon.
Written and photographed by James Crookes
Great Pics Crooks!!!! Welcome to the blog team 😉
The leopard shot is WOW WOW!
Super pics as always – The Agama Lizard pic is awesome shows just how camouflage plays such an important part in survival 😉
You mentioned that you haven’t seen the cub of the original tailless female for some time now. Are you referring to the cub that we have been seeing in the updates? We saw her on the blog that was posted on the 10th. We are all worried! Have you seen her mom?
Hi Amy, yes, that’s the cub I’m referring to. Based on my records, we last saw her on 29 October and we have seen her mother, the original tailless female, quite a few times since then, but have had no sign of the cub.
Is the cub of the BB, the Tailless Female dead?
I can’t say for sure Shardool, but I suspect so.
Ok!! Thanks!!
What kind of lens did you use for the sunset photo? Very dramatic.
Thanks!
Nothing fancy Leslie, just the standard 18-55mm canon lens that comes standard with most camera bodies. The sky was dramatic enough that very little manipulation was needed.
Beautiful Pics…The one with elephants with the greenery is absoutely stunning….It looks like a beautiful piece of art. I would defenitely have that one framed!!
Well done James 🙂
Thanks Tammy, I found it quite unusual for the Sabi Sand, it looks more like a forest scene.
OMG!! Can’t wait ’til March
Hi James, as usual great photos and write up. I am loving the sunset and reflection image of the elephant. Keep them coming 🙂 – Maria
Stunning pictures!! When I was at another Sabi Sand game lodge a few years ago I was told that a Lioness will sometimes mate with a Lion to protect her cub. Was that line of bull? 🙂
Hi Rae, you are absolutely correct, but that is more likely to be seen where the male is new to the area and hasn’t fathered the cub(s). In this case, the Majingilane males fathered the cub(s), so it doesn’t seem a likely explanation for why she would again be mating with a member of the Majingilane coalition. In the case of coalitions, however, lionesses have to ensure that they mate with each of the members of the coalition, so that there is a possibility that each of them is the father of the cubs. If she were to only have mated with 3 of the 4 males, the 4th would likely kill the cubs if he came into contact with them. There is, therefore, the possibility that when she conceived these cubs, she didn’t mate with the dark maned Majingilane and is therefore now mating with him to protect the cubs and lead him away from them.
I suspect that the cubs are no longer, but we’ll have to wait and see. I’ve long since learnt to expect the unexpected in the bush!
Beautiful pictures, James, especially the buffalo cow with flies and the elephant reflection.
What happened to the original tailless Tsalala female and her cub? I’ve just posted their latest pics to my granddaughter who is looking forward to see them in Londolozi next year. She hopes that nothing serious happened. Does anyone know what happened to the tailed Tsalala female’s cubs?
The original tailless female is doing well and has been seen with the rest of the pride. We are unsure as to what has happened to her cub and the tailed female’s cubs, but I’ll be sure to update everyone as soon as we know with any degree of certainty.
Well done! The cub pic is soooooo cute!
Thank you again for the wonderful update. However, you assumed that the legendary old tailles female from the Tsalalapride has lost her one and only cub of 8 months. If this is true I find it very sad. Do you know what happened?
I agree with Amy…is that the cub we’ve been seeing? The loss of ANY of them is heartbreaking, but the original ‘Tailless’ female has been so successful and this is possibly her last litter. SAD!!! 🙁
However, the photos of the Sparta cubs are ADORABLE! What expressions!!! And the Dudley Riverbank female and cub….simply stunning! Well done! Thank you!
Wow! Fantastic photos!
AWESOME PHOTOS!!!! THANK YOU!!
Great job on bog James, Thank you for the updates on you beautiful world.
it is sad to hear of BB and the others losing the cubs.. Will look forward to next week.
Is now Maxabene male leopard as large as Campan male?
He’s not quite as large as the Camp Pan male, but he is definitely filling out a bit. His tracks are now starting to become difficult to differentiate from Camp Pan’s. Remember that Maxabene 3:2 is now 4 years old and Camp Pan is turning 12, so Camp Pan is on the decline and Maxabene is still approaching his prime, so it won’t be too long before he catches, and overtakes, Camp Pan.
Absolute crackers Crooksie!
Thank you for these gorgeous pictures!
I kept wanting to click ‘like’ on so many of the photos, rwl. So many fantastic shots. Hopefully the cubs turn up but not likely, eh!