With the cheetah drama settling down slightly as the mother cheetah looks to be on the mend, other dramas have raised their heads over the past few days. The Tsalala pride and 3 Majingilanes had a turn at tree climbing in the north, the dogs are looking for a place to den and the Munghen pride have been doing a dance around Taylor’s crossing; stashing their cubs one day and then giving us a glimpse the next.
The bush has been providing some amazing sightings over the past while at Londolozi, so watch out for the highlights here on the blog.
For now though, enjoy this week in pictures…
Snoozing buffalo bulls on the banks of the Manyelethi River set the tone for a peaceful evening in the bush. f4.5, 1/400, ISO 500
The other end of the buffalo bull spectrum; two bulls clash heads as they fight for mating rights within a herd. F3.5, 1/4000, ISO 640
The cheetah cubs race each other past their mother on the day before she sustained her injury. She is walking stiffly, which is only to be expected, but so far the signs are good for a recovery… f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500
A wild dog trots out into the Open Areas under a full moon. f3.2, 1/500, ISO 1600
Where will the dogs den this year? The question that is on everyone’s lips, as the two pregnant females in the pack have been excavating a number of termite mounds in the area. It is far too soon to know, but we are keeping our fingers crossed… f3.5, 1/640, ISO 1250
A sleeping elephant bull is oblivious of his reflection in Two Pans. We watched him dozing her for a good 15 minutes as he slowly swayed back and forth. f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500
A pair of Egyptian Geese use the last of the evening light to forage in the shallows of Shingalana Dam. A pair of these birds can be found at almost every major waterhole at Londolozi. f3.5, 1/800, ISO 1000
A large warthog boar picks at the stomach contents and stomach lining of an impala. Regarded as omnivorous yet eating primarily plant matter, warthogs will still supplement their diet with meat from time to time, scavenging off kills to get vital minerals that they may be lacking. f4.5, 1/2500, ISO 320
After driving them off the remains of their kill, the warthog boar was unceremoniously chased off by the male cheetah cub, having harassed the injured female one too many times. f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 640
The Maripsi densite in the deep south is active again! After floods last year forced the hyenas out, the dryness of the winter months has made their den habitable once more, and this young cub and its mother were enjoying the late afternoon sun. f2.8, 1.800, ISO 1000
Not a pretty bird, the Marabou stork is often included in what has become known as the “Ugly 5”. Scavenegers by nature, this one was wading around in Circuit Pan to see what morsels it could find. f3.5, 1/1000, ISO 640
We had stopped to look at some Burchell’s Sandgrouse in the north of the property and wondered why they were not flying off as they usually do. A tiny movement near the vehicle caught our eye, and this incredibly well camouflaged chick was found lying a few inches from the front tyre. Thank goodness it had had the sense to move off the road slightly, as I never would have seen it… f2.8, 1/2000, ISO 1000
One of the Sparta sub-adult males gnaws on the remains of an impala that the pride had stolen from the mother cheetah and her two cubs. f4, 1/1250, ISO 320
A Whitebacked vulture flaps to gain height as it leaves the scene of a cheetah kill. f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640
The sun does its best to break through for the last time as it slowly descends over the distant peaks of the escarpment. F11, 1/1000, ISO 640
Photographed by James Tyrrell
Just gorgeous, James! I miss being there so much!
James, can we book the wild dogs for next week? 🙂 See you soon!
Hi Daniella,
We have told them they need to be here, so let’s hope they got the message!
See you then!
James
Another week, another Thank You for continuing to rescue my sanity.
Thank you James!!!! As always, fabulous way to end my week!
Magnificent white-backed vulture shot!
wonderful and such great news about the cheetah
we will be there in under a month….. just cannot wait!
Oh what a relief it is to know that I am not alone in my “longing” to see your magnificent pictures. Thank you James once again, as usual “how do we say which is the best”?? The Sunset is awesome as they always are in the bush, the Ellie oh dear, I wish I wasn’t so scared of them, the Wild Dog under that “now dreaded” moon & the eyes of the lion munching on the remains – its a stern warning!!!!
Thank you & if you want to share more during the week – I will not object 🙂
Enjoy
Awesome photos as always…i love it and always look forward seeing your pics…thank you!!!
I just love them all. Thanks James, your week in pictures is so special and keeps me close to my favourite place in the world.
thank you James, beautiful pictures as always.. the lion munching on a bone is wonderful.. the little Hyena cub, looks like a little teddy and the sunset is amazing.. makes the heart yearn to be in Africa!
someday
Utterly stunning Jamo!