A wonderful find in the North of a new leopard den-site, the possibility of the Tsalala Pride birthing another litter and a few lions up in trees certainly made this week one of all sorts at Londolozi. The game viewing of late has been pretty special, mainly in terms of the extreme variety of things we have been seeing. As the warmest winter in a long while begins its slow move towards spring, we are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the first migratory birds to herald the change of season. The first Wahlberg’s eagles should be here soon and with the first rains life will explode once more upon the Lowveld.
That is still a few months away though, so for now, enjoy this Week in Pictures…
This photo, taken a few days ago, is eerily prophetic, in that this morning the Tamboti female was found with only one of her cubs. It will be a tragic loss of a wonderful animal if the second cub has been killed, but it is too soon to know for sure. f3.2, 1/1250, ISO 800
I learnt an amazing fact about Water Monitors recently; they have been observed foraging cooperatively. One will lure a female crocodile away from her nest while the other opens the nest to feed on the eggs. The decoy then returns to also feed on the eggs. This one was doing little more than basking in the sun, but it would be quite a thing to witness two of these beautiful lizards working as a team! f5.6, 1/2000, ISO 400
This female rhino and her calf have been spending a lot of time around the Maxabene riverbed, and the youngster on this evening was intent on chasing every Blacksmith Lapwing in sight! f4, 1/640, ISO 640
The latest editions to the Leopards of Londolozi live north of the Sand River. Watch the blog for the full story next week… f4, 1/1000, ISO 800
A sighting of a blue-eyed leopard cub is one many people will never get to have, so well are they hidden by the female. This particular leopard lives in a remote and relatively inaccessible area of Londolozi, and as we believe she has now moved her densite, it may be awhile before the cubs are re-discovered. Photograph by Helen Young. f3.2, 1/1000, ISO 800
A young bull elephant heads down towards the Manyelethi riverbed where some buffalo bulls are grazing in the background. f2.8, 1/800, ISO 1000
The mother cheetah and her cubs have had a turbulent week with her injury worries, but this kill was a massive boost for the three. She is not out of the woods yet, but the outlook is extremely positive. f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 320
It is easy to forget that leopard cubs, despite being cute and often playful, nevertheless grow up to be fearsome killers. Here the Mashaba young female feasts on an impala that her mother had killed and hoisted in a Jackalberry tree. f3.5, 1/2500, ISO 800
A lovely frame of the Mashaba young female leopard staring back at us through the Jackalberry branches. f3.2, 1/640, IS0 800
The Ximpalapala young female reclines on a fallen Marula a short distance away from where her impala kill was hoisted. It was the kill hoisted here that led to the incredible sighting of the tree-climbing Tsalala pride… f5.6, 1/640, ISO 500
The scar-nosed Majingilane stops to listen from an answering contact call from one of his coalition-mates. f3.5, 1/8000, ISO 800
By simply comparing lions to other lions it is hard to get an idea of just how big and impressive they are. When they walk past a Land-Rover for reference however, it becomes a little easier to appreciate their size, as the scar-nosed Majingilane walks past ranger Byron Serrao’s vehicle. f4.5, 1/640, ISO 800
The older tailless Tsalala lioness walks through a dry section of the Sand River in search of the rest of her pride. She found them in the company of the Majingilane a few hundred metres further on. f5.6, 1/1600, ISO 320
A Spotted Hyena waits beneath a hoisted impala carcass for the Ximpalapala young female leopard to maybe make a mistake and drop it. f2.8, 1/1000, ISO 800
A rare sight – impala staring at wild dogs instead of fleeing for their lives. Herbivores read a lot into the body posture and behaviour of predators in order to assess the threat level. The wild dogs had robbed a kill from the Mashaba female this morning and were not that hungry. Even so, the impala didn’t wait too much longer before they made themselves scarce, leaving the airstrip to the pack.
Photographed by James Tyrrell and Helen Young
As always a wonderful week in pictures! My favorites are always the leopards.
But the little Rhino is very special.. the pictures are amazing!
Thank you for sharing your bit of paradise.
Great photos JT, particularly Mashabas cub
Thank you for the wonderful pictures. They bring back many fond memories.
JUST BEAUTIFUL…
THANX A LOT…especially for the léopards…
Thanks James & Helen for once again “making my Saturday”!
Leopards, leopards & more – bring them on – I never tire of looking at the grace of a female with her cub/s and that precious blue-eyed baby is huggable! I hope the other one is alive & safe? I also love the little Rhino – its wonderful just how playful they are.
Have a lovely Sunday and I now have the blog to look at 🙂 – Thanks again!
Looking forward to seeing more photographs of the blue eyed leopard cub. Anymore sightings of the two cubs of the breakaway lioness we saw back on May 12th?
As always, great photos!
Thank You for Awesome photos!!!
Awesome!!