Photographically I’ve been having a ‘mare recently. ie. Nightmare. Still shaking off the cobwebs from being on leave, I got the vehicle stuck just behind a nice reed curtain while the Mhangeni pride reunited the other evening, then yesterday while one of the Nanga leopard cubs peered down at us from the branches of a Tamboti tree in the most beautiful golden evening light, I blasted away with my camera (just back from the shop for calibration) only to discover to my horror that I had forgotten to put the memory card back in that I had taken out to upload some pictures earlier that day. Ouch. So the last few days have been a bit hit or miss in terms of photographs, but the sightings have still been exceptional, and to tell you the truth, not having my camera for a few days while it was getting calibrated was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed me to just enjoy the sightings I was in without worrying about apertures and white balance and all the rest. Anyways, after a shaky photographic start to the cycle, it should hopefully be full steam ahead from here on in.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
The Dudley Riverbank female brings the struggles of a duiker to an end. We were skirting round some fallen trees while following the leopard, and within a minute, before we had circled round to find her again, she had come upon and caught the antelope. It was still kicking as we approached her once more. f4, 1/1000, ISO 800
A lone elephant bull moves slowly through the Open Area grasslands. Round-leafed teak grows prolifically in this area, and elephants are particularly susceptible to the mineral-rich stems to be found on this tree. f2.8, 1/8000, ISO 320
A few mornings ago while sitting with the female cheetah on the airstrip, the distress call of a buffalo came bellowing up from the Sand River. Racing down there, we found two of the Majingilane taking down an old bull. Within 36 hours, all four Majingilane were on the carcass, to be joined by the Tsalala Pride shortly afterwards. Here, the male with the missing canine takes a break from feeding while the Dark-maned male gnawed at the buffalo’s ribs. f5, 1/800, ISO 640
The Majingilane with the missing canine often has a funny expression on him, as his lip tends to fall into his mouth, no longer supported by his upper tooth. f3.2, 1/1250, ISO 640
Elephants and water; my absolute favourite combination. This herd was spread across the Sand River, on both sides of Finfoot Crossing. Some were feeding, some were drinking and some of the younger members of the herd were simply enjoying splashing around in the shallows. f5, 1/2000, ISO 500
A different elephant sighting on a different day. These particular individuals had dug themselves a mud wallow out of the bank of the Sand River, and sploshed around in it for over half an hour before the arrival of a musth bull prompted the herd to move on. f3.5, 1/1250, ISO 400
A lot is said and written about giraffe tongues and how long they are, but this picture of the Mashaba female leopard illustrates just how long other species tongues are too. Here the leopard was grooming herself after feeding on a bushbuck kill she had made near Plaque Rock. f4, 1/640, ISO 400
The first photo I have ever captured of a bushbaby. We spotted this one one evening as it went bounding across a sodic site like a miniature kangaroo. f2.8, 1/1000, ISO 1600
A young Sparta male with an almost sheepish expression on his face emerges from the reed-beds along the Tugwaan drainage where the pride had been drinking after finishing off the remains of a wildebeest. f2.8, 1/500, ISO 800
Four different young males from the Sparta pride gnawed on this bone within 10 minutes. There was very little meat left by this time, and this individual gave up shortly afterwards. f2.8, 1/800, ISO 800
7 of the 9 Mhangeni cubs lie near each other in the Sand River. Two of the lionesses were lying a little way downstream, taking a break from the little nuisances, but a short while later all the cubs scampered excitedly off towards them as they saw their mothers returning. f2.8, 1/800, ISO 800
Different herbivore species will often associate with each other for protection. Added eyes and ears and noses make it far more likely for a predator to be detected. Wildebeest and giraffe feed peacefully side-by-side. f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400
I don’t like this photo, as it reminds me of the 15 or so that I missed just prior to this when the cub had no branches in front of it but I didn’t have my memory card in the camera! One of the Nanga cubs peers down towards its mother from the boughs of a Tamboti tree. f3.2, 1/2500, ISO 640
Still not even 4 months old, the Nanga cubs are by no means proficient climbers yet, and most descents are very awkward affairs. f4, 1/800, ISO 640
It’s belly full of mother’s milk as well as duiker meat, one of the Nanga cubs watches us from behind it’s mother’s tail. f3.2, 1/1000, ISO 800
Photographed by James Tyrrell
Your photographs are wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
r,
Patti
Despite your memory card snafu, lovely shots I too get too excited and forget to check all is well before shooting. I depart for Kenya and a month long Safari with clients.. Can hardly wait to shoot some amazing pics, well done James.
What spectacular and meaningful photos!! James, thank you – your photos bring to life so much beauty, wonder and magic. How I hope to be able to visit Londolozi one day!! All best wishes to you, Kathryn
Your photos so make me wish I could do it all over again! To think, I was seeing this all only a week ago!
Thanks for sharing, James!
Absolutely stunning … Love Ellie’s playing in water. Thank you for sharing
We were fortunate enough to spend time with the Nanga cubs and Mhangeni cubs last week, good to see they are still doing well, thanks for keeping us updated.
Welcome back! James, those sightings without the camera will always be in your head, so just relish them & the way you have written this blog & the captions, I feel that I see the picture in front of me, so well done once again & have a good few weeks sightings before you go on leave again 🙂
Another fantastic week in Londolozi. Thank you.
Thank you as always. Beautiful shots.
Love the picture of the Majingilane. Another great week in pictures JT! rich
Great pictures ! 🙂
Amazing pictures of the Young males of the Sparta Pride.
they look smart and strong.
They will be great coalition in the near future,I hope you will follow then and bring us more news.
they born to rule and as they fathers they will.
Mysterious ways…..sometimes, not having makes one appreciate more!! Your photos are fabulous, even though, you say, you missed some. I appreciate every single one, because I can not see any of it daily. Thank you!
Hi James,You have produced an excellent collection here !!!Thanks for capturing all these amazing scenes for us to keep and enjoy!!Please keep on producing quality work like this !!!!!!
Awesome Awesome photos…..thank you for sharing !!!
Thank you – Marvellous photos.