Last week I wrote about the ‘Purple Patch’ that rangers occasionally experience as amazing sightings consistently unfold in front of them. Well it seems I got it wrong last week, as it is Londolozi as a whole that is going through the Purple Patch rather. The game viewing has been nothing short of phenomenal, with four different prides of lions moving through the area over the last week (Sparta, Mhangeni, Tsalala and Southern Pride) and the ever-present Majingilane moving between three of the four.
After a quiet week hiding in the area north of Southern Cross Koppies, the Nanga female was found again by a determined Don Heyneke and Rob Hletshwayo, who went out after morning game drive to track her and her cubs through the hottest hours of the day. As a result of their hard work the team enjoyed an amazing few days viewing of these three animals along the beautiful banks of the Manyelethi River.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
One of the Majingilane watches us drowsily from the bed of the Sand River. I added a vignette to the final photo to bring more attention to the male’s eye, beautifully illuminated in the evening light. f4, 1/800, ISO 640
A Martial Eagle takes off in the early morning light. Huge birds, they can take prey up to the size of small antelope. f3.5, 1/3200, ISO 640
Sandros Sihlangu and guests enjoy a wonderful view of the Tamboti female and her cub. f5, 1/1000, ISO 640
The Mhangeni pride spends a lot of time around the Sand River. The palm thickets south of Marthly River Road offer cool, shady spots to spend the day and ample hiding places to leave cubs should the mothers go hunting. f9, 1/800, ISO 640
More of Londolozi’s favourite pride, the Mhangeni lionesses and cubs spend time with the Dark-maned Majingilane, although he was none too impressed with the little ones when they bit his tail! f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640
Everyone knows of the tailless lioness, but we found a hornbill to match. f4.5, 1/2000, ISO 800
One of the Nanga cubs gets bullied out of a Gwarrie Tree by its sibling. f3.2, 1/400, ISO 800
The Nanga female nurses her cubs on the banks of the Manyelethi River. f3.5, 1/1000, ISO 800
Knowing that their mum will be doing the hunting and providing the food, the Nanga Cubs have plenty of excess energy to engage in play and games. f3.5, 1/1000, ISO 640
The Nanga female jumps up a steep bank in the Manyelethi Riverbed. We were unable to follow with the vehicles and so lost sight of her as she melted into the grass. She had been chasing an unidentified female leopard just prior to this, and we suspect it may have been the Ximpalapala female. f3.2, 1/2500, ISO 640
The Mhangeni pride cubs, as fat as anything after helping their mothers eat a zebra, recline in the Manyelethi Riverbed. f2.8, 1/1600, ISO 640
The Mhangeni pride again. A family of dwarf mongooses was trapped in the trunk of this fallen tree, and some of the cubs terrorised them for a good 10 minutes before getting bored and moving off. f5.6, 1/1250, ISO 640
Two of the Tsalala pride’s latest litter watch us sleepily from the fork of a Jackalberry Tree. f2.8, 1/320, ISO 1000
This tree frog was the same one featured in last week’s TWIP. He was in exactly the same place that afternoon, and had changed colour in the sunlight. f16, 1/800, ISO 1600, Macro Lens
I have waited almost three years for a proper daytime sighting of lions crossing the Sand River. On this afternoon, while watching an elephant bull just west of Pioneer Camp, Mike Sithole spotted movement on the far side of the river (the rest of us could see nothing without the aid of binoculars!) as the Tsalala Pride approached the water. They were watching some Nyala bulls in the thickets and crossed the shallows of the river to initiate the stalk. They were unsuccessful. f3.2, 1/1250, ISO 1000
Photographed by James Tyrrell
Great Pictures, Awesome place , Thank you James
Thank you James, for another wonderful visual ending of the week–still counting the days for my return. Until then I shall enjoy your beautiful work.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures. Who knows, one day, I’ll be able to be in one of these pictures, admiring nature.
What a wonderful week you had.. The tailless Hornbill was very cute. Loved the baby leopards!
Thanks for sharing!
Excellent set of images JT, Nanga’s cubs are something else. rich
James, these are all phenomenal! Excuse my ignorance, but what is that vignette you used as it is years since I used big lenses etc?
Do some of the lion cubs have mange?
Oh gosh now have to wait another week 🙂
Hi Wendy,
The Vignette referred to is the slight darkening around the edges of the photo. It helps to draw attention towards the middle of the picture and is very easy to apply in post-processing.
James
as always James, great photos!
James,
Great photos as usual – love the idea of follow up with the frog.
Is there only one Tamboti cub now?
Hi Jo Lynne,
Unfortunately yes, one of the cubs disappeared about 6 weeks ago…
James