As the weather heats up but the real rains have yet to begin, the elephants have continued to flock to the Sand River. Animals are retreating to the shade sooner as temperatures have begun to soar far earlier in the morning. This was a lion week, with the Tsalala and Mhangeni prides giving us some great sightings.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
Hippos charge into the water of the Sand River as we came upon them suddenly near Old Elephant Crossing. Feeling exposed out of the water, they rushed back into their refuge. f4.5, 1/5000, ISO 320
The Nanga female had led her cubs a long way on this morning. A good few kilometres of walking on little legs tired them out as their mother led them to a duiker kill she had made. f3.5, 1/400, ISO 800
One of the Nanga cubs gives the bumper of ranger Lucien Beaumont’s vehicle a good sniff.f2.8, 1/640, ISO 800
This was one of the most incredible elephant sightings I’ve had this year. A seemingly endless herd just kept emerging out of the woodland near Lex’s Pan, with almost every individual taking the time to fling mud or water on themselves. f4.5, 1/640, ISO 800
A more orthodox take on the elephant sighting at Lex’s Pan. f3.2, 1/2000, ISO 500
Two of the Mhangeni youngsters eye us from a dead log in the Sand River. We couldn’t get any closer in the Land Rover without serious risk of getting stuck (and thus receiving the Pink Pouch) so had to content ourselves with a view of just these two. f5.6, 1/1600, ISO 800
This elephant was feeding on a Knobthorn right by the entrance to Founders Camp. Far more concerned about the succulent leaves than by our presence, she kept shovelling the branches, vicious thorns and all, into her mouth. f3.5, 1/320, ISO 320
A white rhino bull chases one of the cheetah sub-adults out of the frame while its mother and sibling remain unconcerned. The rhino didn’t want to show favouritism, so chased them as well a few moments later. f5, 1/1600, ISO 500
An Egyptian goose and her goslings bob around on Makhotini Dam. There is a recalcitrant bull hippo that is occasionally found in this waterhole who seems to delight in chasing waterbirds, but the geese went unmolested on this morning. f5.6, 1/1600, ISO 500
The patience of even the most doting mothers can wear thin from time to time. The Mhangeni females had just returned from a hunting expedition, some of them with cuts and scrapes, and all the cubs wanted to do was play. This female resented her drink of water at Helen’s Pan being interrupted. f4.5, 1/1000, ISO 200
Dwarf mongooses take in the last of the afternoon sun before retreating into their termite mound shelter for the night. f2.8, 1/800, ISO 800
The Tsalala sub-adult and her mother relax after an unsuccessful Nyala hunt on the banks of the Sand River. f3.5, 1/640, ISO 1250
The Tsalala lionesses (minus cubs) stare off into the distance at some baboons that were alarming at them from an ebony tree further down the bank. f4, 1/640, ISO 1250
I am from Cape Town originally, and the one thing I miss the most about the Mother City is being able to go surfing on a regular basis. So when I saw this little standing wave and miniature barrel at Taylor’s Crossing I had to snap a shot. f5.6, 1/1600, ISO 500
A small elephant herd drinks from the Sand River at noon. Some hadeda ibises fly across the scene while hippos lounge in some deep pools just beyond. A peaceful afternoon in the Lowveld. f5, 1/8000, ISO 640
Photographed by James Tyrrell
Fantastic shots! What a way to start the weekend! Thanks for posting!
Nice shots! Keep up the good work James.
What fabulous shots of all the animals in action. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent photographs JT, love the elephant spraying mud. rich
Stunning shots Jamo, particularly liked the close up of the ele’s mouth as it took a taste of thorny branches. I had to smile at the ‘surfing’ shot……hope there will be some good waves for you when your’e home next week!
Great photos James. Love the surf shot too!
The photo of the lion cub on the mother’s back is a “once in a lifetime” quality photo. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you James for another splendid week.
James, I hope the waves in CT are a “bit” higher than this one 🙂
You love what you do and don’t have a death wish, but I have to ask, were you in the truck with the cub sniffing at you or on foot?? I’m not doubting you, is the Rhino not a black as I notice the lip is pointed? I look forward to being corrected.
Thanks once again for making my weekend wonderful!
Hi Wendy,
Yes I was in the vehicle for the first cub photo. The vehicles at Londolozi don’t have doors on the driver’s side as we are constantly getting in and out to look at tracks and a door would be a constant nuisance. Not having a door can occasionally lead to some uncomfortably close encounters…
The rhino was a white rhino; the lip does look a bit pointed in the photo, but its more the angle that gives that impression. We don’t see many black rhino here, although they are encountered from time to time. They are significantly smaller and with a smaller head relative to the body size than a white rhino.
James
The Mhangeni female and cub is brilliant. I am sure most mothers can relate to that one, I know I can!
Fantasic shots, James! The cub on its mother’s back is spectacular. Of course, love the b&w ele spraying herself. Just lovely.
Miss you guys!
Hi James i dont know if you remember us we came in February and had such a fantastic time we are coming again in November this year, When we were there Mike Sithole was our traker a very good one as well [as was you a very good ranger] and we promise we would send him a MAN UNITED shirt which we did plus sweets for the children in your school i put my mobile phone number in and asked if he would text to say he recieved it but had not heard anything we sent it recorded delivery and when we tracked it they said it had got to you. if you have a spare minute do you think you could find out if mike got it and let us know if possible, Thank you again for such a brilliant time, hope to see you again in november kind regards Trevor and Mary Jacobs.
JT… Awesome photos as usual… Love Female lion and her cub!
Nice