The impala lambs are filling up the clearings faster than we can count them, which in turn has been providing a boon for the predators of Londolozi. One species taking full advantage of this has been the hyenas, and we have been seeing more than our fair share of them patrolling around the herds, looking to snap up an easy meal. It is interesting to observe the different reaction of the impalas to the hyenas between times when they don’t have lambs and the times when they do. They are much more wary of them now that they have vulnerable young ones around, whereas in mid-winter they often won’t spare them a second glance.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
A rare shot of the Sabi Sand’s most dominant lion coalition, the Majingilane, all together. They had been watching a herd of buffalo, but didn’t fancy taking on the big males on this morning. By evening however, they had caught, killed and devoured a buffalo calf and were lying fast asleep with full bellies. f4, 1/1250, ISO 800
Dung beetles fight over fresh zebra dung. Wonderfully entertaining insects to watch, I have spent many game drives and bush walks with guests totally enraptured by their antics, whether fighting, rolling balls or just scuttling along. In fact, the presence of dung beetles is probably one of my top 3 favourite things about summer. f8, 1/160, ISO 2500, shot with 50mm Macro Lens
The cubs of the Tsalala pride walk in line astern on the way to the hippo carcass that they had been feeding on off Plaque Clearing. f5, 1/1250, ISO 800
A bedraggled little cub, looking pretty skinny now that it is all wet, clambers over the dead hippo. f3.5, 1/1000, ISO 800
One of the cubs tentatively dabs at the water on it’s approach to the hippo carcass, watched over by one of its siblings. f3.5, 1/1000, ISO 800
Pink ears tell of a very, very young elephant calf, probably no more than a few days old. Unbelievably, the mother led this little calf right past the vehicle without a care in the world, totally relaxed with our presence. f5, 1/1250, ISO 640
Female waterbuck keep an eye on the Vomba young male leopard, who was skulking in the bushes nearby. f3.2, 1/1250, ISO 800
The Vomba young male, surviving well since he was forced into independence by the death of his mother, has been spending a lot of time near Winnis’ Clearing, to the east of camp. This is exactly where his older sister, the Mashaba female, spent a lot of time when she became independent. f3.2, 1/1250, ISO 800
He eyes out a herd of zebra from atop a termite mound. Much too small to take on an adult zebra, it would have been the foal in the herd that aroused his interest, but he was spotted by some impala as he made his approach. f2.8, 1/1250, ISO 500
We are waiting for one or two migratory bird species to arrive still, but the majority are here already. European storks have been seen, woodland kingfishers are calling constantly, and the whitefaced ducks, pictured here, have returned in force to the pans around camp. f2.8, 1/2500, ISO 320
The Camp Pan male strolls along a game path through a recently burnt area one evening. We had actually been looking for the Tamboti female and her cub, and headed to Tortoise Pan to see if there were any tracks. Alighting from the vehicle, we had barely gone 5 steps when a low growl from underneath a small Jackalberry tree next to the water warned us of the presence of a leopard, and moments later the Camp Pan male stepped out into the open. f3.5, 1/800, ISO 500
One of the Mhangeni lionesses balances along a fallen marula as the pride movves past nearby. The lionesses as well as the cubs were in a wonderfully playful mood on this morning, climbing everything in sight. f4, 1/1250, ISO 640
A wild dog from the pack of 9 finishes off the remains of an impala. It is incredible how fast these animals can devour a kill. We lost the pack near the Tugwaan Drainage after having followed them for some time on the hunt, and by the time we had found them again, barely 5 minutes had past, they had already brought down an impala yearling, and there was nothing but skin and bones of the impala left. f2.8, 1/400, ISO 1250
Touchdown. A whitefronted bee-eater comes in to land next to the rest of the flock that were dust-bathing near the Sand River. f4.5, 1/800, ISO 2000
My favourite photo of the week, featured in yesterdays post, of the Torchwood male leopard reclining in a marula tree one evening. 1/800, f2.8, ISO 800
Photographed by James Tyrrell
Thank you.
Fantastic photographs! Love the ones of the soaking wet lion cubs. How adorable!
Too wonderful for words! Magnificent photography of such incredible sightings ~ thank you for sharing.
J.T. Are these all yours? Wow, some incredible shots…way to go.
amazing photos James. Love following whats happening while we are away.
Thanks James – those are incredible shots. Love how you capture the right moments.
Thanks again James! The Majingilane guys are a handsome bunch & give off the “don’t mess with me” look! Nice to see the migrant bird pics too. They are all stunning, difficult to pick out a favourite 🙂 How about a week of bird pics only, specially birds of prey? Have a great Sunday. Look forward to next weeks treats
James, amazing pictures! We love the male Torchwood leopard day-dreaming on the tree….. Brilliant.
Thank you for sharing your stunning photos with us.. It is hard to pick a favorite, but as Leopards are my favorite wild animal then I will pick the Torchwood male in the evening light.
But they are all so incredibly good! Ellies, Leopards and Lions, oh my!
Great pics James love the Torchwood Male