This is an important week for us at Londolozi as we celebrate our 150th Week in Pictures. Our last milestone was reaching the grand total of 100. In our 100th TWIP post we looked back at the standout photos from the previous 99 blogs that we had featured. Once again we have the opportunity to reflect back on the weeks that have past and this time we had the task of choosing 50 outstanding images taken from the previous 49 posts.
Choosing 50 photos took a lot of deliberating, how do you choose from such a wide variety of excellent images? This is no easy task as you can imagine. I think you’ll agree that the selection below are all worthy of inclusion. Featured below you will not only find magnificent leopards and lions but also some of the smaller and lesser seen animals, the beautiful birds, flora and even the people who make up the Londolozi family.
We hope the pictures below will bring you closer to the bush from wherever you are right now. We look forward to sharing many more incredible photos with you.
The Mashaba young female surveys what is technically the domain of her mother. An amazing leopard to spend time with, this young female, with all the exuberance of youth, spends a lot of her time playing in the branches of marula trees for the sheer delight of it. James Tyrrell.
Richard Laburn watched as a breeding herd of elephants crossed in front of him walking in the shallow waters of the Sand River.
A deathly stare. Unknown thoughts. Simon Smit
The Makothini male deep in the southern regions of the reserve. Can you see the resemblance with his father Camp Pan? Mike Sutherland
Bonding time within the Majingilane coalition. Josh Lee
Day dreaming. A vervet monkey seeks shade and rest from the midday heat. Simon Smit
A leopard in the shadows: the Mashaba Young Female walks stealthy into the night. Trevor Ryan McCall-Peat.
Touchdown. A whitefronted bee-eater comes in to land next to the rest of the flock that were dust-bathing near the Sand River. James Tyrrell
We had moved down the bank and were heading for a sundowner when this young elephant walked across the sunset, presenting an amazing opportunity for a silhouette shot. James Tyrrell
The incredible shapes created by a drinking giraffe. Trevor McCall-Peat
A very young cheetah cub shows itself in an opening. Mike Sutherland.
I have been waiting three years to get this shot: Melvin Sambo crossing the causeway. Unfortunately, one of the Majingilane walked in front of his vehicle and ruined the photo! James Tyrrell
The Majingilane with the missing canine peers over the leaves at our approach. James Tyrrell
Fiery Necked Nightjar. Mike Sutherland
The Majingilane, despite remaining in firm control of the central Sabi Sands, are nevertheless showing signs of ageing. How long will their tenure last? Simon Smit
An impala in the morning light. Mike Sutherlnd
A male collared sunbird feeds on aloe nectar. Lucien Beaumont
A beautiful view over the land. Simon Smit
Two scrub hare leverets suckle as dusk turns to night. Andrea Campbell
A close-up of the Tamboti Young Female’s many forms of weaponry… Trevor McCall-Peat
One of my favourite photos. This was of a young cub from the 2011 Tsalala litters. I love the photo for the innocent and curious expression in the cub’s eye. James Tyrrell
Three adult leopards, side-by-side. From front; Tamboti female, Tu Tones male, Camp pan male. James Tyrrell
A Tree Squirrel feeding on a Sour Plum. Mike Sutherland
A beautiful Flap Necked Chameleon. Trevor McCall-Peat
A young male from the Sparta pride, flicks his tail whilst feeding on a Giraffe carcass. Trevor McCall-Peat
Backlit Vomba Young Male. Josh Lee
Who is watching who? The mischievous cubs of the Nanga female. Lucien Beaumont
The Dark Maned Majingilane and the male with the missing canine gaze in the direction of the Mhangeni females. James Tyrrell
The Mashaba young female wiles away the afternoon in the boughs of a Knobthorn Acacia. James Tyrrell
Summer is a time of babies, water, and lush vegetation but it is also a time of snakes. However to see a snake is very rare and on this occasion a few angry birds gave this snake away. Here is a Boomslang nestled in a buffalo thorn giving me a beady eye. Richard Burman
A rock monitor peers out from his crack in a dead leadwood. James Tyrrell
Sunrise from Ximpalapala Koppie. Mike Sutherland
A tough sighting to photograph. The Mashaba female had hoisted the remins of an impala into the boughs of a Tamboti tree, and I was struggling to focus automatically though the leaves. Switching to manual focus, I waited until she moved her eye across this gap, and luckily got the timing of the shot right. James Tyrrell
We had a good run of luck on this evening, seeing a Pearl-Spotted owl, a Verraux’s Eagle owl, and to complete the trio, this Spotted Eagle Owl, about to set out for the night’s hunt. James Tyrrell
The Sparta pride had taken down a young giraffe near camp, early in 2011. Two of the Majingilane had killed the mother nearby. All full of giraffe meat, the lions settled down to groom themselves and each other. Here the scar nose male uses his rough, barbed tongue to lick the blood off his paw. James Tyrrell
The giant kingfisher is in fact one of the only kingfisher species at Londolozi that actually eats fish; the majority of species here are insectivorous! James Tyrrell
Camp Pan, the warrior, poses for a quick shot with Melvin and his guests in the background. Richard Burman
The Tamboti female rests on a marula stump as she watches a herd of impala grazing nearby. James Tyrrell
One of the Majingilane roars into the night, calling out to the rest of coaltion. Thanks to Mike Sutherland for his advice on what settings to use in side-lighting conditions. James Tyrrell
Textures. Richard Burman
An inquisitive little genet out exploring for the evening. Andrea Campbell
The Vomba young male goes unnoticed by an elegant giraffe. Simon Smit
A splash of colour. Simon Smit
The four Majingilane in all their glory. James Tyrrell
Some experimenting with a macro lens. Simon Smit
A silhouette of a female cheetah. Mike Sutherland.
Relaxation, the Londolozi way. Lucien Beaumont
Vigilant, one of the wild dogs keeps watch as the rest of the excited pack play with the pups. Simon Smit
Adolescence. Mike Sutherland
Come and join us for a true African experience. Here our good friend and Camp Manager, Cry Sithole performs in the boma. Mike Sutherland.
Is there a photograph in this selection that stands out for you? Let us know in the comment section below.
Photographed by: James Tyrrell, Mike Sutherland, Richard Laburn, Richard Burman, Josh Lee, Simon Smit, Lucien Beaumont, Andrea Campbell and Trevor McCall-Peat.
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME collection of images JT
Bravo!
Absolutely gorgeous images! Congratulations on 150!
Amazing pics than you for sharing…
Fantastic selection of pics. Can look at them over and over again. Love them all.
great collection… what a joy!
Beautiful images, every one of them!
Thank you to you all for the most wonderful blog! All these beautiful pictures have made the past 150 weeks seem like the best “days of my life” & I look forward to the next 150. Enjoy your Sunday 🙂
Thank you, Kate! All of the photos are amazing.
Great collection of Photos
Just amazing!
great selection of photos and everyone has some great skills. the pic that made me say ‘wow – don’t see that often’ was the female cheetah in the sunset. I also like the five elephants from behind. the macro chameleon was very clever.
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING photos!!! Such talent – every photo is award winning – would make a wonderful coffee table book????