The story of Londolozi’s wildlife carries on, unscripted. The story of life keeps rolling on.
Our expectations can never be bottled as Mother Nature keeps surprising us with new developments, changing conditions and a dynamic canvas on which to build memories. Insects are a plenty, migrant birds frenzy for feeding and breeding, and fruits appear fast and are almost consumed faster. The hustle and bustle of the bushveld is here.
With everyone having a role to play, patient observation can be rewarding for us. As the New Year rush diminishes and the big bang of 2015 starts coming to an end, be mindful of the importance of patience in everything that you do. February is not quite around the corner just yet and we have already been treated to some incredible sightings! So, enjoy the busy life but with an appreciated patience, and reap the rewards which will follow.
I hope you enjoy this Week in Pictures!
Rippled reflections of a young female Buffalo, joining the masses at a body-cooling and thirst-quenching pan.
A striking glare on the face of the Marthly male; still so dominant and full of attitude.
A gloomy game of hide and seek with more than pride on the line.
Rearranging the surroundings; this Red-billed Oxpecker stalls to look in our direction before getting back to combing through a Buffalo’s coat.
A newborn Vervet monkey is stubbornly guarded by its highly alert mother, with one of Londolozi’s giraffe statues scanning in the other direction.
A lone Buffalo bull lives the retired lifestyle. Being solo often calls for mid-meal reconnaissance; nose up, eyes forward, ears out and horns back.
Gently kissed by the sunrise, the Mashaba female readies herself for rest, highlighting her beautiful whiskers in the process.
One of the Styx lionesses leads Sandros and Ekson into a clearing with a vulture watching from the horizon, all the while vocalising her Pride’s presence in the area. An impressively powerful task to say the least.
Another watchful Oxpecker gazes on from behind a textured layer of Buffalo horn, all orbited by flies; a Solar System of relationship.
Bad weather often forces us to stop what we are doing and appreciate the sunlight, but this Chacma baboon lounges in the face of an approaching storm. Confidence and experience or a naive curiosity?
One of the successful Mhangeni lionesses lifts her chin to the distant sight of an approaching figure. Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo… Neither is welcome around her growing Pride.
Raptors will seldom search for insects. But during a post-rain termite emergence this pale morph Tawny Eagle collects the fallen alates by the dozen.
Strength and stature. A queen shimmers in her own power.
How have you enjoyed the middle of January 2015, has it slowed down from the initial New Year buzz or has it picked up pace into the newer and faster world?
Written and Photographed by Sean Cresswell
Great pics this week. Love the baboon, beautiful image with the storm clouds behind it.
Fantastic photo’s again Sean! I think my favourite is the lioness on the rocks …..
Just a short note from Oz to thank you for a wonderful vacation. My wife and I could not have thought of a better or more memorable way to celebrate our silver anniversary than to share our African adventure with our three boys and the team at Londolozi, in particular Sean, Euce, Cry and Thammy.
It was truly an incredible holiday made possible by the friendliness, passion, commitment and dedication of the Londolozi staff. We were spoiled beyond description and the service was always delivered with a smile.
Thank you very much, Richard and family for the truly kind words! It was a pleasure not only to meet and get to know all of you but also to spend most of every day with you and share this phenomenal place and its experiences with you as well. We all hope to see you again one day! Best wishes to you, Loraine, Lucas, Daniel and Elliot.
Great set of pics Sean, your photography is improving rapidly!
They’re all absolutely beautiful images Sean! My favourites are the Baboon, the lioness on the rocks and I love the way you captured the scene in the photograph of Sandros and Ekson following the Styx lioness…so beautiful.
Great choices, Jill, each photograph a little different from the norm! Yes, that scene from a distance was stunning. Thank you for the comment!
Beautiful all of them, but the baboon & that sky stunning & hopefully bringing what the bushveld always needs, rain!