As another week comes to a close I am thankful that I have the opportunity to do what I do and spend time with so many amazing people and animals. Spending time with animals week in and week out; observing their behaviour and watching how the different links in nature all mesh together teaches you how similar we are to these animals in so many regards. Along with this I am incredibly lucky to share these moments with very special people, people who come from all over the world to share my passion and leave as friends.
This week was no different and I hope you enjoy the images below.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
Contrasting light always allows for a great feel to an image. Young, independent and the perfect huntress; the Nkoveni female has blossomed into a very special leopardess. Iso 800 F2.8 1/2500 Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 @300mm
Raw power. The Matimba males continue to hold their dominance in the central parts of Londolozi. Iso 640 F4 1/800 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
As important as it is to look for animals by using our eyes, it is just as important, if not more so to use our other senses too. We heard this impala ram snorting frantically from a distance and on closer inspection managed to find a leopard. Iso 400 F 4 1/1250 Sigma 120-300mm @240mm
Where the Ndzanzeni female is keeping her cubs is still a mystery and has all the rangers and trackers baffled but she sure has given us some great viewing over the past week. Iso 800 F2.8 1/400 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
One of my more special moments of late… The Ximpalapala female is normally a skittish leopard and is often seen running off into a thicket or we catch a glimpse of her tail as she disappears into a rocky outcrop. However, recently I was privileged to spend over an hour with this cat as she went about her business, unperturbed by our presence. Iso 800 F2,8 1/250 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
A wild dog takes a quick break. These animals are superb predators and are normally successful in 70-80 percent of their hunts. Iso 800 F2,8 1/1600 Sigma 120300mm @ 200mm
Graceful and elegant; a cheetah lounges in the late afternoon as he scans the horizon for a potential meal. Iso 640 F 4 1/800 sigma 120-300mm @270mm
Young, energetic and inquisitive. It is always special spending time around a hyena den as you really get a feel for their softer, more caring side. Iso 800 F4 1/1000 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
The Ndzanzeni female scans her surrounds from the comfort of a tree. I wonder what the thoughts are behind those eyes? Iso 640 F2.8 1/400 Sigma 120-300mm @235mm
A wild dog pants heavily after finishing up a kill. The blood around its eyes and muzzle show what a successful morning the pack had. Iso 800 F2.8 1/1250 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
A group of impala rams stare in the direction of a leopard. These animals will focus intensely on the threat and keep an eye on it at all times because a predator that they can see no longer has the element of surprise. Iso 400 F7.1 1/800 Sigma 120-300mm @230mm
Moments in time are frozen and captured to create memories that will lasts a life time. No one knows what the future may hold, the only way to find out is to take it day by day. The Matimba males have established their territory on Londolozi but what does their future hold? Iso 800 F4 1/800 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
An African scops owl perches as the evening settles in around it. This bird is often heard but not often seen and I was very excited to get this image after many years of trying for it. Iso 800 F2.8 1/250 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
A pack of wild dogs head down to a pan for a drink. One of the highlights of the week was getting to spend so much quality time with these highly endangered animals. Iso 800 F2.8 1/3200 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
A cheetah settles on a fallen tree at sunset. For me, this was the perfect way to end a day in the place I call home. Iso 200 F2.8 1.8000 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
The Mashaba female’s cub is growing fast, not only in size but in confidence too and is starting to develop into a beautiful leopardess. Here she is photographed feeding on an impala kill. Iso 400 F2.8 1/1000 Sigma 120-300mm @300mm
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Trev! Well done, the picture of the Cheetah silhouette is amazing!! Good work with the Sigma, it looks like an incredible lens!!
This are really stunning pictures Trevor! I especially love the Cheetah silhouette, the Ndzanzeni female in the tree, the Matimba male looking upward and the Hyena pup, but every one of these images are so beautiful! It’s great to see the Mashaba cub doing so well. Mashaba has done very well, keeping her cub safe and teaching her all the skills she will need to survive. Thanks for sharing all your incredible pictures Trevor (and also including the camera info — very helpful). Sigma looks like it’s coming out with some great lenses!
Stunning pics as always Trevor. Love the cheetahs.
Great shots Trev.
Isn’t it amazing that the pupils of the scops owl are vastly different in size? Something that shouldn’t (unless you suffer from concussion) happen to humans as our pupils respond equally to light, regardless of whether one is in light and the other darkness, but apparently is normal in owls.
(I’ve done a bit of research, can any opthomoligists out there confirm the following?: In humans, nerve fibers from each optic nerve meet at the optic chiasm and then fibers from each eye pass to both sides of the brain. So, light shined into one eye elicits a response in both, whereas the striated muscles in the irides of owls respond much quicker allowing the birds to quickly change their iris size when going from light to dark or visa versa).
For some reason, I’m no longer receiving the daily blog. I’ve been to Londolozi twice..as a matter of fact, Trevor was our ranger my second visit..fabulous pictures Trevor! My husband and I hope to return in 2017. Please put me back on the blog!!!!!!!
Great Pics, I Have a great Pic of the Ximpalapala female when she was a cub with her mother the Short-tail Female, please send me an email address so I can send it to you.
Hi Greg. Thank you, we’d love to see that! You can send it to content@londolozi.co.za. Thanks so much, Amy
Thank you for sharing, I like the different dilations of the scopes owl pupils.