Two Tsalala lionesses have been a constant presence in Marthly. Earlier on in the week, while moving through the heart of their territory during the late afternoon, they provided the quintessential African canvas to paint with light. I always look for a silhouette, and by adjusting white balance manually and underexposing in camera, one can provide a completely different feel to the photograph. (ISO 800 f/5.6 at 1/800 sec)

Early morning backlight and dust creates a unique atmosphere. By under exposing you enable this feeling to be captured on camera. (ISO 1250 f/5.6 at 1/2000 sec)

Two wildebeest bulls fight for prime territory, which contains the crucial resources of food and water, which in turn will bring with it herds of females that will pass through. Having this territory will give one of them the opportunity to perpetuate their genes. (ISO 1600 f/5.6 at 1/800 sec)

Two juvenile red-billed oxpeckers and one adult oxpecker with its radiant red beak brush through a male giraffe’s fur in search of parasites. (ISO 200 f/5.6 at 1/2000 sec)

The inquisitive ostrich was sighted for the first time in the last two weeks. It didn’t stop her from displaying for us. (ISO 400 f/4.5 at 1/3200 sec)

After waiting for 45 minutes for this white rhino to emerge out from the long grass, we were gifted with being surprised by her young calf who had been hidden from view. (ISO 1000 f/5.6 at 1/320 sec)

While trying to nurse from it mother, this month old calf kept on being disturbed by its older 6-8 year old sibling trying to get a drink himself. This was an interesting sequence of events as elephant calves are usually dependent on its mother’s milk for only 3 – 4 years. (ISO 2000 f/5.6 at 1/200 sec)

The strangest formation of giraffe I have ever seen; it almost looked rehearsed. It brought new meaning the collective noun “tower” of giraffe. (ISO 3200 f/5.6 at 1/800 sec)

Tracker Lucky Shabangu was once again phenomenal in spotting this chameleon during the day. I used a wide angle lens to try create perspective. (ISO 320 f/5.0 at 1/1600 sec)

The darker mane Matimba male returning to the comforts of the Sand River after venturing far from their territory in the southern parts of Londolozi. (ISO 1600 f/5.6 at 1/500 sec)

A large herd of buffalo encompasses the feeling of being on Safari. In search for food, the nutritious Red-Grass (Themeda triandra) of the area drew in a herd of nearly 400 individuals. The scent and noise often appeals to lions; it’s the young, weak or old buffalo that are taken advantage of. However, buffalo won’t hesitate to help an individual in distress. The distress call of this buffalo cow didn’t only grab our attention but two hyenas opportunistically entered the equation. Before any serious harm could be done the herd came to the rescue. I tried to experiment with a wide-angle lens to capture the scene. (ISO 400 f/2.8 at 1/4000 sec)

The Piva male drinking just before the sun set. (ISO 1000 f/5.6 at 1/800 sec)

Seeing the only male cheetah on Londolozi is a rare event, yet this week there has been sensational viewing with there being four different sights of him. The most recent sighting was near the airstrip; this is slightly out of the “comfort zone” that the open grass land offers. The presence of buffalo, lion and hyena around the open savannah grassland and with there being greater densities of impala nearer to the river most likely lured him out of his usual movement pattern. Every prominent vantage point was used while moving thorough an area he hadn’t been seen in for nearly 8 months. (ISO 400 f/5.0 at 1/2000 sec)

The Nkoveni female resting in a Marula the morning after our first substantial rain. The sun broke through the clouds for just a couple minutes before being covered by a blanket of grey clouds. (ISO 2500 f/5.6 at 1/250 sec)

Backlighting of the lighter mane Matimba male. (ISO 2000 f/5.0 at 1/125 sec)

A fish eagle perched on the textured branch of a Leadwood tree. (ISO 200 f/5.6 at 1/2000 sec)

One of Londolozi’s newest faces.. (ISO 2500 f/5.6 at 1/500 sec)

This tiny cub is dwarfed by its mother’s head. but who is this lioness and where is this litter? We will reveal all next week… (ISO 2500 f/5.6 at 1/250 sec)