Roars and presence of the Othawa male lion along the western edge of the Sand River sparked investigative interest of the Birmingham male lions, who covered the entire area walking in silence to search for the intruder.

Morning silhouettes along the Sand River are jaw dropping. A Goliath heron stands atop a dead tree in the hope of absorbing the first morning sun rays.

Snarls of disgust. The Mashaba female found it more comfortable to rest at the base of this Marula tree as her belly was full from feeding. When a hyena approached she snarled as a deterrent for the hyena to keep at bay.

We have been so privileged to have a mother cheetah and her two cubs frequenting the rolling crests of Londolozi. When one cub approached the vehicle it provided the perfect opportunity to capture the details of hair, whiskers and spots around the face.

When approaching a waterhole in the late afternoon in hope of seeing a few antelope drinking we were amazed to find the above scene. The Ndzanzeni young male looked all too content as he lay spread out over a dead leadwood that lay in the middle of the waterhole. A scene that wont be forgotten and unlikely repeated.

Heading east from the camps in the early morning provides spectacular sunrise opportunities. When a termite mound had three silhouettes we could all recognize it provided a brilliant photographic opportunity at capturing the golden sunrise and mother cheetah with two cubs.

A back-lit outline we can all recognize yet creates mystery. A Birmingham male lion sat, ears perked, listening to the sounds of the night.

One hyena is manageable but when two approached the Mashaba female, she thought it be a better idea to head up this vertical Marula tree to continue feeding on a young impala ram she caught the night before.

With the Sand River drying up before the first rains return it has provided a spectacle of bird feeding activity. Crocodiles and storks gather in mass to feed on the fish in the shallow waters. A yellow-billed stork comes in to land on the waters edge.

The Kaxane male leopard. Battered through years of dominance this old male has been through it all. We have been seeing him now and again in the open grasslands of the south west. Territorial no more, it will be interesting to see what happens in the last chapter of his life.

As mentioned, it has been a true privilege having this mother cheetah and her two cubs spending time around Londolozi. The rubbing of bodies and heads as they walked through a clearing is all signs of the well bonded relationship. It’s only a matter of time before the two cubs reach full maturity and disperse in search of their own mates.

While driving back to camp at night we often see nightjars lying in the road in the hope of hawking insects flying above silhouetted by the moon. When one refused to move it allowed me to get down on my stomach and capture this photo at eye level showing its details and true cryptically coloured beauty.

A full belly from a good meal or pregnant? How about both. Most of the Ntsevu females have been mating throughout the year with the Birmingham male lions. A few females have given birth yet have been favoring the thick brush around the Sand River. It’s only a matter of time before a few more cubs appear on the scene.

Textures of a giant. When this huge elephant bull approached us in curiosity it provided an opportunity to capture the beauty and details of the wrinkles in its skin.

The playful behavior of these two cheetah cubs can entertain one for hours. One of the cubs bites at the hind leg of it’s sibling when it decides to climb a fallen over Marula tree.

Buffalo are dependent on water and will need to drink at least once a day. With the drying Sand River the herds have been moving far and wide in search of any other waterhole. A mature yet young bull quenches his thirst one late afternoon.

The Mashaba female watches two hyenas as they move about below her. The height of the Marula tree puts her at a good vantage point to not only look out for threats but any antelope she could hunt.

Huddled in a thick Guarri bush a wild dog rests up after a morning of hunting in the northern parts of Londolozi. Converting this image to black and white removes the distraction of the bright green Guarri leaves and brings out the details in the expression and hairs of the wild dog’s face.

Capturing birds in flight is a patient game and doesn’t always go to plan. A bird that is unofficially photographed most in the African bush has to either be one of the hornbill species or lilac-breasted roller. When this roller sat facing the sun and breeze it provided an opportunity of capturing its beautiful colours as it takes to the air from it’s perch.