It’s just too tempting to sit with 22 lions, even when there is so much going on on the reserve.
The Ntsevu pride and usually attendant Birmingham males have been the mainstay of our wildlife viewing over the last couple of weeks, and the fact that it has been new moon – which makes lions all the more active immediately after sunset – has resulted in some unbelievable sightings.
Leopard viewing has been consistent, although with only three or four vehicles patrolling the road network, it has been that much harder to triangulate their territorial rasps, and we’ve often been left scratching our heads when we’re sure we’ve got a leopard’s exact position pinned down.
Many have asked us if the lack of travellers and South Africa’s lockdown have affected the wildlife viewing at all; more specifically whether it has improved given the great reduction of Land Rovers criss-crossing the reserve, and the answer is simply that it has continued to be its incredible best.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
Two Birmingham males drink side by side. We watched these males and the Ntsevu pride drink from this same pan on three consecutive nights. On two of the three nights we watched them successfully make kills.
A slower shutter speed blurs the water around a crocodile on the Causeway. Higher water levels than last year at this time have got us excited for a strongly-flowing Sand River well into the winter months.
A green pea spider punches well above its weight category and manages to subdue a dragonfly in its web. Small dramas like this can be equally as fascinating as those of the larger predators and prey.
A lappet-faced vulture, Londolozi’s biggest. Although uncommon, we have been seeing these birds far more regularly of late, which leads us to believe that a breeding pair has established itself on the reserve.
The Nkuwa female startles a pair of Double-banded Sandgrouse into flight. This young leopard and her sister are persisting in their mother’s territory, and the dearth of sightings of the Nhlanguleni female herself (the mother) is starting to become a cause for concern. Is she still alive?
The Senegal Bush male readies himself for a pounce as an unsuspecting duiker approaches. The small antelope was simply wandering up the road, but its sudden apparition left no time for the leopard to move into cover; he simply had to lie flat and hope. Ultimately, the duiker became suspicious and moved off.
An Ntsevu lioness snatches a drink before getting going. The pride were tailing buffalo on this evening, but their lack of success – coming on top of many previous failures – has cast a dark shadow of doubt over their ability to take on these dangerous bovines.
Terrapins will use any convenient platform to sun themselves, including the local hippoptamus.
A hippo sleeps with its head resting on another individual’s back. The nostrils of the second hippo can just be seen popping up for a breath in the foreground. The greenery that surrounds them is a harmless, tiny plant called duckweed.
There are a few theories as to where the name Secretary Bird comes from but one of them suggests that it’s due to the resemblance that the crest of feathers has to a secretary in old times who would store her quill pens in her hair.
Two Impala rams square up against one another before the sun has even risen. The next month or two are important for impala rams as they head into the rutting season.
The textures on an elephant’s skin can really be appreciated when frozen in an image, particularly if shot with a slightly wider depth of field. As clichéd as it may be, to me the eyes of an elephant can be great windows into their mood. Most often, the drooping eyelids portray a sense of calm.
A youngster from the Ntsevu pride sits up after grooming one night. Grooming will typically precede activity in lions.
The Senegal Bush male walks along an open crest during a territorial patrol. Shortly after this he smelt the remains of an old kill in a tree a few hundred metres away. Luckily for him, whoever made the kill originally had moved off and he was able to secure it without a fuss.
Not one, but two leopards in a tree… The Ximungwe female lies centred and behind while her son lies above and closer to camera. They had a hoisted impala kill in the tree just minutes before, however the young male clumsily knocked it out. A hyena had been waiting below and was rewarded for its patience.
The Senegal Bush male instinctively snarls as he ascends a tree prior to stealing the remains of a hoisted impala carcass. Male leopards will sometimes encounter female leopards while on territorial patrols. If the female has a kill, males will usually utilise their greater size to appropriate the carcass. In this case, there was no leopard around so it was an easy steal.
Rhinos will often find open sandy patches to lie down in and this morning was no different. There are three of them in this picture using the road as their favoured resting spot.
A zebra stallion pauses and gives us an opportunity to really appreciate his unique markings. I love the different shades of brown and black that make up is unique stripes.
The first view of the Senegal Bush Male when we found him on a territorial patrol early one morning.
Great pics. Love the rhinos and the elephant.
James, what a wonderful blog – I saved Birmingham Lion Drink, Lappet Faced Vulture, Leopard Sandgrouse, Leopard Senegal Stalk, Ntsevu Lioness, James Souchon – Secretary Birds, James Shouchon – Rhinos in the Road, James Souchon – Zebra, Pete Thorpe – Elephant portrait, Pete Thorpe – Ximungwe, Ximungwe young male, Pete Thorpe – Senegal Bush.
Great set of shots James! We love the one that Pete got of the Elephant and the texture he got in the shot is super! We added it to our favorites.
The senegal bush has been very active, it is a beautiful animal. is there a coalition threatening birmingham? I heard reports that they put 4 young males to run
Excellent article, thanks James
Have never seen rhinos not walking. Interesting photo!
I thoroughly enjoyed the varied subjects of your photos this week, especially the hiding hippos and the mighty pea spider. Hoping for continued amazing and interesting sightings over the next week!
Thanks for the update, James!
Great shots – my favorite was the elephant. I love a good close-up. Their eyes and lashes are beautiful. The lion sightings sound incredible! Thanks so much.
beautiful pictures James. Would you guys consider doing more video vlogs or even doing fb lives? Would love to see in real time drives.
Wishing to back someday soon. 🙂
Hi Gemma,
We have discussed doing the live thing but feel we can add far more impact in our current format, as there are too many variables involved in a live drive, as well as poor signal out here in many spots which makes the continuity of a sighting unlikely…
Another beautiful gallery!!!
Great stuff as always James hope to see the Nhlanguleni female turn up alive and well soon wasn’t she raising a new litter of cubs? Also have you guys seen the Styx at all this past week?
Truly an astounding collection, James. From the Birmingham males spotlight to the green pea spider and dragonfly, to the two leopards in a tree, and three rhinos in the road to the secretary birds… I kept going back and forth again and again. Thank you so much!
Marvelous pictures. Love the one of the two leopards in the tree and the elephant.
Stunning photos❤️🔥❤️🔥
Love the stories behind the photos. Hope Nhlanguleni shows up soon. Love her and her girls.
Hi James! Great selection of photos! Hopefully the Nhlanguleni Female is alright. Assuming that she lost her cubs? Also, any word on the Ndzandzeni Female’s new litter? Do you know how many young males and females make up the Ntsevu youngsters?
Great pics! A few saved to my favourites 🙂