On my hard drive I have a very well organised system for all the photos that I take. All the folders are labelled by year and then by month. I can get lost for hours going through all the images chronologically, reminiscing over past sightings and remembering various different leopards and lions that are no longer around.
One of my best sightings of the Piva male late one afternoon. He was in his prime when he was unfortunately killed by the Avoca male lions but we will always remember him as an exquisite example of a beautiful dominant male leopard. Tracker Life Sibuye is smiling at the camera.
One of the members of the famous Majingilane coalition. A sunrise with the sounds of lions roaring is the quickest way to get moving in the morning, and these male lions would often be found as the sun was coming up roaring from the Londolozi airstrip close to camp.
There is one folder that doesn’t have a date and that is labelled “Sunset/Sunrise” and is probably one of my favourite ones to go through. As I open it each time I think to myself how it really is quite special that even though sunset and sunrise happen every day they never seem to lose their magic. Each photo is different despite it effectively being of the same thing and each photo triggers a flood of memories from that particular day. Some of the photo’s have animals in them whilst others have the dramatic backdrop of the Drakensberg mountain range that we see the sun disappear behind. Some have water which makes for great reflections and lots have the silhouette of a tree. Some have a great story behind them and others are just simple reminders of a magical scene. There are too many to share all but here are a few of my favourites.
Sunset reflections over Camp Dam. I love this photo because it’s not a sight that you get to see very often as sunset is usually spent out on the reserve somewhere during game drive. If you do happen to come back to camp early though its always a stunning sight as you pass Camp Dam with the sun setting in the background.
This photo was taken at sunrise and it’s one of my favourites because the hippo looks as though its in a waterhole made up of liquid gold. During the golden hour by shooting straight into the sun you can get some really stunning results.
When watching the sun set behind the Drakensberg mountains I love to take a panoramic photo to try and capture as much of the scene as possible.
One of my favourite photos of all time because of the build up to the moment. It’s always great to have a dream shot in mind and then work towards getting it. Luck certainly does play a part but you can also make your own luck!
The Finfoot female was found one evening with a kill in a tree and we knew she would most likely be there the next morning. We spent the night dreaming about a silhouette of her in the tree with the sun rising behind and made sure we were there first thing to make it happen.
Lions roaring as we got going on our morning drive led us to the scene of a kill where they had been feeding during the night. The hooded vultures are always very quick onto the scene and these ones were there as the sun was rising.
Dusk and dawn are a lot of people’s favourite time of the day and I am no different. As you watch the sun crest the horizon in the east at dawn you can’t help but get this excited feeling as to what lies ahead of you on game drive and as it sets in the west you can’t help but reflect on the day just passed. A lot of my best memories in the bush involve a sunrise or a sunset.
Fantastic pics James. I love taking pics of sunrises and sunsets. I have also got hundreds. The best ones are probably with a lion in the image. Or a video of the sun rising with a lion roaring. Lovely to see the Piva male and the Magingilane.
Wonderful
Lovely shots, especially the hippo and giraffe shots .
Worthy of any wall
Such fabulous shots! Thank you!
All photos are special. I guess Majingilane lions are known by many people as there was a documentary on Mapogo coalition that was seen in many countries and Majingilane brothers were seen as “the enemies ” although one of them was killed by Mapogos. I loved to follow their stories. Piva male looks very relaxed and sociable, a beautiful leopard, a shame he died in his prime but so life goes… Joy Adamson wrote Born Free about lioness Elsa and Queen of Shaba on Penny the leopard. She underlined that lions and leopards should never meet… it’s hard to choose among the hippo bathing in gold and the giraffe silhouette. .. I ‘ll choose the Finfoot female because I love moonlight! Thank you.
James, your sunrise/sunset photos are magnificent- especially the Camp Dam and Zebra silhouettes. Each dawn/evening we’re given these gifts by the sun, producing an original painting everyday. They’re my favorite moments of the day, made so more when spending time in the African Bush- truly the best sun show anywhere! Thank you for going through your photo archive.
I have been fortunate to have lived on the Hudson River in New York as well as the Gulf of Mexico. As a result I have witnessed and captured many stunning sunsets, which were previously kept in a folder titled “Sunsets.” Our recent move affords us the opportunity to observe the sunrise over the city and sunset over a barrier island into the Gulf, resulting in the folder now being labeled “Sunrise/Sunset.” That folder includes several great photos from our trips to Londolozi.
James, I saved the reflection in water🤗, when watching the sun set behind the Drakensberg Mountains🤗
Love the 1/25th of the hippo in the golden pond! You have some amazing shots, thank you for sharing. Victoria
James, great pictures, you have taken what we call my tree! The last picture I always take before leaving Londolozi for good luck and to ensure we come back is my tree. It’s great to see it in such a different light, thanks for sharing….
Beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing : )
These photos are so beautiful. The leopard, honoring this lovely male, his proud stance and yet hesitance and vulnerability in his eyes. The silhouettes-the hippo as the sun is setting and the juxtaposition of the lighting with the giraffes body in front of the setting sun to the change with the lighting of the neck and head-just gorgeous! Nice work James. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful photos, James
Your Giraffe shot is SO TRUE AFRICA! Frame it. great pics for a rainy CT day!
Wow, James those are wonderful! My favourite was the Giraffe – it is sensational!
Wonderful memories, wonderful shots! Thanks, James.
Hard to pick a favourite when they’re all wonderful – but if I must, it has to be the giraffe, which I’ve added to my favourites. Thank you, James.
Thanks for sharing James, it’s prompted me to go through all the folders on my hard drive. Also methodically labelled and catalogued 🙂 If I can’t be in the bush physically right now then I can at least enjoy some of the memories for the time being.
Some stunning pics, James! Loved the one of the Camp Dam at Sunset and have taken it for a Screensaver! Wendy M
Stunning pictures James!! They are all brilliant, but the giraffe, seemingly on fire, is exquisite!!
Thank you