October 1st will mark the day that South Africa starts opening up its borders for the first time since March. It is also the day Londolozi will welcome back its first local guests.
Although it is unclear yet exactly which countries South Africa will be welcoming back first (it will probably be a bit of a staggered process until the border is completely open), the reality is you can start counting down the days until the photos you see here each Friday can become what you see in real life.
For 6 months we have only been able to broadcast what we have seen in our isolated bubble, but we will soon be able to immerse guests back into this incredible landscape, and if you join us on safari, it could be you enjoying front row seats to the action.
Enjoy this second-last Week in Pictures from Lockdown…
Birmingham, Othawa, Avoca… Male lions whose territories encompass sections of Londolozi. Birmingham south-east and central, Avoca in the north and Othawa to the west. Whichever individual or coalition it may be, there can surely be no more iconic African photo than a male lion on high ground, staring out over the plains…
A particular journey of giraffes has been frequenting the clearings just outside the Londolozi camps for the last couple of months. With about six young calves amongst them, they are a welcome sight every time we come and go on game drive.
A tiny chick of a three-banded plover, relying heavily on its camouflage to avoid detection. If it hadn’t been seen scuttling along the water’s edge about one minute earlier, we never would have found it.
The Tracker Academy and their emblem, the spotted hyena, the greatest tracker of them all.
A penetrating stare from an Ntsevu lioness. The pride had split up and this individual was right at the trailing end. She paused to stare into the Sand River up ahead, in the direction the rest of the pride had moved.
Several herds of buffalo have moved through Londolozi in the last few weeks. Having had a splash of rain recently, the fresh green grass shoots that can be seen in this image are being well received by the grazers.
A giraffe calf stares at a young hyena. Although a predator – and therefore worth keeping an eye on – such a small hyena poses absolutely no threat to even a very young giraffe.
As their name suggests, waterbuck are never too far from the substance. These are all females; the males can be distinguished by their magnificent spreading horns.
These zebras came down to drink only a few minutes after the waterbuck above. Zebras are usually skittish when drinking; any animal keeping its head down for long enough is vulnerable. We therefore never expected the whole group to keep their heads down for any length of time, but this was exactly what happened, luckily with the last of the good light…
The Xinzele female has been seen more and more of late. Her apparently expanding territory may have something to do with the Makomsava female confining her movements to a smaller area around her den, which leaves the outer reaches of her territory vulnerable to encroachment.
Tree squirrels are some of Londolozi’s greatest alarmists. It’s worth stopping to look at what might have frightened them if you hear them sounding off, but often they are simply chattering at each other, as was the case with these two.
A hippo bull trundles back into the water. We were on foot tracking a leopard when we came round the corner and surprised him. Although startled and feeling the need to retreat to his water sanctuary, he still managed to display his impressive teeth as a warning to us not to come any closer.
Reputedly Africa’s fastest eagle – the African Hawk Eagle. When taking this photo I was convinced it had some sort of prey item under its left foot and couldn’t work out what it was. When looking at this photo on the computer however, I realised it was nothing more than the droppings of another bird creating an optical illusion.
Impalas take fright.
The Londolozi airstrip allows one fantastic opportunities to get low to photograph animals with an uncluttered background, and the sheer number of giraffes we have been seeing in the area means that they have often been the subject matter of late.
This was right outside the Londolozi offices. An African Goshawk had just flown in with this rodent clutched in its talons, but when a couple of staff arrived to admire the bird, it felt threatened so flew off to finish its meal in peace.
The Plaque Rock female is being seen regularly along our eastern fringe south of the Sand River. Together with the Ximungwe female (effectively her aunt) she has taken over her mother the Nkoveni female’s old territory.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
It is fantastic news that we can all travel again soon. Great pics this week. Love the zebra.
For 2020 a permit to hunt a quota of male leopards, elephants and lion bones export are being issued. ..iconic kings and queens turned into pieces of bones and tusks..
it’s a blessing for the soul and eye to see those creatures protected over there.
Your photographs are stunning and I enjoy so very much seeing this post every morning. It lifts my spirits and makes me smile. I do not think about the destruction of the Animals Kingdom for a few moments ….the horror of it all on Linkedin regularly. Thank you for these wonderful pictures …. Blessings to all of you who make this happen.
Great B&W photo of the Plaque Rock female with the menacing cloudy sky in the background!
Heartbroken to learn that your photos during lockdown are coming to an end. The highlight of my day comes every morning with your high quality informative and beautifully breathtaking posts. Had there been no covid we would have been in South Africa now enjoying safari sightings in person. I thank each and everyone who has made these possible. So appreciated. Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
Don’t worry, Lockdown is the only thing coming to an end. The photos are going to keep coming…
Incredible images , thanks so very much James for bringing the Londolozi straight to us.The pics make us feel greatly part of a real game safari Expirience.During the lockdown we grew more in love with nature all thanks to Londolozi and its passionate,dedicated personell.fellow bloggers too.Personally l have learnt quite a lot of valuable information.which l feel will change my guiding levels immensely.God bless you all. #TeamLondolozi
James, I loved all the photos, especially leopard, and zebras drinking the water, and the African Hawk Eagle🤗
Super photos this week guys..pleased to see the wee ‘ostrich’ was amongst them 😂. Thrilled to hear that you will be opening your gates to share the magic of Londolozi with guests soon. Hopefully Europe’s new spike will ease and we will be allowed out to ‘play’! I will certainly miss the weekly round ups though I try to see them as they pop up through the week. It has been the best ever distraction from the unusual lives we lead now. I can’t thank you all enough for the pleasure it has brought💓🙏
Wonderful photos.
And of course I am really glad to hear that you are reopening.
Thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of animals in TWIP, especially the lone lion. I suspect you’ll all be happy to see the return of guests next week. The internet still shows borders closed to Americans…. duh, no mystery here as to why …….
Some wonderful, iconic images this week! Love the lion, of course, as well as the wonderful zebra photo. The waterbuck with their heart-patterned noses, are fun to see; they don’t get much photo coverage! Thanks!
More stunning photos, James. That picture of the impalas in motion is beyond the beyond!
I was so happy when I heard the news yesterday, bet you all celebrated there! Seeing the photo of the giraffe on your airstrip made me wonder if more animals than usual are on it during the day, with no planes landing regularly? And I loved the one of the zebras all lined up and drinking, that must be a very rare shot.
Impala insert is so powerful and exhibits how athletic and graceful they are in flight.shade in colour shows how hard it is for carnivores to see the outline of an impala once its in full flight.
lmpala explode omni-directionally as a defence adaptation.tactically it puts them at great advantage over the predators.lmpala athletism exhibits their superior ingenuity body wise.
Lion on summit of termite mound personifies the apex predator they symbolize.The Lion insert clearly brings out the true significance of the panthera leo to the african Wilderness.
Giraffe tower is excellent for sexual dimophism.as the image shows the male and female clearly.Giraffe feeding hinges on resource partition so as counter clash of food competition
African Hawk Eagle ,beautiful insert indeed.Very enlightening as well as now the identity of the fastest eagle in southern africa is known.
Nice array of animals beautifully photographed.
Hippo bull displaying his dentition as a warning or show of aggression.Hippo dentition serves primarily as minister of defence HQ to deter potential challengers or showboat to females.Hippo bulls activity cycle primarilly revolves around how much testosterone hormones drive them.Lastly how far true is it that hippo bulls practise or exhibit carnivory tendencies? ls this ruthless,sadistic behaviour fuelled by the need to sire own young or its just a seasonal tragedy.
Some lovely photos, especially the zebra
Wonderful photos ! The Lion is my favorite and the zebra. I am extremely jealous of those lucky guests coming back! Have a wonderful time all! For now I shall keep living vicariously through pictures 🙂
Can’t wait to get back over there, bet you are all excited to have some new faces and adventures to come!
Wow, absolutely outstanding pics this week! They are all brilliant! The zebra pic is stunning and I love the little squirrels and the baby plover – too cute! Very exciting news about the return of guests too! 👏🏻🥳
Oh and I totally agree with the others, the photos, videos and blogs absolutely make my day! I can’t wait to check my emails each morning for the daily blog! It’s so informative and brings so much joy to the soul. Thank you so much!
As always your weekly photos are spectacular and I so look forward to them every morning. I have stopped reading the newspaper because it is so depressing. I truly hope as the world begins to reopen you won’t forget us! The roller coaster of emotions your stories and photos have brought to us all are priceless
Again… thank you ♥️ Loved the zebra photo
and the lion, he is truly the king❣️
Beautiful leopard and zebra images.
Always grateful for all the informative blogs, beautiful pictures and awesome videos. Thank you!
James, do you have drone, I saw pictures where using a drone
Terrific news for South Africa and Londolozi! Wishing you all the best from California and thanks for another week of amazing photos!
How I long to kneel down and kiss that airstrip. Soon!
James, do you have a drone, I saw pictures where you were using drone🤗
Gorgeous images James! Outstanding Zebra image! Your Giraffe shot on the airstrip reminded us of laying on the strip at your suggestion getting similar shots of Giraffe! Thanks for the memory! So excited that you will begin to receive guests soon!
beautiful zebra image at waterhole , which is unique in that they seemingly are neglecting defence duties since all have heads in the water simultaneously
beautiful black and white image.great photography exhibited
Awesome Londolozi wilderness Expirience.Lockdown turned out to be a huge catalyst for refreshing and replenishing our knowledge.personally l appeciate nature’s fauna & flora more religiously now.
Is it the zebras or giraffes which are more iconic? I am inclined towards the zebra. You?
Beautiful pics.