There has been enough written about 2020 and the pandemic to keep us reading for years.
The whole world has been affected in one way or another. On our side, we have been without guests for close to six months now, so the decision to start gradually opening up the borders of the country has enabled our protected reserves and the wildlife that inhabit them to breath a collective sigh of relief. It has been so encouraging to see how many people have chosen to postpone their holidays to 2021 instead of cancelling them outright and that move alone has given us the power to keep protecting.
Having been very lucky to have spent the last half-year months here at Londolozi in lockdown a lot of people have asked if we noticed any change in animal behaviour without the presence of guests and the associated decrease in vehicles. The short answer is, no we haven’t. The only real change, from a wildlife point of view, is that with fewer people in and around the lodge, animals have been moving through camp a little bit more which has led to some interesting experiences.
From a behavioural point of view nothing has changed though. The animals that we have seen continued to provide some incredible sightings over the last six months just like they will continue to do as we head into the future.
As I sit and think back on the various sightings that I have been lucky to have seen this year I decided to go through my photo album and attempt to choose my favourite image from each of the last 6 months. Each photo was not necessarily chosen on the merit of the image alone but rather the story and the experience surrounding that particular moment in time. I can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Londolozi and share so many more experiences with you. One thing we have learnt is that there will most certainly be plenty more to come.
March
This was the first afternoon of Lockdown. It was a very strange feeling heading off on that afternoon drive knowing that there were no guests at Londolozi and very few people. Even though we were still in the same familiar place, there was this air of uncertainty that I am sure everyone has felt during these last months in some form or another. Then we rounded a bend in the road and lying there was the Senegal Bush male. Nothing had changed for him. That thought alone brought about just the right amount of comfort and realisation that even though so much had changed there was still plenty that hadn’t.
April
Rhinos love to rest on open patches of ground in the early hours of the morning and the sandy roads and riverbeds often provide just the right spot. On this particular morning we had headed into the northern parts of the reserve in search of the Nkuhuma pride of lions. On one of the straight boundary roads we saw these three rhinos from a distance before they noticed us. With a long telephoto lens I was able to zoom right in which provided the most beautiful natural frame with all the green foliage around.
May
May was the month of pups! This was my first ever view of a wild dog pup at a den site. The next two months that followed provided some spectacular wild dog viewing as we followed the tumultuous time that the pack of two adults had trying to raise this litter. We watched as these little pups grew in size and confidence and my best observation was how their folded over little ears grew faster than any other part of their body until in no time they were pointed straight up. We knew we weren’t going to be able to watch them forever and eventually they moved off our reserve.
June
It’s tough being a cheetah in these parts and although we get some great sightings they are not found here in great numbers. This is what made this June morning so spectacular. Some of the other rangers had managed to see this cheetah family on a few occasions but I had always been on the other side of the reserve and they had eluded me. On this particular morning all of this changed and I was treated to a few hours with these three as they played and hunted through the open grasslands.
July
For sheer comedic value this photo of a zebra foal tucked in between its parents was my favourite of the month. Everyone has a soft spot for any young animal and this foal with its oversized ears and funny smile peering over his mother’s back really made me laugh.
August
August provided one of the most spectacular full moon rises I have seen in a long time. We knew it was coming and found a spot on the reserve to sit and wait for it to appear in the east immediately after sunset. Wages were taken as to exactly where it would appear on the horizon. It was a magical moment in the bush shared with good friends.
September
Three of us were driving along the banks of the Manyelethi River. Pete was on the tracker seat and held up his hand to tell Sean to stop, he had seen something. There were leopard tracks on the road and they looked fresh. Sean then saw a hyena lying not even 5 metres from us and wondered out loudly if we thought there was a carcass nearby. At that moment all three of us looked up and got a big surprise to see the Xinzele female feeding on a hoisted bushbuck in the canopy of the tree above us. It all happened very quickly and we all laughed at how we had successfully tracked and found this leopard even though she was practically on top of us. We sat with her for the afternoon until she walked down to a pool in the river we she drank before settling on a sand bank right next to us.
Lovely blog and great pics James. It is a strange time for all of us, but it is nice to be able to look back at how we spend it.
Thanks for the memories that not all was a lost cause in 2020. I for one appreciated the daily contact with South Africa and Londolozi! Wishing you a return to a more “normal” as you open up to amazing animal sightings with tourists once again.
Thank you for this post – fabulous images to remind us of the beautiful wildlife we’ll see when all this madness is over. Just what I needed to lift my spirits today. Thank you!!
Hi James. This is a great recap of the past six months. Terrific photos which capture the months so well.
I really LOVE this!! What a beautiful capture of the past 6 months. I can only imagine the days in between!
Thank you for bringing us all along with you.
What special intimate experience You have had over there! The full moon is my favourite sight in every place on earth – it looks so dramatically different and mesmerising . The zebra foal looks just adorable and also the cheetah so rare and fragile. Also finding a rhino lying peacefully among vegetation gives a sense of peace. As usual leopards are gorgeous and pups funny and energetic. So many emotions blended together… thank you for sharing
Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing lockdown with us!
All of these events have brought much enjoyment and made experiencing this pandemic not seem so overwhelming. Thank all of you!
James, I loved all the pictures – especially leopard, Cheetahs, wild dog pups, rhinos lying in the road, leopard with big teeth🤗
Fabulous diary of the last six months. Thank you all for keeping the memories alive. Cannot wait to return.
I love the lions, leopards, cheetahs alot. I think the hyena population should be controlled for awhile, up to 80 members in a clan the big cats haven’t got a chance
Memorable images and experiences! Not such a tough time to be a Londolozi ranger, I suspect! Thanks. James.
Hello James, what a treat it is to see your wonderful photos – they are all absolutely stunning – and the little zebra foal is so amusing and it is hard to see where the parents begin and end … like a jigsaw puzzle. Thank you for sharing them, brightening up this dull, cold and rainy day in the UK.
James you certainly have a beautiful collection of photos there! Can’t decide which is my favorite but think the Rhinos might top it this time. As for my most exciting month….. May definitely wins hands down. What an exciting time that was with the cubs. Thanks for sharing these with us and hopefully one day we can share the moment together in person 🙏🏻💕
I would imagine that anyone who works at Londolozi would always treasure the time they spent there in future years – but for those of you who’ve been there during the lockdown it will surely be even more so. It must be an intense yet bizarre experience.
I really enjoyed your look back James. That Zebra foal picture is so cute. There were so many magical moments that I wished I was there and can’t wait to get back!
Wow, incredible set of photos James! I found myself saving each image to my photo gallery, as they all are special when tied to your specific memories of the lockdown. Thanks again!
Well, it’s all relative, but your six months in quarantine certainly was better than mine! Your images are wonderful and as a visitor 1.5 years ago, I felt even more connected to Londolozi while sitting in the house, watching the squirrels in my backyard-although not leopards or elephants, Sampson and Delilah have given me great pleasure in watching their antics. I should have been there in March, but I wasn’t so postponed until next year. Until then, I’ll continue to tune in to the blogs and videos that help me feel as if I’m there with you all. Thank you c
Great photos, James. What I also like about them is the compassion they show of the animals for each other, the rhinos, the young zebra and mum, the cute wild dog pup, the cheetah mother and her young ones….
Remarkable; we are coming in 2022 and are already so excited!
Just breathtaking, thanks for sharing!
a journey of a 1000 years well travelled in the past 6months.Personally am more mature knowledge wise thanks to the informative Londolozi blog.To the entire team thank you and god bless you abundantly for your effortless and hearty conservative care
Lions drinking simultaneously image is awesome and teaches us immensely on how wildlife communicates and pride synchrony dynamics.
Hyena exhibited great patience when waiting for leopard to make an error which would present an opening to the free meal it anticipated
The past 6 months have highlighted the great biodiversity that the wild lands of Africa have within their midst.
Justice was done to Astronomy basics during the month of August.I vividly remember the beautiful full moon and how spot on team londolozi was to capture the spectacle
Zebra were well covered as well asthe mutualistic symbiosis they have with other species.This to some extent helped in showing the intra specie cooperation
Lockdown onset was headlined by the gorgeous image of the senegal bush male resting immaculately on the middle of the road.It was the ushering in of a new expirience for humans and fauna alike
Birding was not to be outshone as well and was greatly appreciated.beautiful images on birds helped boost our bird identification skills
Generational lineages of the lion and leopard families is also another well documented area which team londolozi unpacked for us.most appreciated
Cuisine department a big shout out to you for the amazing menus you shared with us , this helped replenish our cullinary skills.
There was an episode when team londolozi was captured clearing vehicle tracks in an effort to keep a particular zone in its natural state.To me that was an awesome conservative respectful gesture.#showing wildlife the respect & appreciation
Team Londolozi gave detailed den information on leopard and wild dog which was trully informative.personally it was my first indepth denning behaviour exposure,am trully appreciative to the platform
Past 6 months have rejuvenated the bond btwn wildlife & people.The way nature connived with our passion to solidify our love for flora and fauna was so nice.
Blog has hugely awakened a deep desire to pursue photography within me , the beautiful images all round made nature make sense.memories are betta stored in photography
Imprinting behaviour exhibited by zebra and wildebeest as a means of countering cross suckling was expertly explained by the astute Londolozi rangers. supporting images always make life super easy
Mat and I are so looking forward to being back in 2021! If only May 2021 could be a puppy repeat…
During a very challenging period for all at Londolozi and the broader industry, the effort that has gone into your daily engagement with your broad following, providing everybody a regular dose of wonder through your images and commentary has been valued. Thank you and I cant wait for the world to beat this virus and to visit again.
We were booked into Founders for November 2020. Now we’re arriving October 2021….a very long wait!
l must say , thanks for the amazing pictures James.the write up is well supported by the pictures.visuals always hammer home the lesson
Amazing photos. So looking forward to coming 2021 and experiencing the lodge in person.
I love that zebra picture 🙂
Loved this!
Londolozi never looked so beautiful. Will be looking to 2021 for a visit
Some amazing photos. We have certainly enjoyed the weekly videos, enabling us to keep in touch from the other side of the world. Do you have any idea as to how the pair of wild dogs & their pups are?
James, Somehow this got lost in the shuffle and we just opened this post. Your images are incredible! And aren’t you the lucky man to have all that wildlife to explore on your own! Can’t wait to come “home”!