“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
After 8 months – which felt like eternity- of editing old images and looking back at some of the most incredible sightings I’ve managed to capture over my time at Londolozi, I realised how valuable these images can really be.
It’s great to be back, and not only behind the wheel but getting some new content behind the lens too. Being back in the bush after so long has given me so much more of an appreciation for what I do everyday and how lucky I am to get to share the experience with so many of you. As a guide you can say many things, and pass on what knowledge you’ve gained but certain experiences impact people in different ways and it’s that feeling that each individual gains from being out here that can sticks with them forever.
Now, it’s not the guide that creates what you feel, it’s nature in its rawest form that does. Capturing an image, looking back on it, remembering the moment and getting that same feeling is the whole reason to take the photo in the first place.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
One of the new members of the Ntsevu pride, often seen guarded by his or her older brother from the previous litter born in 2018.
Here one of the Birmingham male lions scans the clear skies as vultures swirl, hoping to see them land as an indication there could be a kill for him to steal.
Nighttime lion viewing puts one fully on the side of the prey species. Appreciating first hand just how sinister this lurking menace must be for an impala…
With a disruption between two bull hippos, the water bubbled up as all the females and their young scrambled to get out the water.
We watched this Goliath Heron for a good portion of the afternoon as it slowly and very subtly walked through the shallow waters hunting its next meal.
We are starting to see more and more of the Xinzele Female in the north-central parts of Londolozi. With many rocky outcrops and a high density of prey, it is the perfect territory for a leopard.
In the dappled lights of a strangler fig tree, this bull stretches his trunk to feed on some leaves, missing the opportunity of the newly green grasses below him.
Good to see some migratory water birds around the sand river, from being anywhere in Western Europe to Japan all the way to South Africa, picking up the binoculars to identify these little birds is always fun.
The Stormy and nights and heavy rains have filled waterholes, with more water comes more hunting sites for the distinguishable African Fish Eagle.
One of the most striking breeding plumages in my opinion, the Red-Headed weaver.
HA cub of the Ntsevu pride is completely unfazed by his aggressive father who was not impressed with a lioness that showed no interest in mating.
After an afternoon of tracking with ranger Tayla Jean and trackers Ray Mabilane and Freddy Ngobeni, Tayla the Senegal Bush male and Three Rivers female were found together in thickly vegetated drainage line. After an incredible sighting of them mating, they both lay up on a termite mound, giving us an absolutely spectacular view.
Not for sensitive viewers, but a true image of the rawness of survival as a clan of hyena feed on a waterbuck they had managed to capture in a dry pan which had soft mud in the centre, they too got quite stuck as they fed.
Recently independent from his mother, The Ximungwe young male take any opportunity, here watching Hyenas finish off the remains of a Waterbuck and hoping to swoop in and get any share.
We just managed to capture this setting with a Kudu scanning the horizon as the purple and red sky situated the surroundings .
The intricacies of an elephant grabbing some grass; I often wonder how many times it repeats this action every day.
A first time for me seeing the Tavangumi Male leopard, raised by the Schotia female to the west of Londolozi and now seen moving through the northern parts of the reserve.
As the stormy clouds started to settle, we stopped to identify a juvenile Bateleur that was silhouetted by the late afternoon sunset.
This squirrel brought the vehicle to a quick halt as it poked its head out of its nest and started chattering, making us scan the surrounding bushes for a predator. False alarm.
An interesting one in that at first glance both of these adult Bateleurs look like males (the female has grey on the upper sides of her primary feathers, not black like these two). Are we missing something her?
![Kigelia Female Leopard Cubs In Jackalberry (5)[rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12140124/Kigelia-female-Leopard-cubs-in-Jackalberry-5RCB-280x178.jpg)
Hi Bateleur eagles are my favourite as they are spectacular when flying. Very interesting to see the two males together. Lovely pictures of leopards and lions, great photos of hippos in the poole and elephant and the impala at sunset. I wonder if waterbuck are easy prey in the water… they are beautiful animals. It seems it’s love and babies time but also birding time
Amazing contrast of gentleness and ferocity in the photo of the cub of the Ntsevu pride and its father.
Welcome Back Dean!!!
Wow, have added lots of your photos to my “favourites”, thanks. Re the Senegal Bush male with the 6 Rivers female, weren’t they seen mating some months ago – and didn’t he then mate with Mashaba?
Terrific photo montage Dean! I particularly love the variety of images, composition, settings and colors! Thanks!
Dean, I loved all the photos, especially leopard Sofia, I also bantelur eagles, and I also saved lion cub🤗
What has Xinzele done to her ears? My goodness, a mere 15 months ago, she had perfect smooth ears! We saw her on the northern Londolozi boundary in July 2019…..it is nice to see her more often in your stories now!
Dean, I also saved headed weaver, and I also saved pippit, and I also saved grand heron
Good week in pictures! I love the picture of the Three Rivers female and the Senegal Bush male. Such beautiful leopards!
Beautiful pictures!
Dean, you’ve put together an album of interesting and well composed images for this week’s photo journal. I sense your joy in being back at Londolozi.
Wow Dean, Great shots!! I saved a ton of them ! Particularly loved the Lion shots, the Leopards after mating and the Kudu at sunset! But really loved them all 🙂
Great photo selection Dean and welcome back to the bush! Was wondering if Xinzele’s more frequent sightings in the north-central area is the reason or a possible reason for the secrecy and movement of Makhomsava and her cub(s)? Isn’t she normally seen in the north-central areas? Also, are the adult Ntsevu lionesses acting aggressive towards the sub-adults males and have the Birmingham Males shown any such behavior toward their sons/male relatives?
Have saved the Lion Cub yelling. Couldn’t resist it. Wendy M
Lovely grouping of images, Dean. The unfazed cub with the father snarling over it inches away was my favorite. Welcome back!!
Even by the high standards of Londolzi, this week’s photos are wonderful.
Just imagine a world without photography , all these lovely images could not be shared!
Wow, a lot of great shots. Fantastic Pictures
Dean, Your shots are fantastic! Added a couple to our favorites! The Tavangumi male leopard is certainly a handsome devil! The image of the Ntsevu cub is a classic!
I had not yet signed in for Londolozi Live, I went searching for more of your blogs and foto’s. Beautiful foto of the by Tanangumi male leopard. The two bateleur birds look very impressive high up in the trees. Gorgeous foto of lion cub. Senegal bush male and three rivers female, stunning foto’s.