Spending a few days enduring the colder, rainy weather earlier this week, we have seen the bush transform before our eyes. The pans and waterholes are full, the lush new green growth is evident everywhere, and with it all comes a new refreshed ambient sense of rejuvenation.
The cloudy weather has provided a gently soft light allowing for some great photography. The shadows and highlights are not as harsh, allowing one to capture great images late into the morning. Pat and Chris compile a photographic collection in all its diverse splendour. From the amazing herd of elephants drinking to the joyous playful rhino calves, leopards and leopard tortoises, wild dogs and cheetah, and hyena cubs.
It is an amazing time of the year to be on safari, the transformation from the dull tones of the early new growth a couple of weeks ago to a rich emerald green canvas that can be seen everywhere.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
As the bush transforms, the waterholes have been filled by the rain and the animals enjoy the abundance of water around, especially this herd of elephants during a warm day
With the inability to use its trunk yet, this very small baby elephant attempts to have a drink by putting its whole face into the water.
Young calves are always amazing to see, inquisitive by nature, they often will come to investigate the foreign being that watches on, before bounding off in a playful manner.
The Mawelawela Male is an interesting leopard to spend time with, initially a skittish individual, he has relaxed significantly and is constantly expanding his territory throughout the core Londolozi.
Began as a fairly unrelaxed leopard in the southwestern parts of the reserve. Now providing great viewing in the open grasslands
After a period of aestivation, similar to hibernation, where the animal lowers its metabolic rate due to the lack of water in the drier months, Leopard Tortoises are everywhere at the moment, after our recent rains, replenishing their fluids and taking full advantage of all the lush green grass to graze on.
The Nkoveni Female and her two cubs find the perfect place to rest on the mound of soil still held together by the roots of this knobthorn tree that an elephant had pushed over.
A gorgeous female who is found to the east of camp. Easily recognised by her 2:2 spot pattern she is often to be found in Marula trees.
As a large herd of around 400 buffalo moved through an area slowly feeding on the new shoots of grass for an hour or so, we then saw this enormous bull staring at us. Relatively young because his fur is still in good condition, but the texture of his boss in the middle of the horns was impressive.
As an animal that feeds only on grass, and a lot of it, the buffalo are in heaven with the abundance of new green shoots coming through.
The Three Rivers Female’s Cub spent the morning learning vital lessons. One of which was mimicking its mother by dragging the remains of a duiker that they had been feeding on.
A hard morning of valuable lessons was concluded with both mother and cub settling in for a drink at a nearby pan.
Forced into early independence as her mother was killed by the Southern Avoca Males.
Young hyenas are such entertaining little animals to watch, having a few other youngsters around provide them with the perfect playmates. Here three peer out from the opening of the den.
The Senegal Bush Male continues to provide great viewing, once again being found in a marula tree, resting throughout the day.
Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019
This adolescent wild dog pup watches the rest of its siblings play in a mud wallow from a distance, taking this opportunity to rest for a short while before being over-run with excitement and joining in on the playtime.
The very seldomly seen cheetah used this fallen Marula to scan for any potential threats or prey before clawing away at the bark in order to sharpen its claws.
Silhouetted as this female leopard leaps from one branch towards another, to feed on the impala carcass she had managed to hoist.
The eirie nature of hyenas is accentuated as this one feeds on the remains of an impala carcass at night.
The Ximungwe Female claws at the bark beneath her front paws as she begins to stretch before moving on for her morning’s missions.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
Spending time within the safety of this tree a Striped Skink pauses to analyse the threat before it scuttled off into a crack in the bark.
Love the scuba diving baby elephant! But also love the variety of animals enjoying the grasses and the leopards Are always great to see! Thank you! Victoria
Sean , so many baby animals in the wild are always a magnificent sighting. Loved the leopard cubs, baby elephant, even the buffalo calves. The Tortoise looks so pleased with himself eating away on the grass. Nkoveni female and her 2 cubs sitting so close to one another keeping warm. Little three rivers cub really cute dragging the leftover driver. So good to see the Senegal bush male again, he is still my favorite male leopard.
lovely, thank you! The little one dragging the duiker is sweet………… 🙂
Wow! What a leopardtastic week! Gorgeous photos!
Fabulous photos! The Three Rivers cub dragging the kill is adorable! Thanks so much for a fabulous TWIP!
As always, TWIP’s is wonderful. Thank you Sean!
Hi Sean all pictures are amazing but the Leopard Tortoise is a real fun and so the Skink a sort of peek-a-boo… all cubs and calves are sweet . The buffalo is impressive. Beautiful colours and the cheetah is always the top view!
It seems that all of you had a fantastic week of really amazing sightings. It’s like a list of animals one wants to see when coming to Londolozi. The young hyenas are really cute. And it’s great that all the leopard cubs are still healthy and alive. The light in the photos of the elephants is really beautiful.
QUESTION: I’ve always been curious about something,.. and that is, does the water that the “cats” (lions, cheetahs, leopards, etc) drink, affect their longevity? (being that the water is not particularly sanitary?) Does the water ever make the animals sick or do their bodies get used to the water in the environment?
Nice to hear things are greening up Sean. Spring is really a nice time of year when you can see a rebirth after winter. Some really fantastic pics this week – loved them all. Thanks for sharing.
Superb photos again, well done guys. A question….on my last game drive last Sunday 21st, we joined Dean who had found an unknown female leopard in the southwest. She was looking out nervously from the fork of a tree. Neither rangers or trackers could identify her, and I wondered if there has been an i.d since then?
Sean great shots and thank you for bringing Lodolozi to life with your images! Especilayy the Painted Dog! A little biased as you can tell
Sean, The images this week are really special. We loved seeing the Nkoveni Female and her two cubs . We have known her since she was a cub! The wide-angle b&w of the elephants really jumps too. The close up of the Leopard Tortoise must have been taken from the ground!
Loved all the images but especially the leopards with cubs, hippo calf and the leopard tortoise. Good to hear the weather has been cooperative and I only hope this new Covid variant doesn’t derail guests’ travel plans for the next few weeks. We don’t need to go through this again!
Super selection of stunning photos again Sean ! Loved the baby Eli diving head first 😁..the Nkoveni females 2 cubs are doing so well wonderful to see and the 3 rivers female cub stole my ❤️. The hyena on the carcass was the winner for me this week though. Thanks to you all yet again 🙏🏻
Loved all the photos this week, such a variety! Lots of babies, always my favourites. And that tortoise!!