Following on from last week’s Virtual Safari we find the same lioness now in the company of a different Ndzhenga Male lion. Unsure of whether the two were about to begin the mating process, we sit and wait to find out.
While we are on the trend of animals mating or falling pregnant, we spend the afternoon with a pack of wild dogs milling about in the shade. When our attention is drawn to the fact that the alpha female is looking heavily pregnant. This is incredibly unusual for this time of the year, but may be a result of her having lost her litter of pups very early on in the breeding season of 2021. Potentially allowing her to come back into oestrus and therefore fall pregnant again. We hope that as the pack will get up and start moving they go past a stunningly scenic part of the Sand River for a drink.
We then spend the morning with a Nkoveni Female’s two energetic and playful daughters. The two have provided some valuable game viewing over the least few weeks, with next week’s Virtual Safari focusing on a number of unbelievable sightings of the two.
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
To view the YouTube link, click here.
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.
![Ntsevu Pride, Wild Dogs And Rhino (10) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/12140133/Ntsevu-pride-wild-dogs-and-rhino-10-RCB-280x178.jpg)
Sean, thanks for a wonderful game drive. Lions mating, wild dogs and young leopards, a full day of pictures and adventure.
Thank you so much, William. It was a great few sightings. I am intrigued to see what happens with the wild dogs.
Hi Sean, perhaps there will be new lion cubs soon too, great news. About wild dogs, what’s amazing is also their pungent smell, stinky… they don’t need to ambush and they have a great success in taking down their prey, so this may be one of the reason for this? The Nkoveni female and her daughters, I do hope they will reach adulthood! – best video of the year! About the last pictures and blog you sent- I can’t see them in any way…
We are hoping that there will be a few new lion cubs in the next three to four months.
Wild dogs do smell rather pungent and this is a mechanism for group cohesion and recognition. They are incredibly successful in the hunts and do not need to stalk their prey, they rather chase their prey to exhaustion. The Nkoveni Female’s daughters are such amazing leopards to spend time with.
My sincerest apologies about the previous blogs not going out correctly. We were updating our website and ran into a couple of technical issues. I believe that they have all be resolved and the blogs are viewable not.
Thank you Sean – you won’t be surprised to hear my favourite sighting was the 2 Nkoveni sisters. 3 weeks ago today we’d already spent at least an hour on our last game drive watching these 2 chasing one another around the dead tree and that small waterhole, when you arrived to film them. Watching the video I’m right back there – it was a sensational way to finish our trip. Roll on November for my next visit!
It truly was an amazing sighting of the young leopards chasing each other around the waterhole and dead tree.
Oops, 2 weeks ago not 3.
Great virtual safari this week! I loved seeing the wild dogs and found it interesting to notice just how well they blend into their surroundings when not moving/laying down. And I was surprised to hear of the elephants dislike of them…
Thank you so much, Marcia. It is amazing how well they blend in when they are still. Most of the time you would drive straight past them unless you see a tail or ear twitch.
Hi Sean that was awesome footage of the Nkoveni female cubs by the water. They are growing up fast. The wild dogs was a huge surprise and let us hope that she is pregnant and den’s on Londolozi. Lovely to the Ndhzenga male lion and the female lionessess.
Thank you so much, Valmai. The Nkoveni Female’s daughters are growing so quickly and providing us with such great viewing. We are hoping that the wild dogs den on Londolozi again.
Thanks for an interesting virtual safari Sean. It appears the Birmingham male has abandoned his Ntsevu ladies for the time being, allowing the females to become closer to the Ndhzenga males. I guess time will tell what happens here.
Good story on the wild dogs. It does seem early for the alpha female to be pregnant as last year I was observing mating behavior between an alpha female and her mate the first of April!
The Nkoveni cubs look healthy and seem to be on the road to independence as long as they follow their mum’s lessons for survival as well as their own instincts. At least they have each other to have their back when alone.
Thank you, Denise. The Birmingham Male has left Londolozi. I believe he is being seen on the western parts of Singita and possibly even further west. Being an alone male now it would be difficult to hold his own against the four Ndzhenga Males.
It is incredibly interesting that this wild dog female is pregnant again. We are holding thumbs that she gives birth on Londolozi this year.
Yes, the Nkoveni Female’s daughters are doing so well.
It would really be great if the wild dogs denned again at Londolozi.
The video clips of those beautiful young leopard sisters are fantastic!
And also the interactions of the lions show lots of possibilities for the future.
Thanks for another great virtual safari!
Thank you so much, Christa. The next few months of game viewing is going to be fantastic with all that is going on at the moment.
A rlaxing time with the cats Sean. Enjoyed it. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Leonie. It was indeed a relaxing time with the big cats.
wonderful sighting of the two leopard cubs
What a lovely mix this week Sean. Certainly interesting to see which lioness is finally chosen. Super news that there might be a new litter of pups on Londolozi as the Alfa female certainly does look pregnant! …and the stars of this weeks show…the Nkoveni cubs that continue to do so well and entertain us all. What an amazing mother the Nkoveni female is, managing to look after and raise these two adventuresome cubs 💕 Super., thanks Sean 🙏🏻
Thanks, Cally. It is going got be an interesting time going forward. Hopefully, a few lion cubs and wild dog pups are on their way. Yes, time spent with the Nkoveni Young Females is always entertaining.
I was concerned for the leopard cubs because of the possibility of a croc being in the waterhole. Have you ever seen a mother leopard train her cub(s) about the existence of crocodiles?
The waterhole was very small, so it was quite unlikely (but not impossible) that there would be a crocodile in it. I personally have not seen mothers teaching their young about crocodiles but i think that the cubs will pick up on her caution and reluctance to wander straight up to larger waterholes that may contain crocodiles and from this they know that larger waterholes mean danger.
Wonderful video this week Sean. Wild dogs are always a favorite, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing if they stay on Londolozi for the birthing. Loved watching the young leopards in action as wellnn
Wild dogs are a favourite. Spending time with them is always worth it.Hopefully they hang around here and give birth on Londolozi.