Summertime safaris are inundated with the excitement of new life showing itself in many ways, shapes and forms. The arrival of the rains promotes a surge in the growth of vegetation. New grass shoots propel themselves up through the old dead, dry grass. Trees begin to bud through with new leaves and initiate the blossoming of their flowers. A multitude of wildflowers beautifies the lush landscapes with bursts of colour. River levels rise and waterholes swell.
A very young leopard tortoise ventures out to cross the road, just bigger than the palm of my hand this little tortoise has a lot more ahead of it.
Accompanying the abundance of water and plant life in the bush-veld around us, we see the arrival of new lambs and calves and foals, food sources are more bountiful and weather preferable, making it a much better place for the introduction of new life into this world.
It is during this wet season that we embrace the overwhelming influx of young animals being born. Impala’s very intense mating season through the months of May to July sees their lambing season fall roughly seven months later to arrive just after the rains. The vast majority of females give birth and effectively flood the market with their adorable lambs. Although tiny and vulnerable, their long dainty legs get them up and running within an hour of being born. This in conjunction with sheer numbers helps the majority survive.
A young Wildebeest stares back at its mother shortly after a little burst of energy that sent it running off through the open grasslands
Wildebeest calves arrive on the scene shortly after the impala lambs. A slightly longer gestation means that the rutting of wildebeest happens at the end of the previous rainy season. Lighter brown than their mothers, they are also usually up on their feet soon after birth. The colouration may assist the youngsters in remaining camouflage by resembling an impala, (known to be athletic and fast), until the calves are more sure-footed and able to avoid predation.
Galloping through the open, this wildebeest makes it look like a lot of fun.
In these first few weeks, it is such fun observing young wildebeests. Everything is new to them and they are working out how their legs really work, tearing off at high speeds, running in circles, bounding back and forth like a rocking horse. Life is exciting, so much more entertaining than the relatively mundane life of the adults just a few meters away, as they amble alongside the young, feeding.
A foal standing by its mother’s side
Zebra foals are just as excitable. From a standing start, completely unprovoked, they hightail it in full gallop. Charging around nearby bushes, bucking and kicking their back legs as though they are kicking the air. Sprinting back to mum to check in before screaming off again. It is truly refreshing seeing the young energy and simplicity that many of these animals find amusement in.
A Southern Carmine Bee-eater perched in search of any prey. These bee-eaters return to Southern Africa to breed, after over-wintering in more equatorial parts of Africa.
Birdlife represents a major spectacle during the summer. Some of the migratory birds travel back to Southern Africa in order to breed such as the gorgeous Southern Carmine Bee-eater or cunning brood parasite Diederik Cuckoo. Whatever the strategy in raising young, birdlife creates stunning viewing opportunities. The males of various species are dazzled up in their breeding plumages or labouring away crafting a nest to impress the ladies, hoping to secure a mate. Once successful, mating ensues, eggs laid and chicks hatch. At this point I will be honest, young chicks are NOT cute, at least not until they don their first set of feathers. Immediately transforming them into these tiny little balls of fluffy feathers. Some so small they get blown over by the gentlest breeze. Birds do grow rapidly and soon are miniature versions of their parents.
Crowned Lapwing chick hiding on the road in the hopes that its camouflaged feathers help it remain undetected.
New life permeates into every nook and cranny of Londolozi during the early part of the summer, accentuated by the copious amount of rainfall this most recent season. The bush is so lush and teaming with young life, whether it be the new grass shoots, flowers, impala lambs, wildebeest calves, frogs and tadpoles, fish and their fry, it is an amazing time to go on safari. So refreshing and rejuvenating to see and be part of all the new young energy that is saturating Londolozi at the moment.
Wonderful round-up of adorable new babies! And you described even more, tadpole and fish fry. And flowers… flowers everywhere, they turn the world into a paradise. Thank you, and once again for yesterday’s magical leopards at play, they reminded me Legadema and her mum in the Eye of the Leopard the movie by the Jouberts
You are most welcome, Francesca. Summer is such a beautiful time of year here.
You are most welcome, Francesca. Summer is such a beautiful time of year here.
Nature is really wonderful and all the young animals are so beautiful to watch!
It is also amazing how well they blend in into their surroundings like the young Crowned Lapwing, e.g. or the little tortoise.
Nature is magnificent. We are so blessed to be able to spend every day immersed in it.
Oh Sean these calves, lambs and foals are precious, you just want to keep on looking at them. So perfect and yet so vulnerable. Their energy bursts that they have every now and then makes them jump and run makes them so adorable. Their expressions on their faces are priceless. Who cannot love these beautiful babies. Don’t forget the cute tortoise.
They are so full of life when they are young. It is amazing to watch.
Beautiful pictures of new life at Londolozi. Thank you Sean.
Thank you, William.
Thanks Sean. Nice to see all the younguns. A lovely time of the year and a reawakening of everything.
Thank you, Leonie. It is so nice to see all the young animals around.
What’s not to like about viewing all the new life during the summer months? My only time spent in Africa has been November through April, partly because I love the lush verdant colors and all the young animals and birds that are seen everywhere. Perhaps one day I’ll try winter for a different experience….
Summer is an amazing time to be here. Yes, it is warm, but the colours and abundance of life are what makes it so special.
Sean, Thanks for the reminder of the amazing circle of life that happens every year in your “back yard”. It must be amazing to see all the new-borns find their legs or wings and join the adults, and of course staying safe from the constant predators looking for a meal!
Sean, you all must be in mid to late summer now? Isn’t it like the northern hemisphere’s July to August right now for Londolozi? If so, are you still seeing young animals being born?
Baby season is such special time of the year and certainly my favorite..with luck we might finally get out and enjoy a winter for a change 🙏🏻🤞Super photos to match your lovely description Sean. Particularly love the zebra as they are my favorite herbivores and the fouls are always so perfectly delicate. Thanks for sharing ❤️