There is a certain buzz about Londolozi at the moment, the bush has been brought back to life by the late rains in the season. Another flush of green overrides most of the images this week. And with the rain comes a whole host of wildlife that is making the most of it before winter is firmly upon us.
Insect and birdlife have been abundant as a last little flush before things cool down dramatically for winter. But the buzz doesn’t only come from insects this week. We have the amazing news that apart from enjoying some world-class sightings of the Nhlanguleni Female and her two cubs, we have discovered another leopard den on Londolozi.
Our best-known leopard, the Mashaba Female, was suspected to have been pregnant. Unfortunately for us, she has shifted her territory further south where searching for becomes more challenging and therefore she has been viewed a lot less over the last year. By chancing our luck one morning, we decided to poke our vehicle in amongst some boulders that have been used as a den by the Ndzandzeni Female and the Totowa Female in the past.
Sure enough, we were greeted by the Mashaba Female and two tiny little leopard cubs estimated to be about three weeks old. Initially, the cubs were extremely nervous and hid from the vehicle, but over the course of the morning along with their mother’s relaxed nature, they eventually settled down and allowed us some phenomenal viewing.
Let us know your favourite image in the comments section below.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
The Ximungwe Young Male, posing in a regal manner on the trunk of a fallen marula tree.
A single cub of the Ximungwe Female's second litter. Initially rather skittish but is very relaxed now. Birth mark in his left eye.
Returning to the perch of a dead stump, this Fork-tailed Drongo was following an elephant as it moved around feeding. Often the feet of the larger animals disturb and flush insects out of the grass which the opportunistic Drongo swoops in to catch .
While enjoying the very first view of the Mashaba Female’s most recent litter of cubs, she gazes up at a vulture flying overhead.
The Mashaba female is currently Londolozi’s best-known leopard. Her relaxed nature means she is comfortable around the vehicles.
The nervous yet inquisitive cubs sneak up onto a small rock right next to its mother.
Settling down for a moment before moving on to spend time climbing on its mother’s back.
Still unsure of what a vehicle is, this cub had never seen one before and was not shy to bare its teeth.
Estimated to be at around a month old, these cubs were gaining confidence and were willing to climb a few of the rocks nearby, without venturing too far from their mother.
Coqui Francoli tend to be the more shier of the Francolin that we get here. This individual didn’t live up to that reputation though.
Once again, we were graced with another spectacular sighting of a pangolin. This time it lifted its head revealing its face in amongst the grass.
Roaming the more opn areas, Secratarybirds move around in search of any prey lurking in the grass.
One of the Nhlanguleni Female’s cubs peeks over the top of a large boulder at the den.
Initially skittish she spent a lot of time in the Sand River, now relaxed she makes up the majority of leopard viewing west of camp.
Elephants are captivating animals, there is so much detail to them and as a photographer, one can always zoom in on some of the finer details.
After some rather late rain in the season, we have seen another resurgence of the termites, here a colony of macroterme termites swarm together to extend the top of the mound.
The Senegal Bush Male made use of the night’s thunderstorm to hide his presence while hunting. The storm softens the ground and vegetation underfoot allowing him to move around in silence without the threat of a leaf or twig cracking as he steps on it. The wind and rainfall also dampen any sound should he make any. Making conditions perfect for him to secure himself an impala ewe.
Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019
The Ndzhenga Male’s have spent a fair amount of time roaming Londolozi, on this particular morning patrol this Male came across a marula tree where the Senegal Bush Male had stashed an impala carcass. Fortunately, the leopard was not around and managed to escape any potential danger.
While sitting at eh Mashaba Female’s den waiting for the cubs to reappear, a striped skink was taking the opportunity to warm itself with the early morning rays.
April’s TWIP Photographer Winner…
Thank you to all of you who voted for your favourite images throughout the month of April on our blog and as well as Instagram – we have a winner… Our TWIP Photography competition happens over the course of every month and relies on your votes – our blog and social media followers. The winner of every month gets to draw a prize/voucher out of a hat for all the energy, patience, skill and passion they needed in order to get “the shot“. As we sit, two months into the competition and there has been no holding back from the rangers who have been producing some outstanding content. We are thrilled to keep sharing some amazing photographic content with you every week. Make sure to vote every week for your favourite picture.
Now onto the winner for April- Congratulations to Kelsey Clark.
April’s winning image- A young cheetah cub making sure he helps his mother scan their surrounding for any unwanted threats or possibly their next meal.
Sean, We are SO excited to hear that “our Mashaba” has another set of cubs! Fantastic news! The shots of the cubs are really fantastic and we hope they will make it. We think the beautiful image of Mashaba has her looking to the sky in order to say thank you for such a wonderful life at Londolozi!
Thank you so much, Michael and Terri. It is fantastic news indeed that she has another litter of cubs. We are all holding thumbs that they survive.
All pictures are superb along with the subjects – I’m over the moon to see the Mashaba female finally and with two adorable cubs! One is a fighter it seems! Just adorable. The Ximungwe young male is already a king! All leopards are at their top. I’m very happy to see a pangolin again! Elephants, the francolin, the drongo, the secretary bird and the skink are all beautiful and of course as my sister says, a lion is a lion! I’m glad that the cheetah mum with the cub won!
Thank you so much, Francesca. It was a great week and we are delighted that the Mashaba Female has cubs.
Thanks. We often see termite mounds but never the termites.
This is very true, only if you have a look down one of the chimneys will you maybe see a few termites.
Congratulations to Kelsey! Truly a great photograph!
Winner for me this week is the pangolin. 🤩
Kelsey’s image is a fantastic one.
Thanks Sean for TWIP’s it is spectacular. Congratulations to Kelsey for the winning photograph!
Thank you so much, William.
Thanks for all the great, lovely, amazing pictures of so many animals!
Thank you so much, Christa.
I can’t view Kelsey’s winning shot, not sure why but well done Kelsey anyway!
I love Kyle’s photo of the Senegal Bush male – he always looks like he’s wearing black eyeliner (SB not Kyle!) But my favourite has to be one of the young leopard cubs, though I can’t choose between Kirst’s shot of a Nhlanguleni cub and yours of Mashaba’s. She’s lost so many litters I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed for these 2.
Thank you, Suzanne. That is interesting that Kelsey’s image is not showing up on your side.
The “Senegal Bush Male” does look like he is wearing eyeliner.
Kelsey’s photo has come up now on my screen – terrific image.
But I’m still not getting emails for when you reply.
Hi Suzanne, the web development team is working on the email notification when I respond. Hopefully, it will be up and running soon.
Congrats to Kelsey for a stunning foto of mother cheetah and her cub. Sean my favourite foto this week is the leopard cub looking over the boulder. It’s so gorgeous and precious. Very glad to hear Mashaba has two cubs as well, she is my favorite leopardess.
Thank you so much, Valmai. Kirst’s picture of the cub peeping over the top of the boulder is amazing.
The eyes of the cub on the boulder is priceless! Great shot, Sean
Thank you so much, Linda.
Well done Kelsey for winning the April image of your gorgeous Cheetahs ! Gosh the entertaining young Ximungwe male has certainly grown into a handsome young man ! Fabulous that you have again enjoyed seeing some Pangolin but of course the winner for me has to be the series of photos of the Mashaba cub..particularly the one of it growling at the landi . Fabulous photos as always thank you Sean and team !🙏🏻💕
Thank you so much, Cally. The Ximungwe Young Male is a stunning young leopard. I am so glad that you enjoyed this week, it was a great collection of images.
Wonderful news about Mashaba! Do you recall her losing her kill in a tree which eventually nearly dropped down onto our vehicle?
Always love seeing the Senegal Bush male.
It is such great news that she has some more cubs, let’s hope that she is able to raise these cubs successfully.
I do recall that sighting. It was a great one as she tried to work out how to best recover her kill.
Another pair of leopard cubs and this time belonging to Mashaba female – now I really am sad that I wasn’t able to visit this year! Seriously Sean, your sightings over the past month are seriously envy worthy. Without a doubt my vote goes to you for that priceless capture of Mashaba’s cub, mouth open in a “baby” snarl. All the other contributors this week shared terrific photos that represented their time spent in the bush, notably Kirst’s Nhlanguleni cub, Kyle’s Senegal Bush male and your pangolin image. Thanks for a terrific week of photography!
Thank you so much, Denise. The sightings over the last little while have been incredible. We have been so lucky with what we have seen.
:Lots of great pics Sean and interesting blog. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Leonie.
You all have outdone yourselves with the Mashable cub photos. So great to see. During my last visit (Aug 2019), Grant, Jerry and I spent a whole week in that very area looking for Tatowa Female and cubs.
Thank you, Al. It was such a great find. I couldn’t believe my eyes when we drove around the corner and there she was.
Again, it is hard to pick a winner, but Sean, your photo of the tiny leopard cub snarling at you is my favorite. Such good fortune to have new leopard cubs! Great news! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Darlene. It is indeed such a great fortune to have new cubs on Londolozi.
Congrats to Kelsey Clark for her winning cheetah photo in April.
TWIP #543 is a real challenge to choose a favourite. What an amazing set of pics!!!!! Thank you to everyone who took them.
Such amazing news that the Mashaba female has new little ones .
How jealous we are of the wonderful pangolin sightings you’ve all been having .
I simply cannot choose a favourite .
Have a super week.
Thank you so much, Jane. We are so excited to have a few new leopard cubs around.
Super photos
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC selection of photos Londolozi team. I was wondering if you could confirm that these cubs are the Mashaba Female’s 10th litter? I have these recorded for her so far and also was wondering if you could name potential fathers for her and the Nhlanguleni Female’s new cubs?
First Litter:
Born: August 2012, possibly fathered by Tyson/Marthly Male
Cubs born: 2, 1 female, the Nkoveni Female survived
Cubs died: 1
Second Litter:
Born: Approx. March-April 2014
Cubs born: 3
Cubs died: 3, killed by nomadic young male
Third Litter:
Born: May 2015, possibly fathered by the Robson’s 4:4 Male
Cubs born: 2, 1 male, 1 female (later named the Ximungwe Female)
Cubs died: Male cub disappeared at four-months old
Fourth Litter:
Born: October 2016, believed to have been fathered by the Robson’s 4:4 Male or the Piva Male
Cubs born: 2
Cubs died: 2, killed by the Flat Rock Male
Fifth Litter:
Born: Mid-July 2017, possibly fathered by the Piva Male, Inyathini Male, or Flat Rock Male
Cubs born: 3
Cubs died: 3, believed to have been killed by lions late 2017
Sixth Litter:
Born: Early-mid 2018, father possibly the Flat Rock Male
Cubs born: 3
Cubs died: 3, killed by the Tortoise Pan Male
Seventh Litter:
Born: December 25, 2018, possibly sired by the Flat Rock Male
Cubs born: 3
Cubs died: 3
Eighth Litter:
Born: Approx. late August-early September 2019, possibly fathered by the Inyathini, Flat Rock, Tortoise Pan, and Kunyuma/Senegal Bush Males
Cubs born: Unknown
Cubs died: Cubs not seen, possibly killed by the Mawelawela Male
Ninth Litter:
Born: Late June-early July 2020, possibly sired by Kunyuma/Senegal Bush Male
Cubs born: 1 known
Cubs died: 1, last seen being carried (alive) by Kunyuma/Senegal Bush Male from the den site
Cubs Raised to Independence: 2, the Nkoveni Female and Ximungwe Female
Hi Michael, Thank you so much. As far as I am aware this should be her tenth litter. She could have had cubs during 2021 that we just never knew about.
Potential fathers of Mashaba Female’s cubs would be the Senegal Bush Male, Maxim’s Male, Mawelawela Male, or Nweti Male.
Nhlanguleni Female’s cubs would be the Senegal Bush Male or Flat Rock Male, maybe Hosana but not sure.
Awesome pics this week! My favourites would have to be the birds!
Kelsey’s pic certainly deserved the pic of the month – it’s exquisite!