This week’s photographic spectacle takes on an incredible standard with a variety of subjects although the undertone of predators and leopards is still strong.
We manage to spend the morning with the Ndzandzeni Female and have some very exciting news in that we think she may be raising another litter of cubs. The Nkoveni Female takes full advantage of the impala males rutting and manages to successfully stalk and catch one male that was so fixated on his component that he didn’t see the impending death barrelling towards him.
The Ximungwe Young Male features yet again and provides some great viewing. One of the Nkoveni Young Females is captured in a stunning scene as she climbs a fallen marula. The Senegal Bush Male and Mawelawela Male are also seen in separate sightings.
The mother cheetah and her sub-adult cub were found on a cold wet morning searching for any potential prey. A crocodile, baby elephant and baby zebra also feature.
Let us know your favourite image in the comments section below.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
The Ndzandzeni Female is back. We have not seen her for a while. This is partly due to her territory being a bit further away and so much activity happening closer to camp that not many people have ventured down there in search of her. To the trained eye, you may notice that her belly is hanging a little low and the fur looks slightly matted there. Yes, we suspect she may have cubs and so my next mission is to go in search of her den.
A large male giraffe string across an open clearing. Giraffe are extremely graceful animals. Sometimes just sitting and watching the go about their day can be very entertaining.
A very cute elephant calf is pictured underneath its mother. For me, the cool aspect of this image is that the little calf is framed by its mother’s body. Elephant calves are amazing animals to spend time with. they are often full of energy and pretty adorable to just sit and observe.
A female Giant Kingfisher intently scans the flowing Sand River beneath it for any fish swimming too close to the surface.
As the height of the impala rut intensifies the clashing of two male impala’s horns catches the Nkoveni Female’s attention.
Planning her best approach, the Nkoveni Female is fixated on the two males.
Success in her hunt, the Nkoveni Female then drags her enormous impala towards a thicket.
After a three day downpour, this soaked zebra foal didn’t look too impressed with the continuous rain.
Senegal Bush Male heading down towards the Sand River during a late morning territorial patrol.
A new leopard seen on Londolozi, the Kigelia Female’s newly independent daughter. Only just older than a year she is being seen in the deep southwestern parts of the reserve.
The Mawelawela Male staring deep into the camera during an amazing sunset.
A Saddle-billed Stork wading through a waterhole in search of any aquatic snacks.
One of the Nkoveni Young Females climbs a fallen marula as the golden light begins to fade after sunset.
The iridescent sheen of a Burchell’s Starling as the morning begins to warm up.
focussing in on a lion’s eye is captivating. The detail and intensity are fascinating.
Ximungwe Young Male uses a fallen marula tree to scan the surrounding clearing.
The Mother Cheetah and her growing cub use a termite mound to gain a little bit of elevation in order to scan the open grasslands while being soaked with rain.
Crocodiles have an aura about them that certainly sends shivers down my spine. Here is an amazing view of the detail in a crocodile’s eye and the scales on its head.
Ximungwe Young Male resting at the base of an eroded river bank, he always appears to have a mischievous smirk on his face, but that is only my perception.
May’s TWIP Photographer Winner…
Thank you to all of you who voted for your favourite images throughout the month of May 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“. 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 May – Congratulations to Kirst Joscelyne.
May’s winning image: One of the Nhlangheni female’s cubs managed to climb up onto the rock after her mother. The Nhlangheni female used this rock as a vantage point as she scanned the surroundings after distant impala alarm calls were heard. These young cubs are already practicing their climbing skills at a young age as they start to interact with their environment more and more.
Happy to see the re-emergence of the Ndzandzeni Female –with the added potential bonus of cubs. Good luck with the tracking Sean!
Once again–fantastic variety of images. I too enjoy viewing elephant calves and following the graceful giraffes.
Thank you so much, Vin. It is such exciting news. We will work hard to try to find her den.
Well done Kirst, I agree it definitely is my choice as well! Now it is so terribly difficult to choose. I’d say cheetahs or leopards but the image that caught my heart immediately was the little zebra foal shivering under the rain. It is so sweet and looks like a small frail creature in the immense savannah. So that’s my choice
Thank you so much, Francesca. Kirst’s photo was stunning.
Ps my sister ‘s choice is the Burchell’s starling
Great choice for last month! Too hard this week! They are all so amazing!
Thank you so much, Anita.
Sean, my favorite this week is the head shot of the Mawelawela Male.
Thank you so much, William. That is a good choice.
Once again a superb selection of photos, but this week the portrait of the Mawelawela male, showing the wear and tear of life in the bush does it for me.
Thank you so much, Darryl. That is a great choice.
All the photos are fantastic yet again, but this week I’m going for the one of Ndzanzeni as I know how difficult it is to find her. Good luck Sean in your search for her litter, very exciting news. She seems to have lost all her litters since Tortoise Pan and I have my fingers and thumbs crossed for her to bring another cub to independence (ideally a female this time!)
Thank you so much, Suzanne. She sadly has been rather unlucky in raising her cubs so we hope she has a bit more luck with this litter.
The leopards of Londolozi are just so amazing! I cannot say this often enough. They are just perfect. And you are so lucky that there are so many different individuals and all these lovely cubs one can watch.
However, also the other pictures are wonderful: Chris’ Saddle billed stork – such lovely colors, the elephant baby, the eye of the lion, the giraffe. The crocodile’s eye certainly sends a shiver dow my spine as well. They are somehow such creepy creatures.
Thank you so much, Christa. We are spoilt at Londolozi with the leopard viewing.
Love them all! But, I will pick my winner—Nkoveni Young Female on the fallen marula tree! Beautiful in every way! A close second is the crocodile close up—fascinating!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Darlene. That is a great choice.
Dan’s photo of the elephant calf is the winner for me this week. 🙏🏻💗👍
Thank you so much, Marcia. Dan’s elephant pic is great.
Super exciting news about the Ndzanzeni Female! Has her territory shifted more off Londolozi or is it just a matter of exploring the area in which she holds stead? Also, any recent sign of the Mashaba Female’s cubs? Great selection as always Londolozi team
It is great news about the Ndzandzeni Female. She has shifted slightly but holds territory in the southeastern parts of Londolozi.
Sean and team, Really amazing images this week! The creativity and unique ways the shots were taken is just inspiring and has us wanting more! The Nkoveni Female experience, and the elephant image are really super. the Senegal Bush Male image is unique and the Cheetahs on the lookout are perfect. No clear winner this week, but thank you for bring us back to the place we love!
Thank you so much, Michael and Terri. There was a great selection of images this week.
You’ve made it almost impossible to choose a favorite this week as every image was special, especially seeing Kigelia’s newly independent female. She looks like her mother in my opinion. The leopards were the dominant group and as much as I love seeing them, my vote this week goes to Kyle’s soaked zebra foal. Waterlogged, this little one looked so forlorn. I was also surprised by his seemingly wavy coat. Terrific job everyone and a special congratulations to Kirst for her adorable leopard cub , peeping over the boulder!
Thank you so much, Denise. Leopards were prominent this week. But I agree that Kyle’s zebra is fantastic.
Congrats to Kirst for that gorgeous foto of the leopard cub. Today my favourite foto is the Ximungwe cub lying by the river bank. He is so stunning.
Thank you so much, Valmai.
hahaha, the Ximungwe young man is a funny guy. Big ears, by the way! Or is he still growing into them?
The baby ellie and the baby zebra are super cute as well………..
I think it is just in the image that it makes them look rather large.
I love the little baby zebra all wet! He is so cute! Congrats to Kirst for TWIP win for May!
The zebra foal is a great shot.
So many beautiful images this week as per usual. Until seeing the close up of the lion’s eye, it never occurred to me that lions have round pupils like us and not crescent shaped ones like domestic cats. Also loved the crocodile detail.
Thank you so much, Chelsea. Yes, the lion’s pupil is round similar to a human.
Ahh such beautiful pics!! My favourites would have to be the starling, the mum cheetah and her cub, that beautiful shot of the Nkoveni female and that sweet baby zebra foal! All so beautiful though!
Thank you so much, Carly.
I really enjoyed watching The week in pictures! A fantastic variation of the pictures!
I especially liked the Burchells Starling, the beautiful Giant Kingfisher, the eye of the lion, so beautiful! and the cool new Leopard Kigelias daughter laying resting in a three… and finally the sweet soaked zebra foal!
The winner for May , lovely photo Kirst Joscelynes had taken!
Thank you for the week in pictures!
Thank you so much, Ann.
Oh my goodness……each photo is better than the next! I always love the leopards the most, but the drenched young zebra foal is especially wonderful this week!
It is always difficult to pick a favorite as you always provide stunning photographs. I would have to say the baby zebra is my favorite of these, followed very closely by the Kigelia female and the cheetahs.
Thank you so much, Karen.