With so much going on around Londolozi, we have been spoilt with photographic opportunities this week, which include a stunning moon rise with an enormous full moon.
Winter temperatures have set in with the cool fresh mornings and gorgeous sunrises. We will probably expect it to get a little cooler in the coming weeks. With some late rains falling this week we are blown away by the greenery that is decorating the Londolozi landscape. Pans and mud wallows are still full, and the Buffalo are making the most of that.
The Talamati Pride spend a while entertaining us as they play in the Sand River. Initially, all we were hoping for was to see them drink and maybe cross the river, but we were gifted a lot more than that.
Hearing rumours of a mother cheetah and her four tiny cubs in the southwestern grasslands near the main access road, we were incredibly sceptical as none of us was even aware that there was a female capable of giving birth. The only female we knew of already has an older cub. So we set off in the hopes of finding, and what would end up to be my first sighting of cheetah cubs this young.
Let us know your favourite image in the comments section below.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
A mother cheetah steps into the road ahead of two of her four cubs and stares back at us.
While milling about this young cheetah appears to be snarling, I think this was in fact a yawn that could almost be mistaken for a laugh.
After rolling around in the mud, this enormous buffalo bull stares down the camera with his horns caked in mud.
It is not often that we experience such a clear view of the Maxims Male during broad daylight.
Fairly skittish male that is presumed to have come from the Kruger National Park.
As the Talamati Pride approached the water’s edge, all the lions paused for a drink until this lioness took it upon herself to be the first of them to cross the river, leading the way.
Following on from a few of the other lions this female made a quick dash through the river.
Once initially crossing the river, a few of the lionesses saw this as an opportunity to play and entertain themselves.
One of the many perks of the winter schedule is that we get to watch the sunrise every day. On this particular morning, we stopped in the open plains, in the western reaches of the reserve to appreciate this tranquil time of day. A lone giraffe bull happened to come strolling along making for a quintessential African moment.
Within less than half an hour of leaving camp that morning, we had found the Nkoveni Young Female up in the branches of a marula tree. She soon descended and strolled across the open crest, leading us towards her sibling. All the while, the air was filled with the bellows of several lions calling just off to our south – we surmised that the lions might have moved through that area earlier that morning, separating the leopard siblings and forcing the one up into the tree in which we had found her.
A stunning young female with a very similar spot pattern to her mother, the Nkoveni Female. Litter still completely intact March 2022.
While resting up in the limbs of a large marula tree, the Senegal Bush Male shows a slight disagreement with the on-lookers beneath bearing his teeth in a lazy snarl.
Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019
Once again another spectacular Full Moon rise where I used this dead leadwood as the subject in the foreground giving the moon a bit more depth.
While the rest of the Talamati Pride were resting on the banks of the Sand River, this lioness who seemed to be the most playful kept venturing back into the water.
The soft golden light of sunset caught the wrinkles of this elephant so well. His eye was also illuminated by the light which revealed the deep amber that hides behind those long eyelashes. Since working at Londolozi, elephant bulls have become my favourite animal to view and spend time with and this particular afternoon was no different.
One of the Young Male Lions from the Talamati Pride gazes down from an elevated section of the road while a few of the females were playing in the river beneath us.
Having just found the Three Rivers Female early one morning she climbed this termite mound in order to gain a vantage point to help her in the search for her male cub. Constantly calling for her cub.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
Blending in very well to its surroundings, this kudu bull made use of a well-vegetated termite mound, where it has a height advantage to search for any danger but also can remain somewhat concealed.
A lioness from the Ntsevu Pride paused in the late evening light as she heard Ndzenga Males calling in the distance.
Fantastic images of the cheetah cubs–wonderul discovery!
Once again, a buffalo finds the camera!
Winter sunsets are fabulous.
Thank you so much, Vin. Once again a buffalo does find the camera.
Lovely thank you! Those little cheetahs are too cute……………
Thank you so much, Irene. The little cheetahs are indeed so cute.
So wonderful, beautiful images. We will be there in a couple of days and look forward to hopefully seeing the little cheetah family!
Thank you so much, Meenah. I hope that you are able to find the little cheetah family too.
Sean, your image of the cheetah with 2 of her cubs has to take this week’s favourite. (Hoping we’ll see more in Sunday’s virtual safari?) I don’t know anything about the Talamati pride, so have loads of questions, but maybe there will be a blog about them soonish. Also, did Three Rivers find her cub?
Thank you so much, Suzanne. We will hopefully put a story out on the little cheetah family soon. This week will be about the Talamati Pride. Hopefully, we will reveal the answers to all your questions in the video. Yes I believe that she did find her cub.
This week’s photos are fabulous Sean, so hard to choose a favourite. But if I have to, I love the moon shot and the mom and cheetah cubs. Well done everyone!
Thank you so much, Barbara.
Great photos. I must say the Maxim Male is one handsome cat
Thank you so much, Andrew and Daniel. I agree that the Maxim’s Male is a good looking male leopard.
They are all special! The two little cheetah cubs are fabulous what a joy to see them! I love their mum look and the way one of them yawns. It seems a laugh indeed! All gorgeous pictures, full moon is a very favourite vision to me, the buffalo bull is really impressive and so the elephant , lions and of course leopards.
Thank you so much, Francesca.
A mother cheetah and four cubs , hah ….
Superb photos Sean
And soon the caracal or serval?
Thank you so much, Ian. I really hope to see a caracal or serval soon.
A wonderful array of photos this week. Stoff’s little cheetah cubs win for me.
Close seconds are the buffalo, Senegal male, sunrise and full moon…🙏🏻
Thank you so much, Marcia. The little cheetah cubs are far too cute.
A wonderful range of images this week! I am particularly struck by the full-face photo of the Maxim’s male. Having seen glimpses of his side, his rear, his flicking tail as he ducked into a thicket or his face at night up a tree, I was impressed with his size, his distinctive regal look. Thanks!
Thank you so much, Mary Beth. The Maxim’s Male is a great shot as he is such a handsome leopard.
Amazing images, and impossible to pick a favorite Sean! But since you asked, I have to choose the Cheetah and her cubs, quickly followed by the full moon and the amazing shots of the water buffalo and kudu bulls – stunning images all!
Thank you so much, Paul.
The mother Cheetah looks so regal with her cubs behind and since I have never seen cheetah cubs on any of my trips this is my favorite picture today.
Thank you so much, Christine.
So difficult to choose here. I see my beloved Three Rivers female and am hoping so much that her young male offspring has not got himself into trouble! I see the beautiful elephant photo, the huge Maxim’s male looking regal, the colorful sunrise photo, the lions playing, the kudu etc. but I have to say the cheetah pics captured my heart today! That beautiful Mama! The two cubs giving us a smile! Okay maybe a yawn or maybe a snarl! But that is the one I pick as the ‘best of the best’!
Thank you so much, Darlene. I am so glad that you loved all of the pictures.
Every week you bring us some of the best sightings and this week is no exception! If it was not for the cutest baby cheetah’s I would have a hard time picking! I love the mud caked buffalo and your pic of the naked tree in the full moon light, the colors are stunning!
Lovely, the photos of the cheetah cubs. The cheetah seem to be doing very well in the south of Londolozi.
The lions of this new pride look a bit hungry.
I love all of this week’s photos.
Thank you so much, Christa. Cheetahs definitely seem to be doing very well in the southwestern grasslands.
Love the newly discovered cheetah cubs, especially the one yawning. Great picture !
Thank you so much, William. The little cheetah cubs are so special.
There are so many prize worthy photos this week but my vote goes to Stoff Kane Berman for his “way too cute” cheetah cubs. The face, mouth open, is the best!! The Talmati pride – is this a new group or one where the name has been changed? I don’t remember them….
Thank you so much, Denise. That shot of the two little cheetah cubs is far too cute.
You guys and girls do make it so difficult for us to choose a favourite. The photos are all beautiful, but since we’re asked to choose ‘a’ favourite, my vote goes to the two cheetah cubs.
Thank you so much, Darryl. There are some amazing photographs being captured here at the moment which does make choosing a favourite rather challenging.
Hi Sean the Cheetah cubs are absolutely gorgeous and so cute. Impressive kudu bull. I hope the three Rivers female found her male cub. Stunning foto’s this week thank you Sean.
Thank you so much, Valmai.
The two cheetah Cubs did it for me this week. Their longer fur up top reminds me of 80’s rockstars. 😂
The textures and detail in the cape buffalo image are magnificent
Awesome pics this week! The standouts for me is the absolutely beautiful pic of the cheetah and her cubs, the stunning moon rise and the close up of the beautiful elephant! They are fantastic! Did the Three Rivers female find her cub?
Thank you so much, Carly. Those are some great pics this week. Yes I believe the Three Rivers Female did find her cub.
Those cheetah cubbies are super cute cheetah fluff nuggets! My favorite cats! And the video of the Talamatis playing in the Sand River is absolutely delightful and so so special to witness! But send them back to the north please…..
Thank you so much, Lisa. Cheetah cubs are so cute. It looks like the Talamati Pride might be sticking around here for a little longer.
Great to see the interaction between the leopards as well as the playfulness of the cub. Your other winter photos were lovely.