As we close out another week in the strikingly beautiful wilderness at Londolozi, this selection of images certainly displays the abundance and diversity we share this land with. Lions have undoubtedly shown up in their numbers, particularly the male lions of Londolozi. We have seen the return of the Birmingham Male and Nkuhuma Male. Although difficult to say that they are dominant males, it is believed that they have been heard calling at night. Are they around to stay? Maybe with the one Northern Avoca dying not so long ago and a second facing a brutal encounter with a herd of buffalo on Wednesday, there could be an opening in the north for the Birmingham Coalition to put the last healthy Northern Avoca to the test. However, time will tell and let us see what comes of the Dark maned Avoca Male.
The Ndhenga Males have kept themselves busy while feasting on a large giraffe carcass in the deep south and all the activity around that was fascinating to watch.
Firmly in summer, the small creatures are moving around making the most of the new growth and plentiful water. Elephants and their young roam around entertaining all those nearby.
On the Leopard front, the Senegal Bush Male’s determination in patrolling his territory allows Kyle to capture a great shot of him illuminated against a dark black background. The Nhlanguleni Female is the other leopard to feature as she glances up towards a young impala lamb stashed in a large tree.
Enjoy this week in Pictures…
Let us know your favourite image in the comments below.
The sun managed to briefly creep out beneath a stormy sky to make for an outrageously stunning scene with the Birmingham male in the foreground.
The Nhlanguleni Female successfully caught a young impala during a recent stormy night. She had it stashed away in a marula tree for a couple of days while she periodically fed. We patiently waited for her to climb the tree but she ended up resting at the base, looking up towards her kill.
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.
A giant land snail inches its way across the tyre tracks in the road in the early morning post a large thunderstorm.
A large breeding herd congregates around a water hole to quench their thirst.
Having found the larger of the Ndzhenga Males and one Ntsevu Female with an enormous dead male giraffe, we were uncertain of whether they had managed to kill the giraffe or found it dead. But what is incredible is to see the size of a giraffe’s head in comparison to the size of a male lion.
High key in colour definitely accentuates the vibrant greens of the new summer growth.
An elephant’s sense of touch largely depends on the sensitivity of the soles of their feet, having the ability to interpret low infrasonic frequencies as part of their communication amongst species.
The summertime brings out all the most fascinating of small creatures.
A female giraffe keeps a beady eye on the Tsalala Lioness who was lying about 100m away in an open clearing. The backdrop of the fading colours in the evening sky provided a great photographic opportunity.
Although there was more than enough meat to go around and this lion’s belly was full to the max, he would not let any vultures get anywhere near the carcass.
The Senegal Bush Male pauses in an open clearing whilst on his nighttime patrol.
Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019
Curiosity. A tiny elephant calf manages to get his trunk under control for long enough to give our vehicle an inspectorial sniff.
A small journey of giraffes wander around the open grassland near the northern end of the airstrip. We were sitting with the Tsalala Lioness at the bottom of the slope which gave an interesting perspective of the giraffe as they came to investigate.
With this week we welcome some of the first impala lambs.
Nothing better than spending the morning following a lioness on a mission. The adapted lifestyle of the lone Tsalala Lioness sees her mostly moving around and hunting during the daylight hours. This helps her avoid the incessant harassment from hyenas and other predators.
Well bloodied and well gorged, this wild dog soon needed a nap after he and his pack devoured not one but two impala!
One of the Ndhzenga Males battles with the tough skin of a giraffe while trying to feed on some of the meat beneath.
Leopard tortoises have revealed themselves from their hidey-hole to come and feast on the new grass shoots and replenish their fluids after a period of dormancy over the dry months.
With the Ndzhenga Males and the bulk of the Ntsevu Pride feasting on the giraffe recently, we’ve had some fantastic lion viewing. Here, one of the Ndzenga males glances up at a circling vulture above him.
King of the castle. This White-backed Vulture reigned supreme on the ribs of a giraffe carcass for all of two minutes before being dethroned by another.
The sunset silhouette of this wake of vultures was spectacular.
The Birmingham Coalition has been spending a fair amount of time back on Londolozi. Constantly on the move, we are uncertain as to whether they may settle if they will settle at all.
An iconic view of a large dominant male resting out in the open.
Another great WIP Londolozi! Especially enjoyed the ones of the giant land snail and the Ndzhenga male with the giraffe (the size contrast is amazing). Have you seen any signs of the Tsalala lioness potentially coming into her first estrus cycle?
Thank you so much, Michael. It is incredible to see the size difference between a fairly large male lion and a giraffe’s head. We haven’t seen any signs yet. We have heard her calling, but are unsure of whether that is her trying to meet up with another lion to mate or for companionship.
Again a challenge choosing one, but the Fotos of the elephant’s foot, Landsnail & Leopard Tortoise has great detail. Thank you for all the beautiful pictures. I have seen the footage of the dark maned, and it will be a true miracle if he survives.
Thank you so much, Gawie. I am glad you love a lot of the photos.
Fabulous WIP Sean!! Too many amazing choices, but I really like Kyle’s b/w portrait of the Senegal Bush male, followed closely by your Ndhzenga male next to the giraffe head. The size difference is incredible.
It is good to see both the Tsalala female and the Birmingham coalition on the property, but it’s really a shame she is still alone. Kudos to everyone who submitted photos this week!
Thank you so much, Denise. It is a cracking image of the Senegal Bush Male. The size difference is astounding between the lion and the giraffe’s head.
Fantastic foto’s this week Sean and I must say the comparison between the lion head and giraffe head is incredible. Good to the Birmingham lions back again and only time will tell who is going to be the dominant males. Loved the elephant calf with his trunk up in the air, so cute and that is my favorite foto this week.
Thank you so much, Valmai. It is almost unbelievable to see the size difference.
Brilliant photos! Hard to say which one was best. Perhaps the sunset silhouette with vultures.
Thank you so much, Brian. That is a really great pic, it almost looks like a painting.
Favorite is the tiny elephant calf
Baby elephants are so cute.
The image of the male lion versus the giraffe head is stunning. Great work.
Thank you so much, Karen. It is a cool pic.
Sean’s amazing photo of the Lion with the Giraffe definitely states that he is indeed King of the Jungle!!!!!
Thank you so much, Camille.
Incredible TWIP, loved the photo of the two Birmingham males, so beautiful! I am wishing them much success at finding a territory to rule. But my fav is the athletic stretch of the male lion as he chases the vulture away from the giraffe carcass! Well done!
Thank you so much, Darlene. I thin we are all rooting for the Birmingham Male and Nkuhuma Male.
Thanks Sean for a great selection of images! It’s tough to decide on a favorite, but we will choose Chris Taylor’s Ndzhenga Male shot. Great angle!
Thank you so much, Michael and Terri. That is a fantastic shot.
A great photographic week! The colors in the photos of the giraffe on the airstrip and against that pale blue sky, are really stunning. Great photos!
The Tsalala lioness does look a bit hungry in the photo. Has she lost her female companion for good?
The giraffe’s head is really huge. When one sees the animals on their own, the heads seem to be smallish in comparison to the length of their bodies. However, down on the ground one realizes how big it actually is.
Thank you so much, Christa. The giraffes on the airstrip is such a great picture. Yes, I think that the Tsalala Lioness has lost that companionship of the Mhangeni Female. It is believed that the Mhangeni Lioness is pregnant and probably just about to give birth and so it is unlikely that she will break away from her pride now.
BRILLIANT collection!!! I am just in awe!
Thank you so much, Michael.
Crazy week. Loved the snail 😊also the Senegal bush male at night and all of the amazing lion shots and crazy vultures – so pretty much everything!
Thank you so much, Kara. There were some great pics this week.
Ndzhenga staring up at the vultures is a fabulous photo 👌🏻…although the one comparing the head sizes with the giraffes is incredible too! Stunning photos from you all …well done to everyone contributing❤️ Always so pleased to see Tsalala looking well and keeping out of trouble.
Thank you so much, Cally. There was some fantastic pics this week.
Ha! Elephant toenails and snails (no puppy dog tails)?
Haha, sadly no puppy dog tails this week.
Sean another spectacular TWIP’s. My favorite this week is Kyle’s picture of the vultures in a tree silhouetted by the evening sky. Super shot.
Thank you so much, William. That is a great shot of the vultures.
Stunning images this week, Sean! Impossible to choose a favorite. Thank you for sharing all these sightings- wish I were there!
Thank you so much, Mary Beth. I am glad you like all of them.
Baby ellies always a win for me 🙂 Bloody dog face awesome as well! Beautiful skylights this week!
Thank you so much, Anita.
Favorites were Kyle’s B&W leopard, wild dog & vultures AND Chris’s upward looking lion and giraffe in the panoramic landscape.
Thank you so much, Bob. Those are some great choices.
A nice variety this week! My vote is of the gathering of giraffes on the airstrip, followed by the lovely shot of the snail! The first pic of that amazing coloured sky is brilliant too.
Thank you so much, Carly. I also really like the shot of the giraffes on the airstrip.
Such variety this week of creatures great and small, and scenes both cute and morbid. The sunset behind the Birmingham male is spectacular. Will there be more coverage regarding the injured Northern Avoca male?
There was a great selection of images this week.
Sadly, we have not seen anything of the Northern Avoca Males since the run-in with the buffalo. But I believe that the Dark Maned Avoca Male has subsequently succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
Hi Sean, I do love all pictures. High quality and great subjects. My sister undoubtedly chose the “big- bwellied lion”. I have love snails since I was a little girl… I am between the Birmingham male and the Nhlanguleni female, who apparently is lost in awe in the luxury greenery. Congratulations
Thank you so much, Francesca. Those are all great choices this week.
All the photos are fantastic as usual, I do like the one with the Tsalala female in it, she is looking in great condition. I’m so impressed by her ability to thrive considering she has spent so much of her young life with just her mother or sadly on her own now. Do you know why she is no longer with the other female she teamed up with recently?
Thank you so much, Moira. The Tsalala Female is doing so well. She is thriving at the moment. I believe the Mhangeni Lioness has joined up with her pride and the Tsalala Female is sadly not welcomed within the pride.
Some cracking photos , the tortoise , the Senegal Bush male – the photo that stands out for me – is the fasting vultures, it’s like a vision from some dystopian film – and very unlike the usual beautiful shots.
What so many of these photos show is the ability to photograph from a level equivalent to eye level of the animal(s) being photographed.
A special mention for the wild dog photo
It should read feasting, they are doing anything but feasting
Thank you so much, Ian. The feasting vultures are quite unusual but intriguing though. There are a lot of images that are taken with the perspective of being at eye-level.
Incredible array of brilliant photos this week Sean! Stunning photographs of the big cats, especially the loin/giraffe series, but also so many beautiful images of very cool little creatures, like the giant snail and leopard tortoise! and that shot of the vultures is amazing!!