In this week’s particularly predator-dense selection of photographic highlights, we cannot help but start off with the exciting news of us finally finding one of the Ntsevu Female’s dens. It had been a long hard search but eventually, we were rewarded with a stunning sighting of five little lion cubs. Lions make up a good portion of this TWIP, with the Ntsevu Sub-adult Males looking fantastic, the Talamati Pride moving through the area too, the Ndzenga Males around and looking well, and the Nkuhuma Sub-adults thriving too.
Leopards appear to be around every corner and making the most of the new young impala lambs and kudu calves. Or simply just resting in the limbs of marula trees. either way, the leopard viewing has been fantastic.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
The Talamati Pride have been spending more time roaming the lands of Londolozi, here one of the lionesses lies just a few metres away from our vehicle with another just beyond her, as you can see a paw sticking up into the air.
The impressive Flat Rock Male rests in a murula tree with a kudu carcass draped beneath him. It is unusual to see a leopard with a young kudu calf carcass. Kudu’s senses are so astute and would be difficult to close enough to catch one. Just highlighting how stealthy leopards can be.
A dominant male leopard over the majority of the north. He originally took over the 4:4 Male's territory when he died.
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A cheetah on a fallen marula tree is seeming to become an iconic Londolozi Cheetah shot, this male cheetah hopped up onto a fallen marula tree to scan the surrounding grasslands in the late afternoon. Possibly looking for any last hunting opportunities or ensuring there was no danger nearby before settling down for the evening.
This White-Crested Helmetshrike and his/her chicks had us captivated as we stumbled upon them while off-roading through a Bushwillow thicket. As cooperative breeders, the chicks are reared by both sexes as well as assisted by helpers in the flock.
Utilising termite mounds for a similar reason to the fallen marula tree also allows for great black-and-white opportunities thanks to the contrast of the spotted coat coupled with the clear backgrounds.
After a long hard search we were delighted beyond belief to find one of the Ntsevu Female’s dens of five little lion cubs.
We spent some fantastic time watching the little cubs suckle from their mother before adventuring around little further.
An extremely tolerant large male buffalo endures a number of Red-billed Oxpeckers hopping around his face in search of any ectoparasites- parasites living on the buffalo’s skin.
The Nkoveni Female resting under the canopy of a well-shaded marula tree on a hot summer’s day. We are starting to see her venture further into Londolozi, I wonder if it is in an attempt to secure more territory as she cedes some of her own to her daughters.
A gorgeous female who is found to the east of camp. Easily recognised by her 2:2 spot pattern she is often to be found in Marula trees.
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This is the scene we arrived at after hearing a Wahlberg’s Eagle’s alarm call in the distance, the Three Rivers Female scanning her surroundings for any potential prey.
Forced into early independence as her mother was killed by the Southern Avoca Males.
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Over the past week, we have enjoyed an abundance of elephants and some great sightings. In this particular one, we managed to get low and capture a stunning perspective of this young male.
The Senegal Bush male pauses and looks our way for a moment before continuing to drink.
Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019
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Giraffe calves although born weighing in at nearly 100kg (220lbs) are dwarfed by their mothers. We guestimated that this young giraffe was about a week or two old only just reaching the height of her tail.
An enormous crocodile basking on the banks of a watering hole.
A couple of wildebeest quench their thirst from a mud wallow in the company of a few ducks and a Blacksmith Lapwing.
Licking his lips to finish cleaning himself after a period of feeding on the kudu carcass.
A White-backed Vulture perches upon a dead knobthorn tree in the warm, late afternoon sun
A scene of serenity as a male lion quenches his thirst. The ripples cascading outwards draw the attention back to the lion as he drinks.
As the morning began to warm up significantly this herd of elephants swiftly headed towards Weaver’s Nest Pan for a drink.
A herd of impala walking nearby, very quickly got the attention of these two Nkuhuma Young Males.
Now, new fathers of a number of different litters of cubs, the Ndzenga Males have held their own up until now. The big question is whether will they be able to hold on for long enough for the Ntsevu Females to raise these cubs successfully.
The Ntomi Male has developed a habit of sticking around the same area for a few days at a time, making him a regular find. Largely independent now, but still moving within his mother’s territory, we should expect him to start exploring further abroad in the coming months.
A single cub of the Ximungwe Female's second litter. Initially rather skittish but is very relaxed now. Birth mark in his left eye.
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We had only been following the Xinkhova female a short while when she leapt into the darkness and reappeared with this impala lamb. We couldn’t believe our luck! She then wisely headed straight up the nearest tree to catch her breath and enjoy her prize.
A stunning young female with a very similar spot pattern to her mother, the Nkoveni Female. Litter still completely intact March 2022.
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The Ntsevu Sub-adults are doing a superb job of sneaking beneath the radar and buying their time. They are now all growing into impressive young males, but will likely still be a while before they are able to claim a territory of their own.
The Senegal Bush Male snarls at a hyena that was waiting beside the tree in which he had a hoisted impala kill. Safe to say the hyena heeded the warning…
A Ntsevu Lioness gazes back toward the rest of her pride after awakening from her day of slumber
The Ximungwe Duo walk away from our vehicle in the late afternoon sun. Although now fully independent, the Ntomi Male has been seen with his mother on the odd occasion.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
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Great pic of the Senegal Bush Male snarling. I’m glad to see new life in Sabi with the new subs
The Talamatis are spending more time in Londolozi, I’d imagine their trying to avoid the two new Black Dam Males.
great week in photos!!!
The black and white lioness, the three rivers female and the ndzenga male lion were my favourites. All gorgeous pics !
The black and white lioness took the cake for me this week. I’m so glad to see so many of the predators are thriving. The Ntsevu subadults have been lucky and are really starting to look impressive.
Ntsevu Female’s dens of five little lion cubs are so darn cute
Sean, Wow, what a spectacular set of images. It’s great to see the young Ntsevu Sub-adults doing so well. They look like they will be a formidable coalition soon! We enjoyed the great shots of all the leopards too, but our favorite image is of the White-Crested Helmetshrike – we added it to our favorites as we had not seen that species before – especially with chicks!
My pic of the week is the “The Ntsevu Sub-adults are doing a superb job of sneaking beneath the radar and buying their time.” A handsome trio.
Sorry Sean, too many fantastic images from which to choose a favorite this week, so I’m giving you two: Kirst’s perfectly captured wildebeest and their reflections at a waterhole and Kelsey’s Xinkhova with her kill, equally stunning! What a week you all experienced!!
Wonderful photos this week! Leopards, lions, cheetahs -oh my – and that beautiful White-Crested Helmetshrike! Wow!
The leopard , lion and cheetah populations at Londolozi are indeed thriving. How great!
Does one of the lionesses have all five cubs? Wow! They are so cute.
I especially love the photo of the nest full of Helmetshrike chicks. It looks like they are going to fall out of it at any time, the nest is so full.
All the photos are great, as usual.
Terrific TWIP Sean. While cheetah are always a favorite, the many photos of the young and emerging big cats take the cake this week for me!
Hi Sean, all these foto’s are stunning. My favorite is the lion cub and secondly the giraffe mother and calve. Loved all the leopard foto’s.
Sean, TWIP’s is stunning. It is very difficult to choose a favorite. The Lions, leopards, and the young male elephant are impressive. Forcing myself to choose it is the picture of the old water buffalo with the Oxpeckers of his face and head. A great combination of stoic presence and fanciful color hopping around. Great job this week.
A wonderful set of photos! No question that I am partial to the felines. What a bonanza this week! Especially the young Ntsevu males. They are gorgeous.
Loved so many of these, but will have to pick the three young Tsevu males with the beautiful manes! We watched them as young cubs a few years ago. We wish them much success in the future.
Wow guys, the pics this week are exquisite! It’s hard to pick my fave! Such a variety of animals! Just beautiful.
How many Nstevu sub adults males are together. As far as I recall, there wete 5 males but how many are together now? Also, how many Nstevu daughters are together and where are they?
What a great week at Londolozi!
Just gets better and better…
The lion cub video was just over the top!
May they have the strength of survival with them always!
Great angle on the young male elephant photo.
Great Photo’s. Happy to see the Talamatis as was wondering what happen to them after Dark Mane passed away.
Wow, more and more hard choices! My sister’s favourite is the buffalo. It’s very hard for me to choose but i agree with her, all big cats are superb, the lion cub is irresistible and the wildebeest picture is perhaps my favourite, really well done!
great shot of the young bull! and the baby giraffe is so sweet…always love seeing Ntomi male…so handsome!
Very Difficult just choosing one this week again. The White-Crested helmetshrike with chicks is something very unique and special to see. But the Buffalo with the oxpecker is a stunning photo!
Hi Sean. It’s been awhile. Glad you’re still doing well. How’s the Tsalala female doing?
Hi Patrick, I hope you are doing well. The Tsalala Female is doing well, we have not seen her that much of late but I last saw her about a week ago and she was in great shape.
That’s good to hear. Thank you. Do you think she’ll ever join a pride or have cubs? It seems that some male would find her when she’s in heat. It seems like it would be inevitable, even if it’s not one of the dominant ones.
It is unlikely that she will join another pride but not impossible. My feeling is that she will be alone, until she comes into heat and then will mate with the dominant males at the time, likely the Plains Camp Males. I am hoping that she will then raises these cubs successfully and boost the numbers in her pride.
That is a grand photo of the Ndzhenga male. Plus the cubs are priceless.