It has been a jam-packed week of many incredible sightings, particularly of lions! A number of different prides have been seen around the reserve; including some that we have not been seen for a while. The Ntsevu lionesses and Ndhzenga males have been spending a lot of time in the open clearings, and we have continued to see a number of different Ntsevu cubs enjoying time with their mothers and the males.
The Tsalala Female was seen late one afternoon with a surprising gash on her eyebrow, and the Styx Pride have unexpectedly been frequenting the central parts of Londolozi.
One particular morning, the Styx Pride was found right outside camp on the airstrip finishing off a zebra kill, surrounded by more than 20 hyena. The dynamics of this sighting intensified when two lionesses from the Nkuhuma Pride arrived at the scene in the hopes of trying to get a portion of the meal. Keep an eye out for the full story on this coming next week.
With the recent heavy rains, the reserve’s water holes are full to the brim and there has been a rejuvenated energy of life (big and small) seen in these areas on every drive. One particular afternoon a herd of elephant entertained us for ages as they fully submerged themselves in the water.
On the leopard front, the Ntomi Male has equally been enjoying the refilled water holes and was seen hunting catfish and resting at a nearby water hole.
Robbie and I have had a lot of fun putting this week’s images together, let us know your favourites in the comment section below.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
An Ntsevu lioness (unlikely the mother of these cubs) leads the newest members of her pride towards their mother through an open clearing.
A very inquisitive little lion cub walks away from its mother and towards our vehicle. It’s hard to believe that one day these tiny little cubs will grow up into being the apex predators that rule the roost on Londolozi.
Play time! Could there be a more perfect toy than the tip of dad’s tail?
One of the most special things to witness in a sighting like this is the soft side shown by fully grown lions towards their young.
One of the remaining three males of the Ndzhenga coalition walks towards one of his brothers to rest in the shade.
The sun sets behind moody clouds after a large thunderstorm fades into the distance.
The Ntomi Male has frequently been seen at this same waterhole. It has been amazing to watch him attempt to prey upon catfish in the shallows, behaviour that is fairly typical of young male leopard.
Sometimes its the things looks slightly out of place that catches one’s attention. The tail of the Ntomi male hanging from the branch of a marula tree being the drawcard in this case.
Splish, splash, taking a bath. There was no real harmful intent displayed between these young elephant bulls, I believe it was more a case of play fighting whilst being submerged in water (of which there is plenty at the moment!)
Upon finding the Tsalala lioness it was evident from a fresh wound and tracks of other lions in the area that she had come into contact with lions from another pride. The trials of being the last remaining lioness of her pride continue…
![White Backed Vulture High Key [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/22093052/White-backed-vulture-high-key-RCB-1066x1598.jpg)
A white backed vulture perched in the late afternoon sun pointed us in the direction of the Tsalala lioness that had been feeding on the remains of an impala lamb carcass
A lioness from the Styx pride gazes towards the rest of her family before they set off on their evening activities.
The Styx pride lie full bellied on the northern end of the airstrip after finishing a zebra kill. Havoc ensued as the pride was surrounded by more than 20 hyena! Stay tuned for the blog post on this sighting next week…
After the lions had moved away from the airstrip to seek some shade, a tawny eagle arrived at the scene flying low to the ground to scan for any any last scraps of meat amongst the hyena that were still milling about.
WOW amazing shots of the cubs I especially love the ones with the adult male.
Thanks Mark!
I heard that the Tsalala lioness got injured, i’m glad to see it doesn’t look too bad. Hopefully it heals without infection. The Styx pride numbers are very impressive.
The cub pulling it’s dads tale has got to be my favourite this week.
Thanks Tony. Agreed, given her proven resilience I am sure the Tsalala lioness will recover soon!
I really wish the Tsalala lioness could catch a break. She’s been through so much in her life. Dear Lord, come to her aid and make haste to help her. Amen!
Thanks Lisa! I also hope that – I am sure her resilience and strength will continue to carry her.
What an exciting week of lion sightings! Great photos.
The poor Tsalala lioness, I do hope that this gash will heal soon and well. Being out in the bush on one’s own, like this lioness, is really not easy.
I would have liked to see all these lions lying on the airstrip surrounded by hyenas.
Great photos, all of them.
Thanks Christa! Me too, but I am sure she will recover soon as the gash doesn’t look too deep. Stay tuned for the blog coming out during the course of this next week!
For me Robbie’s photo of the male lion with cubs is my favorite this week. It beautifully conveys a fleeting moment between them. 🦁🤩❤️
Thanks Marcia! Agreed, Robbie’s shot is spectacular!
Wonderful TWIP!! The lion cubs as they cavort around Dad are adorable! But the fave overall is the second photo of the elephants in the water with tusks aligned. Really a wonderful shot! We were sorry to see that the Tsalala lioness had a gash. I am truly surprised she has made it this far! I wish she could have found a pride to join, not an easy task I know!
Thank you very much Darlene! The images of the elephants playing in the water is amazing!
Kate & Robbie, Well done!
It was very interesting to see and read The week in pictures! It must have been an exciting week… Beautiful photos! Hard to chose!
I really love the photo of the little cub that playes with the tip of dad’s tail!
Beatiful to see the lioness helping the small cubs back to their mother…
The photo of Ntomi Male is really good, their he sits after the attempt to take catfish as a good meal…
Tsalala lioness, she was very lucky that they didn’t harm her eye! It can’t be easy being the last remaining lioness of her pride… The white backed vultures colors blend perfectly with the tree! Beautiful!
Fantastique sight with the elephants! It is fun to play in the water… A little fight can be fun and good training… I will look out for the blog post when The Stryx pride was surrounded by more than 20 hyenas! That must have been an very interesting & fantastic sight!
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Ann! I am so glad you enjoyed this week’s images so much. Stay tuned for the blog on the Styx pride that will come over the course of this next week!
So many wonderful photos this week, that you make it difficult to choose one. The elephants play-fighting in their water hole was charming, and the sad-eyed portrait of Tsalala with her head gash was heartbreaking, but ultimately I chose Robbie’s amusing image of the Ndhzenga lion’s tail being chewed by a Ntsevu cub – priceless!
Thanks Denise. Agreed – those images are all firm favorites from this week!
Oh… my 💔for the Tsalala lioness. She is so strong, beautiful & lonely. The beauty & strength of nature is overwhelming but also so cruel & unkind… I wish her the wisdom and skills she needs for survival…
Agreed Barbi – nature can be cruel but the Tsalala lioness’s tenacious resilience is what keeps her going and I am sure she will recover well.
Thanks Robbie and Kate, a lovely TWIP. My favourite has to be “playtime!” – the look on the lion’s face as the cub pulls his tail is priceless!
Looking forward to the blog on the Styx lions and hyena on the airstrip, must have been awesome to watch the interaction.
Thanks Suzanne. Agreed, Robbie’s images this week were amazing!
Another great TWIP Kate! All the images were terrific, but I’m always rooting for the Tsalala loins! Her persistence and tenacity are amazing!!
Thanks Paul! Agreed, well said!
Hi, as usual it’s very hard to choose, all pictures are superb, elephants are great and the cats are fantastic. The Ntomi male is so handsome! And the Tsalala female is a lovely lady, I’m sorry for her gash,it is in contrast with her peaceful face. Not to mention the adorable cub! But my Nr One this week is “Father and Children/Cubs”… such special pictures, they touch the hardest heart deep down. Pure magic
Thanks Francesca! Agreed, Robbie captured some incredible moments this week!
The Ntomi male leopard is my favorite this week, where he is sitting by the water hole. Also loved the elephants playing in the water. So sad to see the Tsalala female with that gaping wound on her head. She has survived so much and know this wound cannot be good for her. But she is an excellent lionessess and she will overcome this wound soon. Beautiful foto of the Tawny eagle in flight.
Thanks Valmai – those are all great images!
Ntomi male always my fave but the dad getting his tail pulled takes the cake this week for me 🙂
Thanks Anita. Both images are great!
Play Time! – what a super pic. With all the chaos and circle of life crises that play out daily, this reminds me of the simplicity of some of the little things that make the bush so special. thanks for sharing.
Thanks Andrew, I completely agree.
All fabulous photos, love seeing pics of the Tsalala lioness and finding how she is coping on her own even though she looks a little battle-scarred at the moment but my favourite one is definitely the cub playing with his dad’s tail, just so precious.
Thanks Moira! Agreed, the images of the lion cubs are a firm favourite from the week!
All great photos this week…..but my favorites are the lions cubs and the Ndzhenga males interacting!
Thanks very much Lisa!
This is a vintage week for TWIP
Fantastic photos
10/10
Best wishes
Ian
Ian
Thanks very much Ian!
Kate, while I like the shots of the little lion cub face on and the spectacular sunset with the dead tree brach, my favorite this week is the full face and body shot of the Ntomi male.
Thanks William! Robbie captured some incredible moments this past week!
Loved the male lions and cubs particularly the play shot ! So cute !
Thank you Kara, those are incredible images!
Priceless picture of the cub playing with papa’s tail! What do you think will happen to that lone Tsalala lioness? Will she integrate another pride or does she run the risk of being killed?
Thanks for the great record of unique sightings, especially the lion/hyena and lion/cub sightings – that were so special and memorable.
My favorite image this week is the black and white of the male lion and cub. I hate to see the beautiful face of the Tsalala female marred, but hopefully she heals quickly and doesn’t get an infection. Glad her altercation wasn’t worse.
The Cubby pulling on dads tail is a special photo! Thank you for all the great photos!
I feel so badly for the solitude of the Tsalala female. She just tries to fly under the radar.
But boy oh boy, what a stunning photo of the little lion cub, and then the one of biting the Ndzengha male’s tale.
It looks like it is the larger Ndzengha male.