In an eventful photographic week, we have seen some spectacular sightings with magnificent colours seeping through. The bushveld is still in immaculate condition and the abundance of life is evidence of a healthy summer. The Sand River is flowing strongly, the waterholes are still full to the brim and mud wallows a worthwhile attraction. Sunsets have been superb and the only challenge is choosing what beverage to accompany it.
This week’s sightings have seen a good few lions, Ndzhenga Males, Ntsevu Females and a Plains Camp Male and two Mhangeni Lionesses as they scaled a marula tree in an attempt to snag an ostrich carcass that was hoisted up there. Elephants on the airstrip, giraffes in the open grasslands and a flutter of birdlife. The elegant yet often overlooked impala feature strongly this week too as they find themselves in the viewfinder at sunset in the golden light a number of times.
And lastly, the Xinkhova Female makes an appearance as she hops in to a fallen marula after sunset with a beautiful backdrop and gentle backlighting.
Let me know which are your favourite images in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
This White-fronted Bee-eater sits atop a hard, resistant and particularly useful wooden stump. This Stump has been worn down and rubbed smooth over the years by many a rhino, buffalo and elephant after mud-bathing.
When sitting with two of the Ndzhenga Males and two Ntsevu Females late into the afternoon, this male was lying on a mound of sand allowing me to get a lower angle of him by placing the camera on the floor in my footwell. In response to one of the females sitting up and yawning he followed suit and did the same for me.
Starlings are dazzling to look at and I was fortunate to have this Greater Blue-eared Starling perch on top of a small shrub close to the road for just long enough to get the 600mm lens up and onto it for this shot.
One of the Ntsevu Lionesses gazes toward my vehicle with a particularly pensive look about her. Often I sit and wonder to myself, “if only we knew what was going on in their minds”, I am sure it would be pretty innocuous or purely primal.
Brushing heads with one of the Ndzhenga Males, this is greeting ritual amongst lions where they show affection and essentially touch base with each other in a sort of “I am OK, are you OK? type of fashion. Building the bonds amongst themselves.
Looking a little bed-headed this Ndzhenga Male watches as the female then settles down not too far away.
While en route back to camp after a stunning afternoon drive we came across this young elephant bull on the airstrip with a spectacular sunset behind him.
Two young impala pause while feeding on a termite mound and look our way. It is incredible that this young male’s horns have already begun to grow, these two are only a matter of two to three months old.
A lengthy male giraffe appears to be dwarfed by one of the many igneous rocky outcrops that dot a line running east-west through the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.
While venturing into the southern grasslands, I spied this tall figure beginning with a G… It was a tranquil enjoyable scene and made for a nice panoramic shot.
After sitting with the Xinkhova Female for a while hoping she would move for us, she eventually did and found this fallen marula tree to gain a better view. With the last hues of purple and blue falling on the clouds in the distance and a gentle filtered light on the leopard it made for quite a spectacular scene.
A stunning young female with a very similar spot pattern to her mother, the Nkoveni Female. Litter still completely intact March 2022.
The long, lush grass is rapidly fading to hues of gold and yellow and in the afternoon light these impala rams stood out in the beam of light.
Just revealing itself from the edge of the road this Double-banded Sandgrouse watched us closely for a while before flying off.
Lion in marula
The stories behind a lion don’t only fall in the scars on its face, but looking a little closer, these canines could tell you a few more.
A Plains Camp Male keeps a close eye on the Mhangeni Lionesses after she descended the marula tree.
A young male briefly raises his head as the rest slowly amble toward the top of the crest for the evening.
A shot of the gear that you use to get the shot
Intensity in the eyes of a lioness on a mission.
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There’re so many outstanding images this week Sean, but for a change, I’m choosing your beautifully exposed photo of the two Impala rams in that golden lit field. I also appreciate your shot of the lion’s mouth, detail images being a favorite.
Thank you so much, Denise. It was nice to throw in a few different shots this week.
Great images. The elephant sunset is this weeks favorite for me but the lion images are also amazing
Thank you so much, Mark. The elephant silhouette shot turned out rather well thanks to the amazing colours of the sunset.
The leopard placard, my term not the one you folks likely use, for the Xinkhova leopard is blank. Text states you know little about this leopard with no other info.
Thank you, Donald. We are in the process of updating our website and the leopard cards are not pulling through correctly. We are working on it and will hopefully have int back up and running correctly ASAP.
Sean, spectacular pictures this week. My favorite is the Blue-eared Starling and its penetrating stare. Great shot!
Thank you so much, William. It is a penetrating stare from the Starling.
Hi, to me the Xinkova female’s silhouette in the fading light is the top picture, followed by the male impala, the impala in the golden grass and the pensive female lionesses (both), but as usual all pictures are superb. Impala were my mum’s favourite antelope, she was in love with their beautiful big eyes and exquisite features, and she was so right!
Thank you so much, Francesca. I am glad your mum also loved the impala.
Thanks for the wonderful pictures!
I particularly love the one of the blue-eared starling. The coloring is just great and the last one of the lioness. The expression on her face is fascinating. But – all the other photos are also fantastic.
The colouring on the starling is spectacular, particularly if the sun is shining on them.
Not usually one to pick the bird photos (hard to compete with the cats and ellies!) but the Starling looking at you is pretty cool with his great coloring. Then the pensive lioness gives her a human quality and last the leopard (we need to find out more about!) with the purple sky is beautiful! Happy Weekend!
Thank you so much, Anita. I am glad you liked something different this week.
As I have said before, the idea that we cannot know or don’t know what goes on in animals minds is old paradigm. We can when we open ourselves up to understanding that we are not actually smarter then animals, nor are we the only species who has emotions. Animals are far superior in that they aren’t busy in their heads, preoccupied with yesterday and tomorrow but are completely present. Something we are a far cry from and need to head back to, because anything other than being completely present creates so many issues, including ill health. You have there in South Africa, one of the best animal communicators in the world- Anna Breytenbach. To invite her out to open all of you to a whole new world and way of seeing things would completely change your lives. But then change is scary for most people. Staying in the old though, which I hear quite often from a few of the guides, that animals don’t have emotions, feelings or complex thought only locks you into a very small paradigm. You spend everyday with some of the most magnificent animals on the planet. Why not open up to ‘hearing’ what they are thinking, especially what they are trying to say to you or teach you. It is a path I went down several years ago and never looked back. The experiences I have had with animals, especially wild ones I wouldn’t trade for the world. I highly recommend it. I am sure Anna would enjoy coming and sharing this with you!
Xinkhova : be(and still rare Xhinkhova
Super photos, it’s rare to see a really good impala photo .
Thank you so much, Ian. It can be a challenge to get a decent photo of the impala as they always tend to turn away or move on as soon as you stop and pull up a camera.
So many great captures this week Sean, as usual! My top pick has to be the stunning image of the Ndzhenga male lion yawning – iconic! I also really loved the impala as well… really all the images are terrific!
Thank you so much, Paul. I am glad you enjoyed the selection this week.
Great pics.
The Ndhzenga male yawning, showing off his impressive canines has to be my favourite this week.
The lioness rubbing head with the Ndhzenga and the Xinkhova female up the tree classic leopard style are brilliant too. Love the bright blue starlings.
Thank you so much, Tony. It was a great pic of the male lion yawning and I also love the Xinkhova Female shot.
Sean the colours of these images are exceptionally good. All the images are beautiful and there is a variety of animals. My favorite this week is the Xinkhova female with the blue and purple hues behind her. Stunning photograph.
Thank you so much, Valmai. The colours did turn out well in all the pics, they were rich and full of colour.
My sister Paola s choice is the yawning lion, then the Starling and nr 3 the lioness headbutting the lion
Thank you so much, Francesca. I am glad your sister likes the lion yawn.
Nice array of images this week, Sean! My fav is the Xinkhova Female. Beautiful light, dramatic cloud, beautiful leopard. Tell us more about her as you learn more…
Thank you so much, Mary Beth. The lighting was spectacular on the Xinkhova Female. She is the one daughter of the Nkoveni Female, born Feb 2021. We are in the process of updating our website and there is an issue with the Leopard cards. We are working on it and will have it resolved ASAP.
I loved all the dramatic lighting this week. The contrast of the male lion yawning was gorgeous. There were so many wonderful eyes this week too – the starling, the lioness… I can’t believe I can’t choose a favorite this week. Well done!
Thank you so much, Chelsea. I guess that is a good thing that you cant choose a favourite.
While all the photos are fabulous my favorite is the elephant at sunset! Hope that one ends up on a wall somewhere.
The colouring in the sky of the background to the elephant at sunset was incredible.
White-fronted Bee-eaters are so pretty. I enjoy watching them
Thank you so much, Sandra. The White-fronted Bee-eaters are stunning.
Wonderful bird pics this week – with my favourite pic being the white-fronted bee eater. Beautiful pic. The bird pics are my fave. ❤️
Thank you so much, Carly. It was a pretty good week for bird photography.
The photographs are all beautiful Sean, but if there is a standout for me it is the Xinkhova Female at the waning of the blue hour as the last of the light disappears, it is compelling and engrossing. Thank you for sharing these.
Thank you so much, Keith. It is a rather compelling image and turned out so well with the colouring.
Oh wow that sunset photo of Xinkhova….spectacular! So no one knows where she comes from? Isn’t it fairly unusual to have completely unknown females come into a property? They usually find territory close to their natal area?
Thank you so much, Lisa. So we do know all about the Xinkhova Female. She is the daughter of the Nkoveni Female born in Feb 2021. We are just in the process of updating our website and the plugins to the leopard profiles has an issue. We are hoping it be resolved ASAP.
I did think that she was one of the (former) Nkoveni Young Females….along with the Stonedrift female…..that is why I was a bit confused!
Such wonderful photos this week Sean. That beautiful starling with the penetrating stare is hard to beat. I also love the Xinkhova Female with the light hitting her just right, and he lavenders and blues. Well done!