As the greens and lush colouration of summer begin to fade, I can’t help but be excited for the change in season. From beautiful orange sunsets to browner, natural, and drier open landscapes once again, the change in season is always something to behold.
We have been unbelievably spoilt with sightings of many different leopards, from the Three Rivers Female, now slightly more south than usual, to the Thumbela Female who was found feeding on a giraffe carcass that died of natural causes and then was chased off by a clan of hyenas. The Plaque Rock Female still provides incredible sightings in dead trees. The Ximungwe Female and her two cubs continue to provide sightings. Overall, our leopard sightings have been incredible.
On the lion front, the Ntsevu Pride which consists of five females and over ten cubs, has now been established as the Kambula Pride while the remaining older female with two other lionesses and three cubs will maintain the name of the Ntsevu Pride. Nonetheless, it’s been great to see this pride regularly on kills as we watch the young cubs begin to grow up.
The Mbili Pack has been seen more regularly in the central parts of Londolozi from where they were first seen on Marthly. They have spent a couple of days around our airstrip and have been an energetic addition to game drives. The occasional sighting of the male cheetah in the open areas of the reserve have been had as well.
The general game has added a unique element to each drive as the newborn animals from the end of last year begin to grow up. From impala lambs starting to sprout their horns, to baby monkeys climbing in trees, the abundance of life prepares for the drier times ahead.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
The Plaque Rock Female ascends a dead Knobthorn to survey the surrounding open landscape.
A pretty young playful female found along the river to the east of camp
After repositioning in the same tree she folded her front paws as she watched the herd of impala. A more portrait shot allowed for a black-and-white edit.
These two young elephants both decided to scratch themselves simultaneously on the same stump after a mud bath in the nearby wallow.
The impressive yellow-billed Hornbill in the afternoon sun is a characteristic bird of the low veld.
The camber of the airstrip allowed us to position far enough away to get an awesome eye-level photo as they walked towards us just after the sun had set.
The excitement around the airstrip is always something that enthralls me as the Mbili Pack settled for the day at our airstrip before making their way down towards a herd of impalas.
A dominant Rhino bull follows the scent of another rhino while meandering through the Leadwood forest.
A sighting I will never forget. A giraffe bull was found dead from natural causes in the Northern parts of the reserve. To my amazement, the Thumbela Female was found feeding on this sizeable meal before being chased off by hyenas and then subsequently the Plains Camp Males.
Born into a litter of two, male cub did not survive. She is seen more and more in central Marthly and rapidly approaching full independence.
After the Thumblea Female was chased off of the giraffe carcass she did a big loop around to try and get a better vantage of the hyenas that were feeding. This did not go unnoticed by the three hyenas who managed to see her from far away.
The delicate stare of the Three Rivers female as she watches a nearby herd of impalas in the shade of a fallen over tree. We have been seeing this leopardess less in recent times after she and the Nkoveni female contend for territory.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
Something that always fascinates me is the intricate coat of a leopard as it camouflages their movements in thick riverine areas. The unique rosette patterns make their coats undeniably captivating.
The newly named Kambula Pride. This pride is often difficult to capture in its entirety with 5 females and a number of their offspring. This breakaway pride is now known as the Kambula Pride while the remaining three lionesses from the core Nstevu Pride.
The two cubs of the Ximungwe Female climb onto a boulder as they peer back at their mother
After the Ximungwe Female settled in the dry riverbed one of the cubs came bounding towards her
After greeting and being groomed this young cub played with its mother as a squirrel began to alarm call in the trees above.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
After the abundance of new impala lambs, it’s been wonderful to see the start of the young males’ horns begin to poke through. It will take them about 3 years to grow their horns fully.
It’s often unusual to see a cheetah here at Londolzoi due to their preferred habitat of the cheetah as well as the abundance of other predators which out-compete the cheetah. The male was scent marking on one of the only Marula trees on the horizon.
A classic example of the preferred habitat of a cheetah with the wide-open savannahs.
Although initially concerning at first this young zebra foal will likely survive its mange. Mange is a mite that during the summer months is more prevalent among young animals. Due to this zebra suckling the friction has caused it to lose its fur. As this foal begins to eat more grass and reestablish a stronger immune system its fur will grow back.
A newborn monkey lies in the safety of its mother’s arms in the fork of a Leadwood Tree.
The dive of the Pied Kingfisher while hunting in the Sand River. When tuning in its wings it can streamline itself and make a quick dive into the water to catch the unsuspecting fish.
Love the spotted cats so I Just love the leopard coat photo!
Is the mange linked to Summer & the individuals with the weaker immunity?
Thanks for your TWIP Kirst, providing us with some terrific images from the waning summer months. I’m curious as to why the Ntsevu pride has been re-named, although I have read that this name is used by a neighboring property. The Thumbula female is looking great, obviously doing well as a newly independent leopard. My favorite image this week is that of one of Ximungwe’s cubs, bounding over the sand to meet up with her, front paws airborne. My other favorite is the rhino in the Leadwood forest. Can’t believe almost a year has passed since my last stay, and so much has changed, yet remained the same……
Thanks Kirst for a gorgeous TWIP. I’m a bit confused by the Kampula pride, do the 3 youngest cubs belong to this or the Ntsevu pride? Are they not being seen together anymore?
Hi Kirst, lovely images this week in the TWIP. Shame I feel sorry for the Zebra fowl with the mange on it’s face. Hopefully soon it will be gone. Loved the leopard foto’s and especially the Ximungwe female and her cubs. The lion pride with the new name Kambula, is quite a big group together. The littleimpala with the horns coming out is to cute for words.
I don’t know how a cheetah can survive there, it must be so difficult for them
The more I’m told about those hyenas the less I like them.
Oh the hyenas get a bad rap but they are amazing! Felt the same (thanks to Lion King – ha!) but when we saw them on our safari I changed my mind! They are definitely scavengers but their matriarchal family units are impressive. I love their faces and coloring too!
Such a great variety this week, Kirst. I’m glad the Thumbela female was able to capitalize on the giraffe carcass for a bit. No doubt it sustained many bellies. It hadn’t occurred to me that zebras could get mange, but of course they can. I hope you’re right and the foal is able to recover. I wonder which (if either) of the prides the breakaway Ntsevu lioness will attempt to rejoin now that they seem to have permanently separated.
Thank you, Kirst. Kingfishers are among my favorite birds. On our August 9 pm drive last year, as we were sitting with a sleeping Tsalala, a pied kingfisher snatched a frog that he then whacked the hell out of.
Kirst, wonderful pictures this week. My favorite is the black and white of the Plaque Rock female and the close up of the leopard skin.
Great perspective on the runway photos. Almost feels if you are feeling through the surface. Also the tenderness and playfulness of the small creatures.
The rhino in the forest just seems so serene…my fave this week!
What a wonderful range of wildlife displayed in this blog, Kirst! I understand the naming of the “new” pride of breakaways, but is there a name yet associated with the 3 breakaway males and their sister? And does the loss of fur on on the zebra foal “prove” that the skin beneath is black?
Wow, the photo of the pied kingfishers is great!
I love all your photos. The leopard cub is sooo cute!
And the young impala is just pretty.
Terrific TWIP Kirst! Such great variety.
Thank you Paul!
Amazing as always! We can’t wait to get back.
Thank you David! We cannot wait to welcome you back!
Terri and I will be there in May!!! 🙂
Hi, all pictures are really extraordinary but the “ordinary” hyenas while eating. The Plaque Rock Female in black and white is a masterwork. Of course all leopards are perfect each in his features and the cubs are absolutely irresistible. The lion cubs composition is fantastic. The rhino in the greenery is symbolic. The first wild dogs picture especially , caugh t eye-level , is a master technique. The beautiful cheetah, another symbolic picture; birds, monkeys, elephants, the young impala and the zebra foal are so cute and lovely. The perfect moment you got the kingfishers dive-bombing is superb I know how difficult it is! The detailed coat of a leopard is very symbolic again. All animals sought after for their beauty or supposed healing features that must be preserved…
Thank you so much Francesca!
I always enjoy the update of all the animals but especially the leopards. Placque Rocks mother was Mashaba. Would you or anyone happen to know who the mother of Mashaba is? I have a thing about geneology of leopards and my own family! lol
Lovely photos, I I particularly like the impala and the kingfishers. Impala are wonderfully graceful and photogenic but their sheer abundance makes them somehow less noteworthy.
Also they are so skittish and skilled at not getting their photo taken
Thank you so much Ian, impalas can certainly be a challenge to photograph so I was lucky to get this young male impala