Another year around the sun at Londolozi. What a privilege.
To reflect on the year, I thought I would challenge myself to pick two images from every month that really stood out as highlight moments or sightings. For most months this was not such an easy task, and the process of choosing my favorites really culminated the gratitude I have for the wildlife we get to witness right here at our doorstep while working and living at Londolozi.
I hope you enjoy the images below as I reminisce on some of the moments that made this year all that it was, as well as share some of the mantras learned to carry through into 2025. I guess just like life itself, the images below highlight a small snippet of the diversity of emotions and moments that come from another year in the driver’s seat: from moments of exhilaration to complete tranquility, commitment to the search of an animal, patience patience patience, awakening all our senses, succumbing to the inevitability of the unknown, and to continuing to trust the here and now.
January
The year started with an incredible sighting of the Senegal Bush Male on a patrol through his territory on Londolozi. Without realizing it back then, this was the last sighting I had of him.
Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019
Sensational. On our way home one morning in the heat of summer, we parked in the river to watch these two elephant bulls size each other up. I remember this moment because of the sensory overload of sounds: the water splashing at their feet, the sound of ivory colliding and the rough leathery trunks brushing against one another.
February
One of my favourite leopard shots for the year. Spending an afternoon with the Nhlanguleni Female, and after sitting with her while she slept in the long grass for the better part of an hour, we were rewarded with her walking across a clearing. With alert impalas in the area, she erected her tail as she approached our position and for a brief moment she posed perfectly as her glance met ours.
Initially skittish female who transformed into a regular presence. Made history by raising first intact litter since her own generation.
The more we honour our own rhythm, the more life dances with us in harmony.
March
Thrilling. Interrupting an afternoon search for a leopard, these two hippo bulls stole the show. Even after finding the leopard later in the drive, our vehicle collectively decided that this was the highlight of the afternoon. It reminded me that while you are on the path of a particular intention, sometimes it’s the unexpected surprises or moments along the way that make all the difference. As the cliche saying goes, “it is not just in the destination, but also in the path we take to get there that makes all the difference”.
Privilege. In my time at Londolozi, this year has definitely been the most abundant with leopard cub viewing and it has been an absolute highlight throughout the year. This is the Nkoveni Young Male (left) and Young Female playfully rolling around full of expression and youthful energy.
April
Composition. Spending the morning with the Kambula Pride in this clearing watching the cubs expend their energy climbing a fallen marula tree was a perfect scene from a photographic perspective.
(Baby) Leopard in a Leadwood. Spending an afternoon with the Nkoveni Female and her three cubs, anxiety heightened as some hyena moved through the area. Nkoveni growled, hyenas moved off and one of the cubs scattered to climb a nearby tree. As our vehicle breathed out a sense of relief, our heart rates peaked again as we all scrambled to grab our cameras after realizing the cub had climbed a dead leadwood tree.
May
Let dawn fill you with optimism.
Pride. The Kambula Pride have been a force to be reckoned with this year. A solid unit, they have reminded me of what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves. To be part of a ‘pride’: connection and unity, resilience, power of lineage, and strength and support in numbers.
June
Beauty. This particular afternoon with the Nottens Male was a firm highlight this year. Relaxed on boulders right next to the vehicle, he milled about and we couldn’t put our cameras down. This image was my favourite with him eye level in the golden, afternoon light.
A splitting image of his father the Nweti Male. He is a young leopard roaming the southern extent of Londolozi at the moment.
Tension in the chase. While I wrote a separate blog on this sighting and how it unfolded, I love how layered this image is: hippo yawn, waterbuck calf fixated on the hippo only a meter away, and a wild dog staring from the water’s edge.
July
Abundance. I love a sighting where we get to sit amongst hundreds of African Cape Buffalo. And on this particular day, instead of counting buffalo I was counting red-billed oxpeckers.
Resilient Mothers. While these four Ntsevu cubs have unfortunately not survived, we were able to share some incredible moments with them on game drives including this particular afternoon.
August
Present. These relaxed honey badgers reminded me how everyday can bring something new. A simple 15 minutes with these animals was completely unique and in an entire year of game drives this was not something that I got to witness again.
To nourish, and be nourished.
September
Blessed. I chose this photo of Nkoveni and her young male cub to represent the gratitude I (and the rest of the Guiding and Tracking teams alike) feel towards these two animals and the unbelievable moments we’ve been able to share with them in 2024.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
Family visit. This year I got to have some family visit Londolozi, and this particular afternoon with the Ximungwe Female epitomized Londolozi leopard viewing – and I could not be more grateful to have been able to share that with family.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
October
Track and you shall find. I love the stare of the Kruger Male in this image, but to me this image represents the first time he was found on Londolozi with the Southern Avoca Male late one afternoon all thanks to Equalizer, my tracker. After several days of the not seeing lions on the reserve, Equa’s commitment to a long and persistent track and find paid off.
For the last quarter of 2024 we have been fortunate to have a mother cheetah and her three cubs spoil us with some incredible sightings. Looking through my camera roll, this is the only image I have of any of these animals, representing a classic wildlife photographer’s dilemma: “photo, video or neither and simply enjoy the moment?”
November
Don’t judge a book by its cover. Hyenas may be part of the ‘Ugly Five’, but these animals are not to be underrated, or overlooked. Their immense jaw strength, endurance, and adaptability make them formidable scavengers (and hunters), ensuring their survival in diverse and challenging environments.
Me and my shadow. When you align with your true self, the universe aligns with you.
December
Survival of the fittest. The age-old lesson of the wild, it’s always unique and sometimes tough to see animals battle it out for their position of dominance.
Be the example. In this particular sighting with the Nkoveni Female and the Nkoveni Young Male, we watched them lock eyes on a herd of wildebeest with calves that had come to the water’s edge for a drink. The Young Male hung back watching and learning from his mother as she slunk around the water hole, crouched low to the ground to remain unseen. She stalked the herd and within all of 5 minutes, she successfully chased and caught one of the calves. A perfect hunt that the Nkoveni Young Male could witness and learn from.
Hi Kate, your lovely and dramatic selection for the past year is something to remember. It’s a bittersweet collection, starting with the mythical Senegal Bush male. I honestly thought of him like some eternal mighty creature… now there’s his son to carry on his power. The Nkoveni Female is another example of resilience above all, and the last image seems herself at the mirror, instead of her son. He did inherited the superb abilities to win. The cubs and calves are awww- too much for words! New lives, new hopes. None the less many were unlucky. The hyena doesn’t even seem a spotted one, the picture is so nice. Aardwolves are very nice and I like them a lot, my favourite hyena type. The young giraffe with mum melt my heart. Zebras, giraffe, elephants, buffalo… and the hippos fighting are incredible. What a (raw) spectacle! The cheetah cub is a masterpiece and so the
Nhlanguleni female, an image of pure beauty. The expression of the poor Nkoveni young girl is priceless. Did the Kruger male disappear for good? Did the waterbuck calf manage to save itself? They have such a soft look with those big
eyes… thank you for this unforgettable blog