As the summer heat settles over Londolozi and the Sand River starts to full, the bush teems with life and energy, offering moments of quiet awe and thrilling spectacle. This week brought a delightful mix of unique sightings and memorable experiences, beginning with the Three Rivers Female Leopard and her growing cub, whose presence continues to captivate. The elusive Jacana Female made a rare appearance, perched high in a marula tree. At the same time, the Maxims Male surprised us with an unusually confident display, adding a fresh dynamic to our leopard encounters.
Among the week’s highlights was a Martial Eagle showcasing its hunting prowess with a slender mongoose kill—a raw and dramatic display of nature’s balance. A hippo wallowing contentedly in the mud provided a playful contrast, embodying the laid-back charm of the bush.
One of the most exhilarating moments came when ranger Pat could barely contain his excitement, fist-pumping as a Ndzhenga Male Lion roared just meters away—a moment that perfectly captured the unfiltered thrill of the wild.
This week at Londolozi showcases the sheer unpredictability of nature, where each day is filled with stories of patience, perseverance, and serendipity. I hope this collection of images transports you to the wild’s raw beauty and inspires you to appreciate the magic of the bush.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…

The Three Rivers Female looks on towards her growing young female as the youngster continues to play with her latest meal before she settles down to finally start feeding.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.

Three warthog piglets bring all the joy and big smiles to anyone who manages to catch a glimpse. These 3 we caught off guard and I was able to snap a picture before they ran off to join their mother.

The seldom-seen Jacana Female tried to find the most comfortable position up in a Marula tree where she had hoisted a young waterbuck kill.
Born 2021, striking orange-eyed leopardess. Young female boldly claiming unconventional grassland territory in southwestern Londolozi.

Perched in the branches of a marula tree, a Martial Eagle grips its slender mongoose prey, a striking scene of nature’s raw beauty.

A thrilling sighting as we tried to keep up with the Xinkhova Female as she moved through the Sand River. Eventually, we got a spectacular view of her as she walked out into the open across the boulders in the morning golden light.
Born 2021, daughter of Nkoveni. Young dynamo actively claiming territory near camps, showing promise as next generation's dominant female.

An afternoon well spent with the Maxims Male. This male leopard is often one to shy away from the cameras. This particular afternoon he surprised us all as he moved from termite mound to termite mound, pausing on each one to strike a pose as he did.
Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.

Elevated on a termite mound, the kudus act as sentinels, each taking a different vantage point to survey their surroundings.

Head in the clouds, a mouth full of leaves, and an oxpecker hitching a ride while it finds its next meal.

Ranger Pat Grealy’s expression and fist pump says it all as we were all treated to an impressive performance from this Ndzhenga Male and a Kambula Lioness.

The Nkoveni female scans here surrounds from a fallen over marula tree. Turns out, later that afternoon both her and her now one year old young male were successful in hunting young impalas.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.

A rather comical sighting watching this hippo wallowing in the mud. While you are most often likely to come across a rhino or warthog wallowing, hippos also enjoy the cooling benefits and the mud aids to protect their sensitive skin from the sun.

The Three Rivers Young Female gazes up into a schotia tree where she finds the young impala lamb her mother had caught and hoisted for her to find.

The Ngungwe female is becoming notorious for spending time on the boulders of the northern section of the reserve. You just have to be in the right place at the right time to catch her there!
Born 2020 during lockdown to Piccadilly Female. Once skittish, now confident mother denning her first litter in Marthly's rocky terrain.
All the pictures are amazing! I have 2 that i like: The warthog piglets, and the young waterbuck. Thank you for sharing these.
Hi Kelsey, what a funny selection of pictures! The crocodile and the stork… the wallowing hippo and the piglets that bring much fun and cuteness. The Three Rivers young female, I’m lost. She’s too sweet even when her look is hungry. She’s a mixture between her father (in spite of his dominant position he looks soft!) and her lovely mum. Leopardesses are fantastic, Nkoveni of course is a top beauty, also her daughter Xinkova, the Ngungwe female and in particular the Jacana female, she’s so elegant and slender, athletic, a lovely head and face. The bushbuck baby is just adorable! The Ndzenga male is stunning. The last picture hit me in particular, but the bushbuck and the softie Three Rivers young female are awww – pictures… Giraffe are always special animals, like elephants they are relaxing and have long eyelashes.
Gorgeous photos, Kelsey! As you know, I love the leopards, however, I think the young waterbuck and the stork with the crocodile are my favorites this week.
Lovely TWIP Kelsey. My favourite this week has to be the Jacana female posing so beautifully in the tree. It’s also lovely to see her in daylight, having seen her at night with you in November.
Kelsey, great pictures this week. The black stork and the crocodile is an interesting picture and has to be my favorite for this week.
Love me some pigs! Great memory of six warthogs exploding out of an abandoned termite mound. And the only time I saw a slender mongoose (2022) was when the young Three Rivers male was flipping a dead one up and down in a ?playful? manner. Finally, the black stork/crocodile photo is primo.
Dear Kelsey, what an amazing unbelievable shot of the Three Rivers young female-wow.Happy, that you share such a shot-for those who are not able to be at londo at the moment.
Lovely photos (I would expect nothing less)
The Three Rivers Young Female is a special stand out photo
Hi Kelsey. Loved this week’s TWIP blog you put out (we’re biased!). I look forward to sharing my photos (once post-processed) of many of these exact same citings that we were privileged enough to witness with you and Rich. The Three Rivers cub and the martial eagle with mongoose are my favorites! Regards, the Douglas family
Hi Kelsey, your photo of the Three Rivers young female leopard is my favorite for today. Secondly would be the young bush buck. That is my favorite antelope. Off course Nkoveni and her male cub is special and she is an incredible mother. I wonder Kelsey is Nkoveni’s mother still around. That would be the Mashaba female, I know she is of age. Beautiful photos this week Kelsey. Oh yes not forgetting the fist pump from Ranger Patrick, awesome.
Thanks , Kelsey for this wonderful collection of photos.
I love them all. I like the portrait of the young waterbuck especially. It looks so nice and fluffy.
And the crocodile together with the stork is really great. Amazing that the stork dares to get that close to a crocodile. Do crocodiles sometimes catch waterbirds?
The Kudus on the termite mound make such a pretty group. And I love all the photos of the cats. Nice to follow the young ones like the young Three rivers female a.s.o. through their lives.
You’ve included so many fantastic photos this week Kelsey, so difficult to choose any favorites. I loved seeing the three little pigs in addition to the juxtaposition of the croc and the stork-great capture. There’s also something special about seeing your fellow guide so pumped about his position next to the Ndhzenga male during his roar! All the leopard images are stunning but especially the Three Rivers female cub gazing up into the tree. She is a lovely combination of her parents. Kudos on the Martial Eagle portrait as well as the young waterbuck.
wow that is a brave stork!! those little piglets sure are adorable 🙂