Summer is well and truly in full swing at Londolozi! The bush has been teeming with life and we have been treated to some pretty spectacular sightings. The bush has been “pumping” as we would normally say. The vibrant colours of this wonderful season are in full display, showcasing the lush greens, blooming wildflowers and tints of the long grasses that bring the landscape to life. This is one of my favourite times of the year as we experience such volatility in the weather. So far we’ve recorded one of our hottest ever days at Londolozi with the temperature soaring to 45 degrees Celsius and on the other hand we experienced about 104mm downpour of rain in roughly about 3 hours. What a wonderful time to be alive and to be in the bush!
The cats have stolen the show this week with some special sightings of the Ntomi Male, the Three Rivers Female and her young female as well as the Nkoveni Female and her young male. Both the Nkoveni Young Male and the Three Rivers Young Female continue to grow in both size and confidence as they are beginning to be somewhat more comfortable spending less time with their respective mothers. The Makhatini Female Cheetah and her three youngsters continue to impress and much to our delight they recently spent quite a bit of time in and around the clearings right outside of camp!
The Kambula Pride are back with their tree-climbing antics, The Ndzhenga Males continue their stronghold over what I could imagine being one of the more sought-after territories within the Sabi Sand Reserve and the Tsalala Female and the Plains Camp Males continue their love affair as we remain optimistic of a possible second litter of cubs for the resilient lioness.
Some spectacular sightings of Londolozi’s true apex predators make for some incredibly unique features and time spent with any animals on and around the airstrip always makes for the best photographic opportunities.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
Two Giraffe bulls cross paths along the airstrip in the early morning light.
The Kambula pride scattered along the warm tar of the airstrip in the early morning light.
Avian Architects. Male Village Weavers are hard at work, building their nests suspended above a waterhole.
The Nkoveni Female and her Son engage in a little game of rough and tumble.
A regal scene of the striking Goliath Heron in the Sand River at the Causeway
An intimidating force. One of the Ndzengha Males patrolling his territory with an extremely full belly.
A rather unusual sighting of an incredibly large crocodile quite some distance from the Sand River. Crocodiles are known to move between bodies of water and with most of the waterholes now full from the recent rains, this prehistoric predator travelled in search of its new hunting ground.
The Nkoveni Female pauses atop a fallen marula tree. Leopards will often do this as they scan their surroundings through the use of a height advantage.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
The tree-climbing lions of Londolozi. A recent sighting of the Kambula Pride in the early morning proved to be incredibly entertaining as they took turns climbing up and down a perfectly positioned marula Tree.
A young lioness carefully positions herself as she prepares to descend the tree.
Shortly after quenching their thirst a nearby herd of impala catches the Nkoveni Duo’s attention.
A wake of White-backed Vultures perches atop a dead leadwood tree in the open grasslands as the golden afternoon sun peers through the clouds.
The Makhatini Family rest atop a termite mound as they huddle together on a cooler rainy morning. The cubs are growing in size and confidence every day. What a privilege it has been to have some spectacular viewing of these elusive predators.
A Clash of The Big Five and The Little Five – A Leopard versus a Leopard Tortoise. The Three Rivers Young Female investigates a passerby.
The Tsalala Female and the larger of the two Plains Camp Males find a quiet spot to enjoy the sunset. After recent sightings of the two matings, we are eagerly awaiting the possibility of a second litter of cubs from the resilient Lioness.
The Three Rivers Female quenches her thirst at a hidden oasis soaked in golden light.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
The Nkoveni Young Male has a narrow escape from two of the Kambula Lionesses who stole an impala ram kill from him and his mother. What was a very tense moment initially, transpired into the most spectacular sight of this beautiful young male resting along the branch of a Knob thorn tree in the golden light of the afternoon sun.
We stopped to view a stunning setting at a nearby waterhole. Upon closer inspection, we were shocked to find a crocodile feeding on the remains of another crocodile.
A closer look into the cannibalistic behaviours of one of Londolozi’s apex predators.
Perhaps my favourite image from this week in pictures! The Nkoveni Female patrols through the open crest in the golden morning light. The flowers of the Poison Apple plant add a delicate pop of colour to the summer hues of Londolozi.
A magnificent elephant bull strolls along the airstrip as Ranger Shaun and his guests watch on.
One of my favourite Leopards at Londolozi. Its been a while since I last saw the Ntomi Male however, this sighting of him with his buffalo calf kill made up for lost time.
Born 2021, son of Ximungwe Female. Distinguished by eye freckle, grown into formidable male dominant in the west.
Thank you Reece for another great TWIP. Wonderful to see Ntomi and he’s looking in terrific condition. He’s done well to kill and hoist a buffalo calf.
Scary to read about Nkoveni and her son’s narrow escape from the Kambula pride. That’s 3 close escapes from them now, and those are just the ones that have been seen. I love your photos of them, especially Nkoveni walking through the flowers.
Wonderful photos, Reece, of all these cats and other animals. The huge crocodile is quite impressive.
The cubs are growing and look splendid; how great that the young cheetahs and the two young leopard cubs have made it to young adulthood.
Good to know that the Tsalala lioness is in good shape and maybe even expecting new cubs. Would be great if she could have another litter.
Loved the Goliath Heron and the Weavers!!!
The weavers photo is superb. And, of course, who wouldn’t send love for the Tsalala pic?
Great photos of the week. Ntomi is one of my favorites too. He looks much larger than when we saw him in 23
Dear Reece, thanks for this various pics of the week. Love the giraffebulls on the airstrip.
I’ve missed that handsome Ntomi male! But fave pic is of the cheetahs…so happy mom has kept her cubs safe! Also the vultures w/ the ominous sky seems appropriate!
Hi Reece, the Ntomi male is such a stunning leopard. He is my favorite image for this week. I loved the images of the Three Rivers female’s cub investigating the tortoise. Nkoveni walking in the bush with the wild flowers surrounding her is stunning. So glad the Tsalala female is with the Plains Camp male. Hopefully we will see cubs soon. She has been through so much, she deserves a break and new cubs.
Reece, great pictures this week. I have to acknowledge the crocodile eating another croc as the picture of the week. Even as much as I love seeing the cheetah family and the Nkoveni female and her cub.
Reece, Thanks for the summer update and an amazing set of images! It’s so great to see the cheetah family still hanging out at Londolozi. It’s also wonderful to see how the Nkoveni young male is progressing. He looks like he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with!. The image of Nkoveni coming through the wildflowers is our favorite this week!
Hi Reece, yes I agree the Nkoveni Female that is a masterpiece herself among those delightful flowers is a poetry. Second the cheetah family
one of the most gracious image one can think of! Third he Ntomi male and the elephant bull, the spectacular animal in that beautiful light. The weavers are always incredible. Also the Three Rivers young female with all those yellow flowers is a portrait. Crocodiles eat all, like hyenas and vultures. No wonder it has a great chance at that conspicuous meal! Poor Nkoveni family lions are a real persecution. Killing the females, climbing trees and robbing their food… I love lions, and most of all, their have the role of apex predators on earth- in the water there are crocodiles… but leopards are under too a high pressure from lions and hyenas. I am sooo glad cheetah have been luckier!
It may be a ghoulish “favorite” but I appreciated your image of the croc and its meal. A few other more expected favorites included seeing Ntomi again, Nkoveni female and her son, Three Rivers female and of course Tsalala with her mating partner. Great images Reece!
Awesome, Reece! Great to see you ”again” here. Loving our memories of Londo and these epic shots. Never gets old. Cheers!
Wow! To get a photo of one Croc feeding on another is unique and a standout in more that one way.