This was a leopard, lion and cheetah-filled week in the bush! On the leopard front, it’s been a privilege to spend time with some leopards that I do not get to see very often like the Maxims Male, Ngungwe Female and Makomsava Female. Lions were everywhere and it was also a great week spending time with the Nkuhuma Breakaways, Kruger Male, Kambula and Ntsevu prides.
However, in addition to the number of incredible cat sightings, the biggest highlight of the week was finding a pangolin!
Let us know which images are your favourites in the comments below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
After spending an afternoon with a sleeping Kambula pride, as they slowly started yawning and showing signs of getting up, a curious black-backed jackal passed through the area unnoticed.
The Nkoveni Young Male stares across the Sand River with total intrigue and hesitation with the thought of potentially crossing the river.
Two of the Ntsevu cubs playfully tussle with surrounding twigs and branches as they restlessly wait for their mothers to wake up.
With drying up water holes, we watched this elephant bull quench its thirst late one morning.
The Makhatini Female jumps onto a fallen Knobthorn tree to scan her surroundings having just been chased by three lurking hyena.
Only a few moments later, the Makhatini Female’s three cubs join her from the vantage of the fallen tree.
One morning on a game drive in the north, we bumped into the Makomsava Female walking on the road. Having heard a male leopard calling in the distance earlier that morning, we suspected she may have been lured into exploring uncharted land in search of that male. Shortly after taking this image, the Xinzele Female popped up and chased the Makomsava Female out her territory and back north.
The only surviving cub of the Nanga female, currently territorial northern Marthly. Currently denning north of boundary
One of the Kambula Subadult Males approaches our vehicle at dawn.
Winter sun setting behind the Drakensberg Mountain range in the open grasslands.
The Three Rivers Female grows tall as she reaffirms her presence in the Nkoveni Female’s territory by leaving her scent on the highest leaves possible.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
The best there is! Words cannot describe the feeling of finding one of these animals on game drive. An incredibly rare sighting of the elusive, yet very relaxed Pangolin!
The Nkuhuma Breakaway Male and Female Lion stare across a clearing overlooking Varty Camp.
Same lions, different photographic angle.
In the same sighting as the lions above, the Ngungwe Female stares at the lions on the other side of the clearing from the safety of a prominent marula tree. A perfect morning scene overlooking Londolozi Camps!
Born 2020 during lockdown to Piccadilly Female. Once skittish, now confident mother denning her first litter in Marthly's rocky terrain.
An impressive female Saddle-Billed Stork feeds on an equally impressively sized catfish.
A leopard’s kiss. The Three Rivers Female touches noses with the Maxims Male during an epic morning spent with these two leopards and the Three Rivers Young Female.
Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.
One of the small Kambula Cubs rests on a fallen branch watching a lurking Crested Francolin milling about under a nearby bush. Curious, naive and intrigued.
The formidable Maxims Male showing off his prowess and dominance perched in a tree at eye-level.
It’s not an everyday sighting getting to spend time with the Maxims Male, let alone get him posing for the camera. Looking into the eyes of a true beast.
“Cute” is often not a word used to describe a hyena. But after spending time with these young hyena cubs, we couldn’t help but think of them as rather cute…
The Kruger Male glances over our vehicle in the direction of the Tsalala Female, after they had been found together for a day.
Wider angle image of the Ngungwe Female framed by an impressive marula tree at dawn.
Pangolin pic for sure! Not just because it depicts these rare animals, but the Grey on Grey is stunning! Thanks for sharing, Kate!
Incredible! The saddle billed stork eating the catfish is special and the photo of male / female leopard touching noses just shows the size differences between males & females! Beautiful!
I thought the same thing. She looks tiny compared to him.
Such a fantastic view of the pangolin! Beautiful textures. I also loved the Maxims Male in the tree. It was like something out of The Jungle Book. I hope that stork was pleased with herself after swallowing that catfish–yikes!
How’s the leopard with the injured leg and her cub? How is the tsalala lioness?
Great photos, Kate. And WOW! what a treat to be able to see a Pangolin so relaxed out in the open. So far, I have only seen one twice, both times curled up in dense grass and bush. One of them at Londolozi last year. Not a really clear sighting, but better than nothing. The sighting you had is so fantastic!
I would also call those two young hyenas “cute”; they are indeed. Great shot of them.
The Saddled billed Strok with that big fish is also a really good photo. So rare to see that exact moment when the bird tries to swallow the fish.
Wonderful set of images, but to not only see but photograph a pangolin!! Congrats
Such an amazing week of pictures Kate, but my favorite is the Pangolin, such an elusive animal, yet you captured it fully exposed on the termite mound, a stunning composition! Other favorites include the “leopard kiss” as it definitely emphasizes the size difference between the Maxim male and Three Rivers female, Maxim’s stare from the tree branch and the beautiful sunset. A mention as well for your Saddle-billed stork, proudly clasping her large catfish, before consuming it.
Memorable images this week, Kate! Maxim’s and Three Rivers touching noses, Maxim’s looking into straight into the camera – so special! The pangolin shot is absolutely amazing and, for me, the photo of Makomsava is so sweet; I remember her as a cub with her mother, Nanga! Nanga was long a fav of mine and seeing her, still alive and well, is a real treat.
Dear Kate, that must be really a special moment to see a pangolin in londolozi. Great shot. Love also the rendevouz between Maxim and the three river female-the different size is spectacular. Thanks for sharing
Stunning photos for this week’s TWIP Kate.
The lone Kambula cub is great.
Also the Three Rovers female touching the Maxim’s male.
But, the pangolin sighting. That was incredible. And I was there when your photograph was taken!
Hi Kate, for me the Maxim’s male up in the tree. He is so impressive. Love the lion cub as well. Beautiful images Kate all of them.
Hi, the Makatini family on the dead three checking around is a perfect moment caught and pictures, no less rare than the pangolin, equally superb picture and the leopard kiss, as they are male and female unrelated. Where is the Three Rivers young female? It’s the second time there is only her mum in the blog. Any news of the Ximungwe female and her cub? All pictures are really great, so glad to see the Makomsava female, hopefully she’ll be successful! The Kambula cub is super sweet. Are you sure that the Nweti male’s loss was natural? Leopard trophy hunting is sadly on the increase, which surprised me with disappointment, as they are listed as Vulnerable… males with large heads are most required… many compliments for the pictures
I am so pleased that you had a sighting of the Makomsava female. I saw her as a cub when she first emerged from her den. Only seen her a few times since.
Maxim male photo is superb too.
Of course the Kambula cub and the hyena cubs take it for me this week!
I cannot believe you saw a pangolin in the daytime! I am so jealous. What a wonderful surprise for your travelers.