I’ve always loved how unpredictable a game drive can be. On one side of the reserve, you might find yourself immersed in the hush of a peaceful morning, watching animals going about their business without a care. Meanwhile, just a few kilometres away, absolute chaos can be breaking out.
This week’s Virtual Safari captured that contrast perfectly.
We started with a calm, chilly morning alongside a portion of the Kambula Pride, quietly stirring as dawn broke. But the peace didn’t last long. The sounds of chaos erupted not far off, enough to snap their attention.
Elsewhere, Kirst and Nic were with two other Kambula lionesses that had just botched a wildebeest hunt. Their failure triggered frantic alarm calls, quickly drawing the attention of nearby hyenas eager to give the lionesses a hard time.
The placid lions that we were with decided to head there to help out and see what was going on. Before actually very nearly getting themselves into some trouble of their own.
While all this was happening, I sat listening to the ruckus from a distance… while watching a far less dramatic scene of two impala rams half-heartedly sparring at the tail end of the rut.
Eventually, I arrived to find the dust settling around two troublemaking nomads perched on a mound—reminding us again that these dynamics are never static for long.
We also share an update on the Ximungwe Female Leopard, including some of the ongoing challenges she’s facing with her injury.
And to end things on a lighter note, there’s the wonderfully comical sight of a young elephant bull showing off some surprisingly decent football skills.
Enjoy this week’s Virtual Safari.
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Hi Sean, as always, the video is super! Great view of the lion pride. I’m sooo glad the Ximungwe female is hunting, her renowned hunting skills saved her and her delightful cub. If the fracture is composed, like in some of the humans or cats big and small, it acts like a stick, they can walk with difficulty but manage to do it. Easier with cubs that weight less, but she’s a master of moving. And she’s one of the most beautiful leopards around, her cub is promising as well, his look is so funny, entertaining, as it is the young bull entertaining himself with the rock… so funny, it made me smile! Thank you
I am glad you enjoyed this virtual safari. It was such a relief to see the Ximungwe Female with a number of carcasses and that she is feeding well. It is still going to be a challenge but I think we can comfortably say the worst is behind us.
Thanks Sean for the injury update to Ximungwe, excellent news. She couldn’t have climbed that tree before, let alone hoisted a kill. It’s amazing how she’s kept her and her cub fed meanwhile.
It really is incredible how she has managed to keep them both fed over the last 6 weeks.
Than you Sean. Theses virtual safaris make me so happy. For a few minutes I’m back at Londolozi one of my favorite places & fondest memories.
I am so glad we are able to keep you in touch with Londolozi through these virtual safaris.
Thanks for the great update on the Ximungwe female…it’s good to see her getting better on that leg.
It is great to see her using it more and more.
What a way to begin your virtual safari today – watching and listening to the whooping and cackling of the hyenas as they taunted the two lionesses hunkered down in the trees. Their cries, broken at times by the snarls and growls of the lions, gave me goosebumps even though I’m thousand of miles away. And then, add to the mix the Nkuhuma and Talamati males who magically appeared, dispersing the bullies and the rest of the pride of who had come to join the two females, after unsuccessfully trying to takedown a wildebeest. Softening the intensity of the beginning of this video, it was heartwarming to see Ximungwe and her cub are continuing to do well, save for the altercation over the banded mongoose. The fact that she has continued to take down prey as well as now hoist them up into trees bodes well for her recovery. However, you saved the best for last. Watching this young bull elephant play with his rock/ball, carefully and methodically moving it around could only have been better if there had been two elephants passing the rock between them – that would have been priceless!
The interactions between lions and hyenas is always so entertaining and intense.
We are so thrilled that the Ximungwe Female has still been able to feed and keep her cub going.
That would have been hilarious if there were two elephants playing with the “ball”
The proximity of the vehicles to such powerful moments still amazes me. Great episode, Sean! Thank you, and welcome back!
Thank you so much. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Great videos of all rangers involved. Thanks everyone! Hyenas can really be quite annoying, strength in numbers. The two lions up on the termite mound are so impressive. They definitely are the bosses (as long as there are no big elephants around).
It’s so good to see that the Ximungwe’s leg is healing slowly and that she and her cub have a fair chance of survival.
And the elephant playing soccer is really hilarious.
Thank you so much, Christa. It was a great week all around and everyone managed to capture some awesome videos.
Your videos are always such a great end or start of an old or a new week.
I am so glad that it is such a well received way to end one week and begin a new one.
Hi Sean, the part of the video were the hyenas were cornered the lions were quite intense. Very glad the other lions came along to chase the hyenas away so that the two females can go back to their cubs. So very very pleased to see and hear that the Ximungwe female’s leg is healing and seeing her catch young antelope to feed on for herself and her son. Hopefully that front leg will heal completely. Just goes to show how strong she is and the will to survive and look after her cub. Beautiful video thanks Sean.
It was so intense, thankfully no lions were injured.
The Ximungwe Female is healing well but like I said it is still going to be a long road ahead.
Love seeing these virtual safaris! Thank you for helping us stay connected!
Thank you so much. It is a magical way to keep everyone connected to Londolozi, no matter where you are in the world.
Great sightings, Sean! Cornered lions was amazing. Loved seeing the soccer-playing Ellie! How did your field training go? Saw you when you were with the trainees when we were there. Guessing you may update on it sometime!
Thanks so much, Michael. It all went well and was so nice to see you albeit brief. Hopefully, we get to see you a bit more on your next trip.
Lovely video and thanks for the update on Ximungwe. We are so happy to see that her recovery is progressing and the cub has a full belly. Enjoy your week.
Thank you so much, Camilla. We are all so happy that she is doing well and the recovery is coming along.
I’ll echo everyone else who is grateful that the Ximungwe female seems to be recovering so well. Let’s hope that trend continues. I’m always happy to see animals playing and that elephant sure did have a time amusing himself with that rock.
we really hope that she continues to recover and look after her cub.
The elephant was hilarious playing with his ‘soccer ball’
I did not know you limit the vehicles to three while observing…love that! Hate seeing so many vehicles surrounding any animals going about their own business. And SO happy for the update on the Ximungwe female! Love seeing those full bellies! The ellie bull playing was priceless 😂 Hope you had a fantastic holiday Sean!
Yes, it is an industry wide practice on many of the private reserves and concessions to limit the number of vehicles as this can reduce the pressure on the animal and also make for a better viewing experience for the guests in the sighting.
We are all so relieved that the Ximungwe Female is recovering and able to hunt and care for her son.
We did have a great time away, thank you.
I’m surprised her leg has been able to heal so quickly.