This week’s TWIP comes to you with a distinctly festive feel as the Christmas season settles over the bushveld. While families gather, holidays are celebrated, and the pace of life slows, the wilderness on Londolozi Game Reserve continues with its own timeless rhythm. Warm summer days, long evenings, and the chorus of the bush create the perfect backdrop for a season rooted in connection.
As we reflect on the past week, we’re reminded of how special this time of year is in the wilderness. From intense predator sightings to peaceful moments between Impala lambs and their mothers, herds of elephants, a pack of energetic African Painted dogs and flocks of ox peckers on their hosts, the bush offers its own celebration of life, family, and continuity. It’s a privilege to share these moments with you during this festive season, surrounded by the extraordinary wildlife that calls this place home.
The leopard activity has been brilliant, with many magical moments of leopards in trees. The Tinxiya female was seen in a Jackalberry tree, the Shingi Male climbed a Marula tree in a very playful mood, and the Ngungwe Female was sniffing around the canopy of a large marula tree in the North. The Three Rivers Female was also seen vocalising intensely and we suspect she may be seeking out a mate.
The lion activity has seen the Gijima Males moving and mating with several females on the reserve, including the Tsalala Female and two members of the Kambula Pride.
Let us know which images are your favourites in the comments below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
After watching another leopard climb a tree, this time the Shingi male, he jumped from branch to branch before settling down on a comfortable limb.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
The blonde maned Gijima Male is seen resting in a clearing after a long patrol of scent marking and roaring.
The Three Rivers Female was found on foot by tracker, Joy. He heard her rasping several times – an indication that she may be looking for a territorial male to begin mating again.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
This was an epic discovery of two fairly rare birds for the region. The stunning African Spoonbill is wading through the water looking for food and the Glossy Ibis in the back ground.
The Tsalala Lioness and Blonde Mane Gijima are performing the fascinating mating ritual.
Two bull elephants side across the Sand River.
The energy and playfulness of young African wild dogs is a pleasure to observe. There has been a great amount of sightings of them recently.
The play time continues as the adults in the pack begin to rest during the heat of the summer day.
The Ngungwe Female gives us a glance as she crosses the road in front of our landcover.
Born 2020 during lockdown to Piccadilly Female. Once skittish, now confident mother denning her first litter in Marthly's rocky terrain.
A flock of Red-billed Oxpeckers dance around the back of a zebra in search of their next meal.
It was an exciting discovery to drive around the corner and spot the Tinxiya Female (Daughter of Three Rivers Female) resting in the fork of a stunning jackelberry tree
Watching a leopard climb a tree is a breathtaking experience. We were fortunate enough to watch the Ngungwe Female climb a large marula tree and explore the top canopy.
Two large bulls engaged it what appeared to be a dominance stand off. The large bull on the right hand side definitely was the bigger of the two and placed his trunk on the forehead of the other to impose his size and strength.
Once he was ready to get moving, the Shingi Male descended the tree but first took a break in the fork and provided us with more spectacular photography opportunities.
The Pack of wild dogs rose to attention after a herd of Impalas ran passed.
The wild dogs then jumped into action and chased the herd of impala towards the Sand River; however, the hunt was cut short when a dazzle of Zebra stood in their path.
An impressive kudu bull looks out to the horizon
Hi LGR. The TWIPs you out uo each Friday, are always fascinating to read. Although it was the Tsalala lioness’s second time mating with the 2 mighty and powerful Gajima males in rexent weeks, but I, like you, hope that her many matings will be successful and will result in her falling heavily pregnant with her 3rd litter of cubs which I’m hoping she will be very successful in raising to hard independence and adulthood. I’m not duggesting she will do, butvif she has a litter of 4, and if her cubs are 2 of each, (2 boys and 2 girls), then that would be just great. I want her to be successful in raising them all to adulthood so that the 2 girls can help her start rebuilding the pride’s numbers back up and to also continue their existence and dynasty.
Whilst the photos were great, but there is one leopardess who hasn’t been seen for a long time now, and that comes in the form of the seventeen year old much loved Mashaba female. It has been so long since she was last seen there, that I can’t remember when it was exactly. I hope that she is doing and faring well wherever she spends a lot of her time. I hope you know how she is doing so far.
She has done very well in reaching seventeen years old in age. As sad as it is, but I don’t think she’ll be mating again anytime soon, as I think she is infertile by now. I would be very interested to know how many other offspring she raised to independence so well, that I don’t know about, and if they’re still alive and well or not. I’d like to know they are to know the size of her family.
But I hope the matings between the 2 Gajima males, the Tsalala lioness and the 2 Kambula lionesses are and will be ever so very successful indeed, with all will hopefully be expecting new cubs in 110 days/3 1/2 months time altogether.
Hope to hear from you shortly.
Robert 26.12.25
Hi Robert, Thanks for your long and detailed comment! We are hoping the Tsalala lioness falls pregnant soon and here’s hoping she has a successful litter this time.
As for the Mashaba Female, we haven’t seen her for some time now. I am unsure if she is alive but I am confident that her resilience will surprise most humans and she may still be wondering around the wild.
Thank you Nick for a wonderful TWIP. As to my favourites, it has to be leopards in trees (or climbing or descending!). How on earth do they make a tree branch look so comfortable?
I’m intrigued by the dazzle of zebra blocking the wild dogs. Surely this must be a deliberate action, any idea as to why?
Yes, the Zebra were protecting a youngster in their ranks and, by forming a wall to put pressure on the Wild Dogs, they feel intimidated and ended up moving away. It was awesome to observe.
I love the pictures of the wild dogs. They are beautiful animals & my favorite.
Hi Jackie, They are my favourite too, thanks for the comment.
Dear Nick, thanks for the TWIP. Shingi becomes a very nice leopard for great shots.
Nick. Very nice portfolio of Londolozi highlights! The Kudu bull is my favorite maybe because of his unusual positioning. I do have a question about lions’ mating habits Why does the blonde male have mating rights with the Tsalala female instead of the larger dark Gigima male? It doesn’t seem that they battle over her estrus opportunity if they are a coalition?? Why?
Hi Camille, the two Gijima’s will both mate with a lioness that is in oestrus. As they are from the same coalition AND bloodline, there is no need for them to fight over her due to having the same genes and thus producing a new generation of lions. The dark maned Gijima also mated with the Tslalala Lioness recently.
A fine gallery of images, Nick. Thank you. The red-billed oxpeckers strike a cheerful festive note!
Thanks Diana! Seasons greetings!
Nice photos this week, Nick, especially the wild dogs which I always find a challenge to photograph. The pair pawing each other look brilliant against the bright green background!
Thanks Mary
The Shinga Male is very photogenic (and very good at posing).
Hi Nick, fantastic images this week. So good to see the Shingi male and the Tinxiya female featuring. They are two stunning leopards. Love the wild dogs and the Tsalala female is just the most beautiful lioness. Hope she falls pregnant and has cubs so she can carry on the lineage of her family.
Hi Nick, the Three Rivers female (too beautiful!), the Ngungwe female and the top model Shingi male are my choice. This is one of the few times I do like the pictures of wild dogs: perfectly centered, playing together, you see their white mortal teeth just to play and not their orange menacing eyes but pure entertainment! All wonderful pictures. The birds are great, lions and all.the rest!
Ps i forgot the kudu bull! Simply spectacular my choice as well!
Thanks Francesca!
The Shingi Male really knows how to find comfortable accommodation, and the blonde Mane Gijima WILL have his way – no question!
Great photos, Nick.
I love all of them.
Fantastic photos Nick against the lush, green summer background. All your images are special but I do have a few favorites: of course the Shingi male who seems to find ways to keep us entertained, Tinxiya draped on the branch, the Ngungwe female giving what appears to be the “eye”, and the Three Rivers Female. Additionally, I loved seeing the three oxpeckers lined up on the zebra’s back, the elephant bulls head to head, and the playfulness between the wild dogs. Summer seems to be in full swing as your photos illustrate.
I love all the wild dog pics! Happy Holiday Season Nick!
Nick, Your images are spectacular once again! We hope you had a great Christmas! Our favorite shot is the amazing Kudu! He’s impressive!
Super photos – as always. It is a privilege to receive your blogs and The Week In Pictures is my favourite
Thanks very much Ian.