After days of rain, there’s nothing quite like seeing the sun break through again. The bush feels lighter, fresher, and full of possibility. This week’s Virtual Safari reflects that feeling perfectly, a slow return to movement, exploration, and those quiet moments that make the wilderness so special.
We began the morning on foot with expert tracker Freddy, following the course of a flowing stream in search of a leopard. Leopards are masters of concealment, but if there’s anyone who can find one in thick cover, it’s Freddy. After some patient walking, we were rewarded with a sighting of the Shingi Male, found on foot in an area tricky to access with a vehicle. We left Bryce and his guests to enjoy the moment while we headed back to the vehicle, keen to see what else the day might offer.
Not far along the way, the bush delivered one of its smallest surprises: the tiniest leopard tortoise I’ve ever seen, no bigger than the face of my watch. A reminder that after the rain, life emerges in all shapes and sizes.
The Msuthlu Pride has been treating us incredibly well of late, often found lounging on the Londolozi airstrip. This morning, they were in full rest mode, soaking up the warmth, until a small group of impala briefly stirred their interest. The Gijima Males, who seem to have developed a fondness for the airstrip themselves, made another appearance, and we certainly weren’t complaining.
We finished the drive with a peaceful scene of elephants feeding on lush green shoots before crossing the airstrip. It was only then that I realised the true impact of all that rain — as my lenses began fogging up, protesting the moisture they’d endured over the past weeks. A timely reminder that the bush takes its toll on everything out here, cameras included.
A varied, textured Virtual Safari — from foot tracking to tiny tortoises, lions, elephants, and a bit of behind-the-scenes reality to wrap it all up.
Enjoy this week’s Virtual Safari…
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Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
Hi Sean, that tiny leopard tortoise was just the cutest and most precious little tortoise. With so much rain the past fortnight, it is good to see the sun shining again. Freddy is forsure the man to track the leopards. Loved the little Elephant calves and also the Blue wildbeast calves. Sean sometimes I don’t get my email from Londolozi and then I have to go the Blog to be able to see the email for the day. Today was one of the days I did not receive an email. Hope your lenses and camera’s haven’t got damaged to much in the wet conditions of late.
We are so happy to see the sunshine.
Thanks so much, for letting me know that. I will look into it.
I think my camera will be alright, fingers crossed.
Nice that the sun is out again at Londolozi. I could do with a little sunshine here at my home as well. It’s all fog at the moment and has been for weeks now.
However, Londolozi looks great, lush and green and I can imagine how much all the animals enjoy this.
The tiny tortoise you found is so cute. How great to look for a leopard on foot. I also enjoyed the lions and elephants very much. Great videos, thanks Sean.
It is looking so stunning out here at the moment, everything is lush and green. It was such a small tortoise, I couldn’t believe it.
A wonderful, relaxing Sunday morning video to watch, a brief respite from the chaos that has taken over in parts of the US. My favorite segment is the pile-up of lions at the edge of the airstrip – not the few that appear to be sleeping, but the youngsters that need to wrestle a bit before settling down, paws on faces, paws on paws and heads nestled together. Your final footage of the elephant family was also calming, moms enjoying the fresh green vegetation, whilst the little ones are busy playing air games with their trunks. It seems Shingi isn’t ready to leave the “nest” yet, still spending time with his mother, and Maxim is tolerating his presence. I’m assuming that once Nkoveni falls pregnant, she will finally send him away. He is a joy to watch though and will be missed….. good luck with your camera gear’s dehumidifying, and it’s true that iPhone cameras do take some fantastic video.
Thank you so much, Denise. I agree, Shingi Male seems to be hanging on and giving mum a hard time. Yes, I think as soon as she falls pregnant she will be more forceful in pushing him out.
It’s buzzing with life after the rain – wonderful to see and the tiny tortoise is simply adorable…! Lovely to see you tracking on foot! Take care
It really is humming out here after all the rain. Getting out the vehicle and tracking is one of my favourite things to do out here.
Oh, the Nkoveni Female is always a reward to me… and her son the spotlight leopard. She’s like a mythological queen. Fantastic lion cubs! The leopard tortoise is too cute! Any news of the Mashaba female….?
We were thrilled to be able to see a leopard and to have it as these two was great. Sadly, no news on the Mashaba Female.