This week’s TWIP is curated with some of the epic wildlife photography from the recent week. There is so much life and beauty in the bushveld at the moment, as the land celebrates all the water it received from the recent rains. From insects, butterflies and chameleons to lions, leopards and buffalo, the exuberant animals came out in all their glory, and I’m thrilled to present you with my favourite collection.
On the lion front, we had an amazing encounter with the Kambula Males, who have returned from their mission to the Manyalethi Game Reserve in the north. They crossed the Sand River and we watched them walk along the road into a beautiful summer sunset. The Kambula Lionesses were seen resting on a crest after feeding on a young zebra, and the Msuthlu Pride have enjoyed resting on the Londolozi Airstrip on numerous occasions over the last week.
The Ximungwe Female was the only leopard I was able to capture this week. She was patrolling her territory and had visible suckle marks, which makes us very confident that her youngsters will be accompanying her to kills in the near future.
Wallowing buffalo, majestic giraffe and elephant bulls, as well as a pack of two wild dogs, also make an appearance this week.
Let me know in the comments which images are your favourite.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
The majestic Kambula Male lion is back at Londolozi, We witnessed him wandering along the road trailing his two brothers
A gang of buffalo cows get moving after an enjoyable mud bath.
The golden light from a recent sunset exposes the incredible yet unique characteristics of this Male Giraffe.
A member of the Kambula Pride enjoying a moments rest away from the tall wet grass.
We watched closely as an elegant Chameleon crossed the road
The stunning Bataleur Eagle in all its glory.
A young male lion from the Msuthlu pride lets out a huge yawn. Lions often yawn two or three times before standing up for a big stretch, signalling time to get on the move.
A black and white edit of the Young Members of the Msuthlu pride resting on the Londolozi Airstrip
The menacing stare from a mother leopard. It is always a pleasant surprise to discover the Ximungwe Female. We hope to discover her density soon.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
The pack of two Wild Dogs were seen resting on the sand in the Manyelethi Riverbed.
A Hippo Bull is surrounded by a herd of Wallowing Buffalo
An image that beautifully catches a striking pose from one of the Kambula Males. When he walked past the vehicle, he captured all of our attention.
A stunning Elephant bull striding across the crest
A close up shot of a beautiful Golden Orb Spider. The smaller male is just above her on the web.
One of the Wild Dogs slips down to the waters edge to get a drink.
Looking back over his shoulder, this amazing Flapped-neck chameleon keeps an eye on the camera.
Eclectic group, Nick. Especially enjoyed the bateleur, golden orb spider and the chameleons.
Thank you, Willa! Im glad you appreciate the smaller creatures in the collection.
Afternoon LGR. I hope it won’t be long now before the nearly 11 yr old Ximungwe female’s densite and number of new cubs in her fifth litter is soon found and confirmed. As she is lactating so heavily, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has got more than 1 cub in her litter. She could easily have 2 or a rare litter of altogether in total. There’s the possibility that she’ll either lead you to her densite one day, you might stumble upon her nursing her cubs or you might see her walking down the road towards or away from you with her cubs in tow.
As we know she’s raised two handsome single young males from her first and second litters successively and successfully, however her third and fourth litters weren’t as successful at all sadly. I hope she’ll be be more lucky this time.
We know that she will be eleven years old in three months time, but besides that, I hope she’ll be able to fall pregnant and produce a few more litters of cubs in the next six or so years, and get to raise as many cubs as she possibly can do.
I know I’ve mentioned her before, but I still can’t help thinking and wondering where and how her aging elderly mum, the famous and much loved Mashaba female is doing and faring for herself. It has been quite a long time now since she was last seen and viewed worryingly, as she is a very special leopard who’s nearing the end of her rather long lifetime.
I’ve been reading about the Mashaba female at the bottom of the page talking about her daughter, the Ximungwe female, and it said that she has produced at least 12 consecutive litters in a row, totalling more than 30 cubs altogether. I know we know about the Nkoveni and Ximungwe females, but I’d love to know how many other now adult male and female offspring she’s given birth to and raised in total successfully. It’ll be so very interesting indeed to know who they are and if they’re still alive or not. It really sounds like she’s got a very large family tree in her wake. And I also think it is fair to say that she was a prolific breeder, with the big number of cubs she has given birth to in total, one litter after another. I hope she’s still alive and well somewhere there to this very day.
It might be a couple of days early to say yet, but just out of interest, has the densite of the Tsalala lioness been seen and found as well as the exact number of cubs been confirmed there yet at all? I hope her litter is at least 3 or 4 strong as it will be such a very great boost for her birth pride to continue it’s existence and dynasty well into the far distant future.
For example, if she’s got four cubs, that turn out to be two boys and two girls, it will be so good to see and watch her feed, nurse and protect them as well as going on lots of hunting excursions a lot of the time. I’m not suggesting that she will do, but I’d like to think that she’ll be a lot more successful and lucky in raising her entire litter to very hard independence and even harder adulthood.
I’m sure she will be a very good, caring, patient, devoted and protective mother to her new unseen and vulnerable cubs when and once she has revealed them there at long last. Her cubs can’t be more than about two weeks old or so, so it’ll be about another three weeks or so before she finally shows of her pride and joy, her new cubs in the end eventually. I hope the fathers will help protect them.
I’m hoping that she’ll feature yet again in this coming Sunday’s virtual safari video clip, as the hunt for her densite continues until the day arrives when they have been found and the exact number of cubs in her new brood is confirmed.
Hope to hear from you shortly.
Robert 13.2.26
Hi Nick
Hope you guys are doing well. My grandson is still living off the bush baby video! With respect to the Kambula coalition there used to be four did there not? What happened to the fourth? And what about their sister?
Hello Rich. Yes, One of the four Kambula males sadly suffered Anthrax which killed him in the north of Sabi Sands.
Hi Nick…. super! I lost myself into the wonderful eyes of the Ximungwe female (hey this time must be the one!) . Aren’t the Kambula lions related to the Birmingham? Wonderful. The male passing by is such a view… I also pick up the orb spider couple, great photo! And the buffalo facing the hippo. The Bateleur eagle has always been one of my favourite after seen them in a mating ritual fly. The champion, giraffe, elephant… but yes, I think that I go for the big cats choosing as the overall winner the orb spiders …
Fantastic photos, Nick. I particularly like the ones of the Kambula males, who look magnificent. But I’m confused…..surely the 3 of them can’t be from the Kambula pride, fathered by the Ndzhenga males? – that would make them only 4 years old.
Also has anyone seen Ximungwe’s cub(s) at all yet?
Hi Suzanne, The Kambula Males are the coalition born in 2018/19 sired by the Birmingham Males.
And no, the Ximungwe females den has not been discovered yet.
I love all your photos Nick.
The colors of the Bataleur Eagle’s feathers are so beautiful, the two photos of the Chameleon are really cute.
Thank you, Christa!
The very first photo of the Lion King is spectacular!!!
Its also my favourite!
Stunning images this week, Nick. I think I have to say that the Bataleur is my favorite, although it’s hard not to call the shots of the Kambula male and the Ximungwe female favs!
Hi Nick, with so many lion prides know on Londolozi it is good to see each pride individually. Loved your image of the buffalo cows wallowing in the water and the buffalos staring the at the hippo. Hippo does not seem to be too happy sharing his dam with them. The Orb spider female is much larger than the male. Are they poisonous at all. Beautiful image of the one Kambula male.
Thanks for your fabulous images Nick, really special because of the summer lighting you captured in each one. From your gallery I do have a few favorites: just because I don’t see one often, your Bateleur eagle, then the magnificent Kambula male that looks just like his father, the Golden Orb spider duo, your Flap-neck chameleon, and the buffalo with the hippo. However your Giraffe portrait gets a special mention because I love the lighting.
Thanks very much, Denise!