This week in pictures delivers a powerful mix of movement, tension, and landscapes. The pack of two wild dogs ranged widely, their restless energy leading them to encounter elephants, hunt an impala lamb and rest on the warm airstrip. We have witnessed elephants wading across swollen rivers as well as bird action, adding a flash of colour and intrigue.
While the dominant Maxim’s Male Leopard scent-marked through his large territory, another leopard was seen in a tree with a hoisted carcass, this time, the Xinkhova Female. On countless occasions, she had returned to an area near Tree Camp, where we thought she might have a den site, but now we know she has moved her cubs elsewhere.
The lion action was as follows: The Gijima Males and Ntsevu lionesses hinted at shifting dynamics as we witnessed them patrolling near the northern section of the Sand River. Potentially indicating that pride is ready to have another litter of cubs. And the Dark-maned Gijima Male was seen mating with the Nkuhuma Breakaway Female; this is intriguing news. This Coalition shows no signs of moving away.
The ever-charming male cheetah reminded us of life on the edge. All of the following imagery unfolded against breathtaking backdrops, where changing light and open spaces elevated each moment into something unforgettable. The days are getting shorter, and the shadows are lingering as we slip closer to the golden hues of autumn.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy the Week in Pictures!
The mist rolling out of the Sand River valley at dawn can take your breath away.
The Nstevu lioness stands side by side with the Blonde-maned Gijima Male.
This was a special moment as the clouds burst with a sunbeam, highlighting a giraffe in the open landscape.
An unlikely standoff between the largest and one of the rarest mammals at Londolozi.
I had a rare chance to get this snap of a stunning Glossy Ibis fishing in the shallows.
A male cheetah peeks his head out of a thick bush where he had stashed an impala kill late in the afternoon. This is an unusual terrain for this type of predator as they prefer chasing their prey down in open spaces.
The Xinkhova Female Leopard elegantly jumps down the limbs of a tree at dawn. She had killed and hoisted an impala in the upper canopy, and we snapped her leaving before the sunrise.
Born 2021, daughter of Nkoveni. Young dynamo actively claiming territory near camps, showing promise as next generation's dominant female.
A stunning Malachite Kingfisher takes flight over the Sand River with a light ‘catch’ its beak.
A spectacular scene of a full moon and some elephants
The striking Maxim’s Male striding through the summer grasslands.
Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.
There’s nothing quite as captivating as watching a big male leopard walk past your vehicle and then scent-mark on a bush near the road. The smell of buttered popcorn then drifts in the air around you.
An African wild dog, very sure of itself, rests briefly in the wide open spaces of the Londolozi Airstrip. This always creates an interesting and ‘contrasting’ wildlife photograph.
This shot is one of my favourites as I had little time to prepare for the quick-moving family of elephants crossing the flowing Sand River.
And then some pictures are just lucky… a Praying Mantis becomes lunch for a quick-thinking Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill.
The same sighting as Sean’s from last week, the charming Male Cheetah stares out over the open grasslands of Londolozi in all his glory.
A rare sighting of a Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird floating up to feed on the berries of a tree.
The Dark-maned Gijima Male pulls an amusing face while courting a lioness nearby; this is his Flehmen Grimace, detecting the hormone content of the female’s urine.
And last but not least, A beautiful scene taking in the wonder of this magical place. A herd of impala graze nearby and the golden sunset marks the end of another magical day on Safari
Morning LGR. The TWIPs are as interesting as always, so thank you so much for putting them up each passing week. It is so very interesting and good to know that the dark maned Gajima male of the 2 brothers has been seen mating with the Nkuhuma breakaway lioness there for the last week or so. I don’t think he’s git any intention of leaving her side or letting her go, until he’s satisfied that he has done enough procreating with her to hopefully ensure that she’ll fall so heavily pregnant and give her 110 days/3 1/2 months to conceive her own very first litter of cubs and give birth to them. Like the much loved Tsalala lioness, who’s cubs we’ve yet to see but will hopefully see them very soon one day, she’ll have a uphill battle to raise her cubs alone and successfully without loosing them to other lions and rival predators whilst they’re still very young in age and extremely vulnerable. At roughly 4 years old now, she’s certainly at the right age to start mating as she’s clearly keen to become a first time mother. I hope their many matings will be and are successful in resulting in cubs in 110 days/3 1/2 long months time. I’m so sure it won’t be difficult for you to identify as and when she’s very heavily pregnant for the first time.
Though she wasn’t in this week’s TWIP, I, like you, still can’t wait to see the Tsalala lioness’s third new litter of cubs there. It might well be difficult to know how many cubs she’s got when they haven’t been seen yet at all, but all we can only do is just guess how many cubs she possibly might well have altogether in total.
If she is just able to and can defy and beat the odds stacked up right against her, then it will be nice to see her rebuild and raise the cubs to independence and hard adulthood. I’m sure she will be a very good and devoted mother, too. If she’s got a litter of four, then it’ll be nice if she’ll have two boys and two girls in it.
I know she is a firm favourite of everyone who’s known her for all of her life ever since she was a tiny cub herself. I know she’s had two unsuccessful litters of cubs now already, so let’s hope she’ll be more successful this time round. As she’s the only lioness to rebuild her pride back up, I’d like to think that she’s got at least three or four cubs altogether in total. I hope she’s got some girls there.
As she looked so heavily pregnant a few weeks ago, it wouldn’t be surprising if she’s got a litter of that size. But whilst we will have to wait patiently, I can’t wait to see the very first photos of them as well as hopefully seeing them with their mum in many virtual safari video clips on most of many Sundays in a row. I hope she’ll raise her entire new litter all the way to independence and even harder adulthood to rebuild her pride.
But on the whole, I bet the 2 big Gajima males will feel very pleased with themselves as soon as they get to see and meet their newest litter of many cubs when and once the Nkuhuma breakaway lioness has given birth to her own very first litter of cubs there, and introduced them to their 2 powerful and mighty fathers once their old enough to come out of hiding at their densite.
Though there weren’t as many leopard photos as there would be normally, the TWIP was still as interesting to see and read as they always are usually. I hope to see and read more good and exciting news on the lion and leopard front in the weeks and months ahead to come & go.
Hope to hear from you shortly.
Robert 10.4.26
Super photos as always . I wish I had taken the cheetah photo
Thanks Ian!
I particularly loved your collection of landscapes this week. Nick. The birds were lovely, too—especially the action shots.
Thanks for noticing the added images of the Landscapes!
What a selection Nick. I hesitate to pick a favourite but will go with the rolling mist over the sand river. Thanks for such a fantastic selection of which i’ve added almost all to my pictures.
Thanks You, Eric!
Wow Nick, how many astonishing pictures and landscapes! I was struck by the elephant mum and her young one walking under the moon. It seems deep in meaning and a great shot, also the black and white one. Big cats are stunning, the male cheetah as always, in the grass you can see how large his chest is, and on the rock in the vastly world…. the Xinkova female pictures are simply perfect, fantastic. Also the Maxim male very imposing. The Gijma male and with the Ntsevu lioness, the dark-maned Gjima male roaring looks the epitome of the wilderness. The Malachite Kingfisher is definitely my favourite among birds this week and the picture is one of the best I’ve seen. Given that lions turn away and disperse when an elephant passes by, how can a wild dog act like that? Simply annoying the elephant! I can’t believe their attitude. Great wip Nick!
Thanks Francesca!
Another week, and another terrific collection of photos. Each one is special but I do have a few favorites beginning with that lucky shot of the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill fielding his Praying Mantis meal – what an amazing capture Nick! Following on my next favorites are the images of the Cheetah, the two Elephants with the full moon in the sky, the mist over the Sand River, the giraffe highlighted by the sunbeam and Xinkhova descending the tree, her eye beautifully illuminated by the light. Just thinking….. seven more sleeps – so excited!
Thanks for the comment Denise! You must be getting very excited!
Oh, my! So many wonderful photos. The Gijima male exhibiting the Flehman grimace is tops.
Great week in pictures,Nick.
I especially love the black and white of the elephants in the river, the hornbill having his snack and the cheetah standing above this stunning landscape.
However, having said that,all the others are as beautiful
Dear Nick, wonderful pics of the birds.
Hi Nick, this week is once again jam packed with stunning images. My favorite would be the Maxim’s male leopard and secondly Xinkhova female leopard 🐆. Your birds in flight are stunning and I know that is not easy taking photo’s of birds in flight. The male Cheetah also stunning image.
Hello Nick,
Beautiful pictures! The photo with the full moon and the elephants was fantastic!
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Ann, the elephants posing in front of the full moon is certainly a lucky picture!
The cheetah looking out over his terrain and the ellies crossing the river are my faves this week 🙂
Thanks Anita! The elephants crossing the river is my fav too.