As April gives way to May, there’s a subtle but unmistakable shift settling over the reserve. The early mornings carry a cooler edge now, and the last light of day fades a little quicker, leaving behind that crispness that hints at the winter months ahead. Yet despite this seasonal turn, the landscape remains strikingly green.
Following an extraordinary amount of rain this season, with totals climbing beyond 1000mm which is nearly double the annual average. Water lingers in places where it so often disappears by now. The last time Londolozi had this much rainfall in a season was 40 years ago.
Out in the bush, the week has delivered its usual variety, with many of the familiar faces continuing to feature prominently. Big cats, as always, have stolen much of the attention. To witness both a lioness and a leopard moving their tiny cubs was something truly special.
It’s encounters like these that serve as a reminder of just how rewarding time spent behind the camera can be. Photography, in many ways, allows us to hold onto these fleeting moments just a little longer, preserving the stories that unfold in this ever-changing wilderness.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
The Nkuhuma Breakaway Lioness lifts her head from the tall grasses, fixing her eyes on a herd of wildebeest passing by along the thicket line below.
What a pleasant surprise it was to see the Nottens Male again as he wandered confidently through the southeastern parts of the reserve.
Born 2021, mirrors father Nweti's presence. Young force showing remarkable confidence while navigating nomadic phase in southern territories
We were so lucky to have rounded a corner and had this fleeting glimpse of one of the Kambula Lionesses carrying one of her 5-week-old cubs from her latest litter along the Maxabene riverbed.
One of the most incredible leopard sightings I was fortunate enough to witness as the Xinkhova Female moved one of her tiny cubs from one den to another.
Born 2021, daughter of Nkoveni. Young dynamo actively claiming territory near camps, showing promise as next generation's dominant female.
A Woolly-necked Stork perches on a large fallen tree alongside the banks of Totowa dam, right next to us, during our afternoon sundowner stop.
The Nkoveni Female rests atop a fallen marula, fixing her gaze on a herd of nearby impala.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
A portrait of the dark-maned Gijima Male as he lifts his head to listen to the distant roar of lions far away in the south-western parts of the reserve.
The Shingi Male moves through a dense bushwillow thicket in the afternoon twilight. There was a herd of impala a few hundred metres away that he was slowly making his way in the direction of.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
Upon us arriving, much like this curious young hyena cub, one by one, about 6 of them emerged from their den to come and investigate us.
The two Gijima Males walk down a dirt track together on a territorial patrol.
After a missed attempt at a flock of Arrow-marked Bablers, this Wahlberg’s eagle rests on a small dead stump.
The Ximungwe Female Leopard drinks at a small pool after sunset before embarking on a territorial patrol.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
The Nottens Male pauses mid-drink after hearing the distant alarm calls of a herd of impala, which would indicate the presence of another predator.
A photograph that shows the incredible herd protectiveness of elephants of the newest member in their family.
A classic autumn sunrise scene from one of the crests in southeastern Londolozi.
One of the youngest members of the Msuthlu Pride climbs up a fallen marula tree to gain a better view of her surroundings while the rest of the pride rests in the late morning shade.
The Nkoveni Female snarls at a small flock of Crested Francolin as their persistent alarm calls attempt to give away her presence to the nearby herd of impala she was stalking.
A mother elephant sticks close by her small calf as she leads it safely through the main channel of the Sand River.
A flock of vultures roost on a dead knob-thorn tree in the late afternoon.
A large buffalo bull, along with a few other members of the herd, take full advantage of cooling off in a large waterhole on a very warm afternoon.
The Three Rivers Female pauses to listen to the nearby rasps of the Nkoveni Female who was on a territorial patrol in the area.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
A female wild dog, from a pack of 6 individuals, moments before she lay down and rested after a long morning of hunting without much success.
The Nkoveni Female glances back into the beautiful early morning light as the sun had just crested the horizon.
Thanks Matt. Loads of beautiful pics. My favourite is the very first one. The intensity on the face of the Nkuhuma Breakaway Lioness is amazing. Well done.
Thanks Matt, a brilliant selection of mainly predator photographs, especially leopards. However, that moody sunrise, what a picture! I also thought the agitated Nkoveni female was priceless.
Hi LGR. Thank you as always for putting up another new fascinating TWIP for me to see and read from there. It is so good to know that the 2 adult lionesses of the Kambula pride who are now known to have given birth to new cubs sired by the 2 large Gajima males together. In the photo of the Kambula lioness with a cub in her gentle jaws, well underneath it, did you say she’s got 5 cubs of 1 week old in terms of age at all? But as cute as they all are, there aren’t many lionesses that I know that have given birth to 5 cubs in all in one litter. But if the lioness in the photo with a tiny cub firmly clasped in her jaws has got 5 cubs in her brood, then do you know how many cubs the other lioness has got in her own litter?
But unless you’re lucky enough to stumble upon one or both of the densites, it might be a while before you get to see both brand new litters of the two adult lionesses altogether over there. But if one lioness has five cubs and the other one could possibly have upto four, then they will have at least eight or nine new cubs to raise between them jointly.
It is so very exciting to know that they’ve both given birth to their own new cubs each individually. I can’t wait to see the first clear and well taken photos of the cubs and mother’s together once the two new mothers decide when the cubs are old enough to come out of hiding in the safety of their densites eventually in the next couple of weeks or so soon one day.
Have the new 2 – 4 month old cubs of the Ximungwe female leopard been sexed yet at all, or is it still a little bit to early to tell just yet? Though I don’t know what they are myself yet, but they’re either 2 boys, 2 girls or one of each. I hope she is still continuing to feed and raise them well, as well as having them both grow in terms of size and confidence.
I hope it won’t be long now before you are lucky enough to get another sighting or view of them together, with the two cute and energetic cubs playing with each other and possibly jumping on their sleeping mother who might be trying to have a nice little snooze or sleep, but she won’t get any peace and quiet.
Let’s all hope that she is and will be a lot more successful and lucky in raising her two new current cubs all the way to very hard independence successfully without loosing them or suffering any untimely casualties at the claws and jaws of either other leopards or lions and hyenas who would take pleasure in killing them both.
We know the 10yr old Three Rivers female has got 2 brand new tiny cubs of her own to feed and raise as well, but whereabouts there is she denning them? I’m guessing this is her third new litter that we all know of now. Isn’t it? I hope she’ll be able to mate and produce another couple of litters in the next few years to come and go before she’s totally infertile. It will be lovely to see her try and raise a good few more cubs before her time is up eventually. She has been very successful in raising a son and a daughter from her first and second litters respectively to hard independence. So it will be interesting to see what and how her two brand new cubs will do.
I known her two tiny cubs will keep her on her feet and on the move in search of food constantly. I’m sure she knows that, but probably not something she’s looking forward to doing when she’s taking a nice little nap and a break from them.
It might well be a little bit to early to tell what gender her two tiny cubs are just yet, but I expect it’ll be easier to tell what they are when they’re about a couple of months old, which will be a while away yet. They’ll be about six weeks old now.
Do you know if your neighbours at Singita have seen and viewed the brand new tiny cubs of the Tsalala lioness there yet at all? I’m just interested to know how many cubs she’s got in her third litter altogether in total so far. I’m always hoping that she’ll bring them all onto your land there very soon one day, so that you can view them all and put up a blog about them and also view them for long enough to ensure they feature in the next virtual safari video clip.
As we know the young Nkuhuma breakaway lioness was seen mating with the 2 Gajima males a couple of months ago, well as she was the first photo I saw in this week’s TWIP this morning, do you know how her tummy was looking there at all, whilst watching a herd of wildebeest in the distance? It will be great if she to is also conceiving her own very first litter of cubs as well. I hope she’ll be very successful in raising them well. I’m hoping that you’ll soon be able to tell me.
Hope to hear from you shortly.
Robert 1.5.26
Lots of great photos! My favorites are the water buffalo and the mother elephant with baby.
I love the colors, movement, and light in the buffalo picture. The elephant photo gives a nice sense of scale, story and beauty. Thanks for posting Matt!
Great photos, Matt!
I like that snarl of the Nkoveni Female towards those Francolins who gave her away.
And, of course, the Xinkhova Female carrying her tiny cub was a once in a lifetime experience.
All your photos are wonderful, though.
Oh Matt, they’re all gorgeous photos – but for me, my favourite by a mile is Xinkhova with her tiny cub. Such a rare and special sighting, and the cub is cute beyond words.
Hi Matt! As usual, your pictures are a real Gallery! Portraits… to start with, the Nkuhuma Breakaway lioness! She’s a beauty… is she still together with the gorgeous Styx male? Then the Nottens male, arguably one of the beat male ever. He’s exquisite. I miss the Nweti male, he offered such a view. Then cubs! The Kambula lioness and the Xinkova female at her first try. The stok offered a great view the Nkoveni Female just take your breath away… after a pause, we go on to the superb Gjima male and the his companion, then in contrast with the young and Shingi male full of willing to learn… the whalbarg eagle, the Ximungwe female… a spectacular sunset, the elephants, the Nkoveni Female again snarling against the francolins… the imposing male buffalo crossing the water, the Three Rivers female, exquisite in a mosaic of spots and rosettes, then again a wonderful Nkoveni Female blessed by the sun shades to close a poetic series of masterpieces… great work Matt!
WOW! What a FANTASTIC week Matt! One great shot after another! Hands down winner tho is the Xinkhova Female carrying her cub! But also LOVE the tiny surrounded ellie and the hyena cubs! Thank you for sharing all these beautiful creatures.
Matt…
Your photos are always beautiful, but I must say this weeks lighting and the still lush green backgrounds are just stunning! All of the subjects look vibrant and healthy …
Thank for another get week of moments to remember
As far as picking a favorite… I just couldn’t… I love them all !
Hi Matt, all your images are stunning and it is hard to choose just one image. I would definitely say the Xinkhova female with her tiny cub in her mouth is my favorite. The lioness with her tiny cub is my second choice and then the Nkoveni female is my third choice. Leopards are my favorites but all wild animals are beautiful and have a special place in the bush.
Matt, your big cat photos are amazing, especially those that are carrying their tiny cubs. Other favorites include your lovely sunrise, the elephants that are surrounding the tiny calf, the Gijima brothers and I’m singling out your images of the Nottens male, one of my favorites to see in the SabiSand area. Having just left the area a week ago, I was there when Chris announced that the rainfall had exceeded the 1000mm mark – I’ve never seen so much water in the area in the last several years I’ve been visiting the reserve.
Matt, Thanks for a fabulous set of images and a great update! We’re especially liked the one of Nkoveni in the golden hour light!
Thanks for that amazing collection of pics, all have an special intense. So many cute cubs. Fantastic leopard selection. Only WOW
Superb photos – as usual . Obviously the wonderful cubs shots, but also the buffalo in the water.