As we move deeper into May, winter is definitely showing its teeth. The mornings have turned properly cold, with a crispness to the air that signals the season has well and truly shifted. What continues to surprise me, though, is just how green the bush remains. Following one of the wettest seasons in recent memory, this is the greenest and thickest I have ever seen Londolozi at this time of year, and we’re nearly in June.
On the leopard front, the Ximungwe Female is showing herself more and more, but her cub continues to remain elusive in the thick vegetation. Patience will be rewarded as winter opens the bush up. The Shingi Male is ranging further afield with every passing week, his confidence visibly growing. The Nkoveni Female is looking very pregnant, and we’re crossing fingers that she gives birth soon. The Three Rivers Female, meanwhile, continues to hold her territory firmly in the southeast.
Lions have been a real highlight. The Mhangeni Pride’s cubs are tiny but bursting with personality, while the Msuthlu Pride remains the one we are most accustomed to, spending almost all their time on Londolozi. A spectacular afternoon with them overlooking the Sand River was a definite standout. The Gijima Males, though a little beaten up, continue to have a stronghold in the southeast.
With water still abundant across the reserve, the elephants are in their element. Some of the most content herds I’ve spent time with at this time of year. The bird life, too, has been something special, and going into winter, it’s honestly the best I can remember.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
Once finished feeding, the Ximungwe Female gives us one last stare before heading into the drainage to find her cub.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
A African Barred Owlet perches in the open at the edge of a thicket, scanning for any hunting opportunity.
One of my favourite butterflies, a Spotted Joker, landed on our vehicle just long enough for me to capture it.
A Mhangeni lioness walks through an open clearing while a herd of wildebeest watch her closely.
The Nkoveni Female watches as a few hyena circle the base of the tree where her kill is hoisted.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
A curious slender mongoose watches our vehicle as we take a few quick photos.
A Gijima Male yawns as the sun rises behind him.
The Three Rivers Female rests in the Maxebene after a long day of hunting.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
Two young elephant calves quenching their thirst.
A leopard tortoise makes its way through a welcome wallow on a hot day.
One of the Msuthlu young males sits on the banks of the Sand River.
A hyena cub comes to investigate our vehicle at the den.
One of the Mhangeni lionesses not entirely enjoying the presence of her cubs as she tries to rest.
Shortly after, a tender moment is shared between them.
The Tinxiya Female notices a breeding herd of elephants approaching as she rests in a marula.
A confident and curious young leopard, that is nearing independence after a remarkable start to life alongside her resilient mother.
A dwarf mongoose pup getting up close and personal with one of its parents.
The Shingi Male, growing at a rapid rate. He’s soon going to be a force to be reckoned with.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
An African Green Pigeon. Notoriously shy, they are hard birds to photograph.
The Ximungwe Female lifts her tail as a rattling cisticola alarms at her.
Hi LGR. As the now 11yr old Ximungwe female leopard has done such a very good job of getting both of her 2 cubs to 4 months old, do you know if she has still got them both there at all? I know it did say her cub in the info above the pictures, but I would like to think she’s got both of them still with her. She is such a very good mother to all of the cubs she’s given birth to and raised successfully as well as the ones she has lost unfortunately in the past. Hasn’t she? Upon working it out, she’s had a total of 7 cubs in her 5 litters that we all know of.
I don’t know whereabouts there she is denning the two cubs currently, but in my mind, I’m hoping that she’ll raise one or both of them to independence, if she can beat and defy the odds stacked up right against her. She’s so very tentative.
I know she wouldn’t torment lions and wild dogs, but if danger in the form of other leopards or a hyena threatened her cubs, I’m sure she wouldn’t leave them unguarded, as I’d think she’d stand her ground or fight and chase them off.
But that sort of unwanted danger was just making a bee line for her cubs, then I bet she wouldn’t waste time running after the danger like mad, and put herself in front of her cubs to protect them. I don’t know what you think, but do you think she would and might do that? Let’s keep our fingers crossed for her that she will raise both of them successfully.
I’m please and absolutely delighted to read and know that the nearly 14 year old Nkoveni female is looking very heavily pregnant with her sixth and final litter of cubs there as well so far. I know we don’t know how many cubs she’ll have yet, but if we were to guess, then what would your estimate be? I’m only guessing maybe 2 or another litter of 3. I know she mated with the massive jumbo sized Maxim’s male a couple of months ago, so I’d think it’ll be another week or 2 before she gives birth eventually.
Despite the fact that no one knows how many cubs she’ll have and give birth to in her sixth and final litter at all, I’m sure everyone of her fans can’t wait to see them and their mother’s swollen teats over there very soon one day eventually.
She so is one of the most successful and highly experienced mother leopards that resides on your property. As she’s so very heavily pregnant with her last ever litter there, it is so very exciting indeed. I can’t wait to see them in updates myself.
I’ve just lost count of how many cubs she has given birth to altogether in total in 5 litters she’s had so far, and though you will know far better than me, but I’m also guessing that she’s had at least 10 or 12 cubs in total so far there. Hasn’t she? I bet you’ve got and keep a record of how many cubs she has had throughout her long lifetime. Don’t you? Especially as you live and work there for a living as well. I hope you’ll soon be putting out a very long, well typed up and interesting blog on the Nkoveni female leopard and her long lifetime as well as her current and exciting pregnancy. Wouldn’t you?
And though the 10yr old Three Rivers female isn’t quite as experienced and has not given birth to and raised as many cubs successfully and prolifically as some of the other older female leopards have done in the past, but that doesn’t mean to say that she isn’t a very good and devotedly protective mother to the cubs she given birth to and raised ever so very successfully as well as the ones she’s also lost there in the past as well.
It is also great to know that she’s got two very tiny cubs of about six to eight weeks old, even though there’s been very little view and sightings of them as of late.
I’m not suggesting or saying she will do, but I do hope that she’ll raise them both all the way to independence as well. It’ll be the first intact litter if she does do so.
I know she had a bit of a uncertain and rocky start in life when she was orphaned exactly 9 long years ago today, when her mother, the much loved and much missed Kikilezi female was sadly killed by the 2 Southern Avoca male lions, leaving the Three Rivers female and her late twin brother motherless and very vulnerable indeed. Let’s also keep our fingers crossed for her as well.
Hope to hear from you shortly.
Robert 22.5.26
Very impressive photo selection, thanks Patrick.
Great photos Patrick!
Stunning big cat photography , but my favourite leopard is the leopard tortoise
WOW! All such spectacular vivid shots this week Patrick! Bravo!!! Especially the first one of the Ximungwe female! That one needs to be framed on the wall! Stunning!
Fantastic collection of photos this week Patrick, especially your big cats, but I was especially impressed by your image of the Green Pigeon.
Absolutely the best! I was so impressed when looking at all pictures. Butterflies are a favourite subject to take pictures of, and the one you got is beyond words. All birds and leopards are fantastic; the Ximungwe female and the Three Rivers female are regal, the Nkoveni Female a queen of the bush (I am so glad she keeps her steady look , I remember when she watched at lions roundabout her tree… visibly scared and alert. And, after the Butterfly, the lion cub with its mother. Absolutely perfect pictures, and so much tender! The Shingi male appearance is spectacular. Leopards are always the most wondrous characters .
Hi Patrick, such stunning photo’s this week thank you. Loved all the leopard photo’s 🐆 especially the Shingy male resting in a tree. He is such a stunning leopard and I am sure he is going to be huge like his dad. Glad to hear Nkoveni is pregnant again, such a perfect mother raising so many cubs. Loved the leopard tortoise walking through the water, you don’t often get to view that.
Wonderful photos, Patrick. So many beautiful impressions of life in the bush.
In all the years I have been following the Londolozi Blog, these are THE BEST pictures I have ever seen! Kudos Patrick!
Oh my days, favourites…. how to choose this week. The spotted joker, leopard tortoise, owlet, slender mongoose and hyena cub really stand out for me this week. What I love about mongooses is the perpetual look of surprise. Even the green pigeon is a stunning photo. I don’t know what it is, but I love the smaller lives of the bush. Without them I don’t think the bigger ones wouldn’t be around.
The first photo is absolutely stunning!
Dear Patrick, thanks for that exceptional amazing TWIP. Love theNkoveni pic, but there are so many other cute pics.