Here we are again. Another week down and another week of action packed sightings across the reserve. The days are noticeably getting longer now as we gradually move away from mid-winter. However, the sharp chill in the air still lingers late into the mornings, reminding us that we are still in the cold, dry season. With that, the low angled sunlight blankets the land and its creatures in a that beautiful golden glow at dawn and dusk, allowing us to capitalise on some fantastic photographic opportunities. After unprecedented rainfall earlier in the year, the vegetation is only now starting to fade to that greyish brown we usually associate with winter. This means the land is in great condition for this time of year and well prepared for the looming rumours of a potential drought in coming seasons due to the brewing El Nino.
On a more personal level, I have recently got myself a new lens; one with a lot more reach than I am used to and have really enjoyed getting closer to the subjects and creating tighter frames than what I’ve done in the past. Thankfully, I have been spoilt with opportunities to test the lens with plenty of diversity, great light and amazing scenery over the last while.
While a few question marks are starting to rise around the well-being of the white zebra, I managed to get two great views of this rare creature a couple of weeks ago which I’ve included in this weeks gallery. Leopards have proved to be challenging to find over the last while (at least by our skewed standards!) but a great track and find of the Ximungwe Female and sightings of the Shingi Male and Nkoveni Female – all three being draped in the branches of a tree – certainly didn’t disappoint. With the Nkoveni, Ngungwe and likely the Xinzele Female having recently given birth, our leopard cub viewing has the potential to get really good quite soon. What difficulties the leopards gave us, the lions definitely weren’t lacking. A long awaited view of the Ndzenga Males was a highlight for me while the Gijima Males were also present nearly everyday.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
A young elephant calf navigates its way through the herd while keeping an eye on us at a distance. Elephants at this age are innately curious but seldom wonder too far from their mother.
A Wood Sandpiper wades its way through a shallow pan, searching for insects and small molluscs to feed on. The overcast conditions and flat water created a great opportunity for more of a high key image.
Tracker, Life Sibuyi pulled off an incredible find late one afternoon after spotting the Ximungwe Female’s kill hoisted in a Tamboti tree. We returned at sunrise the following morning with the hopes of getting a view of her 7 month old cub. While sitting and waiting for the cub to emerge, the rising sun found the perfect gap through the branches, onto the leopards face. Unfortunately we never got a view of the youngster who is still rather unrelaxed around the land rovers.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
The White Zebra foal was growing rapidly and still defying the odds of survival – at least we hope. Sightings of this individual have been quiet over the last little while. Following on from Sean’s Blog yesterday, if anyone has any news on her, please let us know.
The Shingi Male rests in the branches of a Boerbean tree while Megan Wade and her guests view him from beneath.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
A welcomed sighting of the two Ndzenga Males one morning was an unexpected surprise for us. Since the arrival of the Gijima Males in the south, the Ndzenga coalition have shifted their territory north, largely beyond Londolozi’s traversing area. This was my first time seeing them in months, right up on our northern boundary, and they are looking stronger than ever.
A banded mongoose pauses for second before following the rest of its group into the riverbed thickets.
The Nkoveni Female keeps a beady eye on a pair of hyenas that were lurking below the bushwillow in which she had her impala carcass stashed away. This carcass was hoisted low to the ground, in a small tree which likely indicated that she was forced up there by the hyenas at short notice.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
A Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, the largest owl in the region, gazes down at us between mouthfuls of the spurfowl it had recently caught. These owls are ferocious predators, often hunting other bird species.
A beautiful elephant bull, backlit by the setting sun.
A large hippo on full display is always an impressive sight! Despite the intimidating tusks, these large mammals feed predominantly on grass. The flat molars at the back of the mouth complement this diet while the tusks are largely for protection and intra-specific competition.
The same elephant bull from the backlit photo above. We spent nearly an hour following him over the open crests of the north. His impressive size along with the soft, warm winter light made for some great photographic opportunities.
A close up look at the lower canines of the dark maned Gijima male. These teeth can reach around 3 inches long (excluding the part in the gum) and are backed up with a bite force of around 800 psi! A real weapon of the natural world.
Two young hippos engage in a playful tussle. As with most young animals, wrestling around like this allows them to build coordination, strength and skills needed for later in life.
A tender nudge of affection from the mother of the white zebra to her foal.
As mentioned in last weeks TWIP, a female cheetah has kept us quite entertained recently. We managed to find her shortly after she’d caught a young impala.
An egret keeps a watch over one of the waterholes, perfectly framed by the twisting branches of a dead leadwood tree.
Two giraffes carefully cross the Sand River. This is no easy task for them, as the rocks in this section can be incredibly slippery under the shallow water, and a fall would likely prove to be fatal for them. Fortunately, they crossed safely, creating a beautiful vista for us to enjoy from upstream.
The Wood Sandpiper and Verreaux’s Eagle Owl pix are stand-outs.
Chris: That new lens is special. It’s exciting to hear about the majestic Ndzenga brothers. It was a treat to spend a lot of time with them two years ago. I hope they stick around for my next visit in a few weeks. TY for sharing.
Very nice collection Chris.
Thank you sharing again the white zebra. Was so saddened to read Sean’s blog.. will continue to hope she will be seen again. Really loved the photo of the V Eagle Owl and especially the Nkoveni female. Beautifully composed
Can’t wait to see more from your new lens. It’s clearly working out very well!!
Amazing photos Chris! I adore the baby elephant one, and the close up of the White Zebra foal (I hope she is still somewhere hiding and alive). Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Chris, haven’t seen a blog by you in ages! Lots of gorgeous images to choose from….but while I’m always a sucker for the cats (I don’t suppose that female cheetah is the Makothini?) my favourite is the giraffes in the Sand River, absolutely beautiful.
Terrific TWIP Chris!! Bravo!
Hi Chris, each picture takes its time to be looked at. After stopping on every one, I was struck by the perfection of the Sandpiper and the water surface, then I saw the cheetah female… it stopped my breath for a second. Incredible! You got it. The all youngsters, the Gjima male’s teeth, hippos fighting and so on..
Really , a great gallery. But the cheetah is my choice this week. Bravo
Dear Chris big shots. so amazing spot of the Ximungwe- the light, wow.
Great WIP! The best is the white zebra getting love from mom. How old is the foal now do you guess? Sure hope we see (her?) again soon to know they are ok 🙁 Also love the baby ellie and the glowing sunrise close up of the Ximungwe Female is gorgeous!
That photo from the back of the Ximungwe female is just beautiful. The light is stunning as the position from behind like that is quite unique.
Hi Chris, your images are stunning, each one has it’s own merit. Your new lens is definitely working for you. Ximungwe female with the back light on her is my favorite this week. Secondly would be Nkoveni female in the tree by her kill. The little elephant calf is to precious. So hoping someone will see the little white Zebra on Londolozi ground. You guys take such stunning photos and each week it is hard to choose a favorite as they are all beautiful.
Thanks for a wonderful TWIP Chris. It seems each photo was shot with purpose, especially whilst using your new lens. A few of my favorites include your close-up of Ximungwe, the Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, the Hippos sparring, the Cheetah portrait, and the poignant capture of the albino Zebra foal with her mother. I am sure everyone is hopeful that this foal is still a member of her herd and they have migrated to another, safer location.
Really great photography. Loved the close ups
Hi LGR. As always, the TWIPs are so very good and interesting indeed, and because of that, thank you so much for putting it up for me to see and read. Bearing in mind that the now 14 year old Nkoveni female gave birth to her new and final litter of cubs back in June, well despite the fact that her cubs haven’t been seen there yet, but in the countless times you’ve gone right past the spot where her densite is, but have you ever heard the cubs calling for their mum or the sounds of them playing with each other, but haven’t seen them attempt to emerge from the thick bushes alone without their mother supervising them? As they should be about 9 weeks old by now, I hope it won’t be long before she finally reveals them at long last there.
As we know that she’s been successful in raising her first and only male offspring to hard independence and is probably hoping in her mind that she doesn’t see or come across him again at all, it’ll be so good and nice to think that she has got at least another little male cub or two in her new and unseen litter. I think she’s had about two other litters when she’s had a male cub in them, but sadly none of them made it to independence.
Whilst we wait eagerly to see her new cubs and what gender they are, I think you will have to just keep on trying to see if she leads you to her densite each time you see her out and about. I’m so sure she’s not going to keep them hidden until they’re fully grown, so I don’t know why she’s taking so long to reveal them. It is rather unusual, as she’s revealed past cubs at about six to eight weeks old, and this litter is taking a bit longer now.
It’s a bit unusual that the Ximungwe female has decided to keep her very shy cub so well hidden, which possibly explains it’s shy and nervous behaviour due to the lack of introductions and exposure to game drive vehicles in it’s 7 short months of life, and also why she has been so elusive by keeping the shy cub in so much dense cover. Do you know why she’s done it? I certainly don’t. It’s a bit like playing hide and seek with her whenever you set out to try and find her and the bashful cub. She might well be raising litter number 5 right now at the moment, but as far as I can remember, I don’t think she’s ever had a cub that is or was so very shy at all.
She might be eleven years old now, but I do hope that she’ll mate and give birth to a good few more litters of cubs in the next four or five years or so, to increase the leopard population over there. If the cub is to settle down and become just as relaxed around the game drive vehicles as it’s mother is, then she needs to bring the cub out of hiding a lot more often and frequently. And if it is viewed from a safe, comfortable and respectable distance, then I hope it will become a hell of a lot more relaxed, and will largely ignore the vehicles as if they weren’t there.
If the mother wants her cub to ignore the game drive vehicles there like she does, then let’s hope that she intends to make it a lot more relaxed like her. I’m not suggesting or criticising her by saying she is a bad mother and is to blame for making her cub nervous as she isn’t to blame for any of those things at all, it is just her cub’s nature and attitude. But there’s no doubt that it will soon grow up to be just as beautiful as it’s mother. If she does make a lot more successful kills might and day and takes the cub to them, then I hope it’ll do the very trick.
If the elusive Ngungwe female has also given birth there, then have her cubs been seen, and if so, then how many cubs has she got altogether in total and what gender are they? At 6 years and 4 months old, they will represent her second litter in her lifetime. I don’t know who the father of her cubs is, but I’m looking forward to seeing them in the photos as soon as they’re old enough.
I’m so sure she feels very pleased with herself that she’s managed to get her very first lone cub to independence, then she’s mated and got another litter. There is just no doubt what so ever that she will be a very good, devoted and attentive mother to them whilst they’re still very young, and will move them from one densite to another to avoid getting or having them detected and killed. As is the case with all mother leopards who have very young and tiny cubs, I don’t think they would leave their cubs alone, exposed and vulnerable if they sensed any type of unwanted danger at all.
I’ve got no idea whereabouts she’s hiding and denning her new cubs there, but I expect she’s given birth quite recently. But as soon as her new cubs come out of hiding, I think there will be a lot more frequent sightings of her, as she takes the cubs from one place to another in the form of densites and kills as they get bigger, stronger and older. Once they are a few months old, then they will be able to climb trees like their mum, and the trees should be and remain a safe haven for them while she’s out hunting for food or scent marking her territory. She’ll be bound to get back to them very quickly.
The lion dynamics have been just as very good and interesting as ever, as the arrival of the 2 old stalwarts in the form of the Ndhzenga males were seen together not far from the 2 large Gajima males. I know they’re dominant over the elusive Nkuhuma pride currently, but maybe they just decided to surprise you with a sighting of them for the first time in ages just to show you that they look no different and are just as fit as ever. I hope they will continue to surprise you with their ever strong presence. Their big bond together is so vitally important for the survival of their cubs & the powerful adult Nkuhuma lionesses. Long may they live.
Although they didn’t feature at all in this week’s TWIP, but if the Tsalala lioness and Nkuhuma breakaway lioness were to join up together despite not been related, then it possibly might give the Tsalala lioness a chance to raise one or more litters a lot more successfully. It is known that she has given birth to 3 litters of cubs, 3 in the first and second litters and 4 in her third litter which was very sadly killed by the 2 Plains Camp males several weeks ago. She has lost a total of 10 cubs all to other lions, and it has now left me wondering to myself if and when she’ll ever raise a litter or more to independence and adulthood. But she could also stand a chance of doing the same thing – raising cubs successfully, if she was ever to be accepted by her distant relatives in the very elusive Mhangeni pride. She would stand a much better chance that way as well. It’ll be not only for her own benefit, but it’ll hopefully allow her to raise cubs of her own to rebuild the numbers and the existence of her old birth pride. Won’t it?
Hope to hear from you shortly.
Robert 7.8.26
The picture of the single hippo on full display is astounding! Now, what about that bluish tint? Is that just a matter of shading, or what?
I just love this collection, Chris. So many of these images stir various emotions, beyond just being pleasant to look at.
Great photos, Chris! I especially enjoyed the ‘arty’ shot of the wood sandpiper and the white foal images. I’d lotbe to know if she’s safe somewhere…
Beautiful photos, Chris.
I love all of them, maybe the Giraffes in the river, the Noveni Female in the tree with her prey and the big owl are my favourites.
Chris – these are outstanding photos. The clarity and oft times artistic composition make every one of them special! Your new lens (and your ability to use it!) have provided us all with excellent viewing.