My return to Londolozi after an eight month stretch away from work due to the pandemic just happened to coincide with some absolutely phenomenal game viewing.
Ok, it’s phenomenal all the time but it was particularly good over the last week. Tracker Euce Madonsela and I picked our first guests up and were straight back into the swing of things, happier than ever to be back in the African bush and sharing it with visitors once again.
The game viewing this past week has been incredible. Here, a cub of the Mhangeni pride rests on top of a termite mound while watching his siblings wrestle each other below.
Another very special photographic opportunity a few days ago at the entrance to Granite Camp as the Finfoot female slowly made her way through camp and back down into the river below.
The couple that joined us were here for a four night stay and were treated to some incredible scenes – some of which were a first for both me and Euce. Our first afternoon we encountered a month old white rhino calf shortly before viewing the bulk of the Mhangeni pride along with their 4 month old cubs. Then on one of the following mornings we were pleasantly surprised to find the Finfoot female just a few meters from the Granite car park and then, as if things couldn’t get any better, that afternoon, we followed behind a pack of 17 wild dogs who successfully caught a young nyala ewe and proceeded to defend their meal from a marauding hyena right next to our vehicle. All of these sightings in themselves could easily have been the topics of their own blogs (and may well be in the next few days) but I rather decided to explain the background to a rather unusual photograph that I captured which has now begun to spread through the web of social media.
On these particular guests’ final night, we as the Londolozi team decided to go the extra mile and set up a slightly more extravagant evening drinks stop to celebrate their visit in light of the exceptional few days that they had experienced. Little did we know, we would in fact have an unexpected guest joining us that evening!
Granite Camp manager Kylie Jones along with colleagues Roxy Burrough and Jemma Brewitt set out ahead of us to set up the drinks and snacks at a beautiful site on the banks of the Sand River. Five minutes before we arrived, Kylie radioed me to notify me that there was a male lion across the river from her. With the river being relatively wide and quite full of vegetation in that area it would put the lion at a safe enough distance to view while still on foot… for now.
I told the guests that a lion had been found and we raced in that direction.
This was our first view of the lion across a gully as we arrived at the drinks stop site. Kylie, Roxy and Jemma had kept a good eye on it since first spotting it on the other side of the river as it slowly made its way closer.
After a long pause, the lion continued to approach and strolled down into the gully and up onto our side, past our vehicles that we were safely seated in and onward towards the drinks and snacks table.
As we arrived, we came around a bend to find Kylie, Roxy and Jemma seated back in the Land Rover in which they had driven there, pointing across a small gully at the lion who was now standing about 50 meters away with a look of curiosity on his face. Euce and I couldn’t believe it! We sat and watched him as he slowly strolled down through the gully and towards us. Fortunately we were all safely seated in a vehicle which allowed us to sit back and enjoy the extremely unusual sight of a lion making his way over towards our table of tasty snacks and ice cold drinks that had been set up just moments earlier!
With a clear interest in what all this unfamiliar paraphernalia was, the lion inspected the table for a few short moments, sniffing cautiously, then decided to carry on moving downstream.
We all sat in the vehicle for a few moments while Euce and I made sure the big cat had continued down his path and, once we were satisfied he had, we all joined each other around the same table and had a toast to yet another amazing few days on safari with an extra special ending.
It’s fairly unlikely I’ll be seeing this again in a hurry…
Awesome photos Chris.
This Birmingham male seems to have enjoyed the drink haha, Glad you’re back at Londolozi.
Take Care
wow, this is unique and what a gift for you to have witnessed this moment. 🦁🥂
If I hadn’t seen the photos, I might have thought you were lion…
😂 Good one!
Yikes…how amazing
That photo has to go on all the walls of all the lodges – the sighting of a lifetime
Hi Chris, great pictures and good times. Glad to see you back.
It’s all very Alice in Wonderland. Between this and the Finfoot female in front of the sign, I’d say nature just served up your next marketing campaign, with a twist of lime. 😉
Well, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner…or at least for Cocktails! Welcome back Chris!!! Cheers!
Chris, I loved all the photos, especially lion sitting at your table🤗
OMG – that is truly incredible!!! lucky lucky guests.. not only being back at Londolozi after such a long time – but having such a mind-blowing experience! When I first saw that lion photo… I thought it had been photoshopped – obviously not! It was really there at the drinks table!
I just love these shots especially -The Guess who is joining us for drinks Honey? You guys are the best!
So you did not find out his favourite tipple? Did you have Angostura Bitters available? A Rock Shandy is a great drink on a hot, tiring, day especially when the prey have been giving a hungry lion the run around.
What an incredible moment and fantastic photos, Chris!! I’m surprised he didn’t help himself to any of the snacks!
I love the look on the lions face. you obviously had a fabulous 4 days of sightings and I have to say it best out cocktail hour being huddled next to the car as a herd of impalas stampeded by chased by wild dogs!! Wish we had Ben there!! Victoria
Very exciting. We are scheduled to spend Christmas with you, about 5 weeks from now. Crossing our fingers that nothing interferes, and we, too, can be some of your first guests!
Wow! It seems as though the wildlife is welcoming everyone back while reminding them whose home this really is! Fabulous experience!
Next time, pack a steak or two. No telling when the poor lion had his last impala.
Fantastic photo …. on the rocks or straight up? It’s a winner …..I enjoyed this piece and wish I had been there with everyone. Thanks for sharing Chris Taylor!
A truly charmed encounter and incredible photographic opportunity. Well done.
Wow there’s something you don’t see every day! We had a similar experience with an Elephant once and he sniffed every item on the table before meandering off. The bush is a constant surprise and delight !
When I saw the photo I thought April 1st had come early! He must have thought “the bar service is terrible in this place. How am I supposed to open the gin without opposable thumbs?” Definitely a once in a lifetime shot.
Wow! What great marketing shots!
What a fabulous surprise! That’s a sundowner experience never to be forgotten, and everyone has photographic evidence to back up their story. Welcome back!!
Wow, how exciting!!! Loved the photos! I thought maybe you had hired him as the bartender! 🤣
Absolutely awesome!! What a special sunset drinks adventure!
Shared with so many friends who are astounded!
Such an amazing experience and a fantastic pic! I’m sure those gin manufacturers love this shot as well! It’s that expression on the lion’s face that makes the pic so special too!
Oh my gosh! What an amazing day you all had! Those pictures of the Birmingham lion at the table are comical! A tad different from Ya All’s norm I can imagine, ..
Your guests really had some very special days at Londolozi. The photo of that lion sniffing your snacks is just amazing. I wonder what such a lion is thinking at such a moment.
And the leopard in front of the Granites Suites is just a perfect photo for marketing.
Where’s the beef!?
Now that’s an incredible way to end a safari!!!
Welcome back! A sundowner for the ages! Shared with friends who are in awe!
What an odd sight!
That has got to be the photo of the decade / century! Superb and very funny. The king of the jungle / bush at his banqueting table!
WOW!….what a sight!….remember the movie ” Guess who’s coming to dinner”?……it certainly wasn’t Mr Lion that’s for sure!…. absolutely fantastic…..thanks for sharing that one Jess…..a one off!….
OH MY WORD! Maned Wonder Himself arriving for Cocktail Hour! Was his order a Lion or a Castle? Just interested ………. What a wonderful array of very special pics. Whoever the guests were who came on holiday at that time, invite them again and start taking pics of the local wild life. What an experience! Thanks, Chris! Wendy M
Just had to share this! What a great way for your family of animals to share Londolozi with the world 👌💕💕 the luckiest guests ever 😉
Completely and utterly stunning! What incredible fortune!
Chris, that s fantastic, a leopard in front of granite suite, unbelievable, and fantastic to drink a bubble with a lion- unique at all. See you
Nice photo’s
Fantastic! The lion behaved according to his natural instinct… curious but do not eat it. What an amazing relationship you have with those creatures
Chris, clearly one of the most incredible sightings ever! Just incredible – and fun! Obviously he had good taste! Love seeing the Inverroche Gin on the table too!
The Birmingham male is next to my bottle of Hendricks’s. Tee hee.