This week showcases the big cats of Londolozi with some incredible sightings of a number of different leopards and a few lions. The Senegal Bush Male leaps across the Sand River as he expands his territory further and further west. A very content Nkoveni Female drapes herself over a branch of a tree as she rests. We even enjoy a brief sighting of a leopard we have not seen for a while, the Makomsava Female. Previously territorial in the centre of Marthly, she used to be a frequently viewed female, sadly that is no longer the case with her being territorial beyond our borders now. The Three Rivers Female and her male cub spend a rainy morning playing around a water hole and the Nweti Male rests beneath the larger Natal Mahogany in southeastern Dudley.
An amazing sighting of the Talamati Pride tormenting two young porcupines leaves everyone on the edge of their seats as to what the outcome will be.
Let us know your favourite image in the comments section below.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
Expanding his territory north and west, the Senegal Bush Male leaps the Sand River at Taylor’s Crossing.
Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019
Landing a graceful jump.
The sheer bravery and determination of these porcupines to fend off five lions of the Talamati Pride was incredible to see.
The Nkoveni Female rests on this fallen over knob thorn while watching her two cubs go about their business behind our vehicle.
A gorgeous female who is found to the east of camp. Easily recognised by her 2:2 spot pattern she is often to be found in Marula trees.
A Little Bee-eater perches on a branch scanning the surroundings intently for any small insects to pursue as its next meal.
The Makomsava Female graces us with her presence in the northern sections of Londolozi. This was the first we had seen of her in quite some time and caused great excitement amongst the team.
The only surviving cub of the Nanga female, currently territorial north of Marthly.
Imagine arriving at Londolozi to this as your welcome party.
A single cub of the Ximungwe Female's second litter. Initially rather skittish but is very relaxed now. Birth mark in his left eye.
Sitting beneath the windsock watching the sunrise.
After all the rain and slightly warmer weather, the fungi have been thriving at the moment with the last flush before we go into the drier winter months.
The Three Rivers Female and her young male spend the morning playing around a water hole, stalking and chasing each other.
Forced into early independence as her mother was killed by the Southern Avoca Males.
Launching himself at his mother, he is showing promise of being a great hunter when he becomes independent.
A stunning late morning congregation of numerous zebra and a giraffe.
The Nweti Male lays beneath a large Natal Mahogany tree in the lush green grass as he gazes up at the remains of his impala yearling that he has stashed in the canopy above.
He is a large, tall, and long male that has an incredible coat and a tuft of hair on his neck
Impressing pictures as always,thanks for sharing. The leaping Senegal Bush Male is a real treat.
Thank you so much, Marc. Leopards are so incredibly agile and athletic making the leap across the river look so easy. Oat did so well to capture this.
As usual, I will go with the leopards! The Three Rivers female and her cub pics are terrific! I give the edge to the first shot because of the lifted tail and water flying! The Three Rivers female I watched as a cub with her mother, Kikilezi, so she will always be one of my forever favorites! Beautiful photos as always! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Darlene. It is always amazing watching the interaction between mother leopards and their young. Especially when in the age bracket that the Three Rivers Young Male is in at the moment.
Sean, What a fantastic set of images – Leopards galore! Our favorite is Patrick’s Senegal Bush Male leaping the Sand River at Taylor’s Crossing! We know how hard is is to catch and image like that!
Thank you so much, Michael and Terri. The shot of Pat’s is stunning, it is always great to see a leopard’s athleticism.
Patrick’s photo of the Senegal male beginning his river jump is the winner for me this week. 🙏🏻
Thank you so much, Marcia. I agree that Pat’s shot of the Senegal Bush Male is a winner.
Great photo collection this week! I especially love the Senegal Bush male sequence and the Three Rivers female and cub. Beautiful!
Thank you so much, Mary Beth. Those are two great choices. Seeing the Senegal Bush Male leap over the river must have been a fantastic sighting.
I love all your photos! The leopard photos are really amazing.
Thank you so much, Christa. We have been spoilt once again with great leopard viewing.
Such beautiful leopard foto’s and I particularly loved the Nkoveni lying on the knob thorn tree watching her cubs. I think that will be my favorite foto this week. I hope the lions left the porcupine alone, not good and they could get a quil in their eyes.
Thank you so much, Valmai. The picture of the Nkoveni Female is a great one. It is dangerous business for the lions to go after the porcupine.
Lovely pictures of the lions and the porcupine! Zebras are such elegant animals, and the giraffe has its own fashion… leopards are the top ! It seems that Hosana the leopard has been killed. I remember him and Hukumuri, it seems that fame doesn’t go along with luck, as also the Tsalala mum died. I wish those wonderful animals good luck. Hope they will not Leave Londolozi
Thank you so much, Francesca. It definitely doesn’t seem that fame and luck go hand in hand.
Sean. TWIP’s is beautiful. The best picture for me was the Senegal Bush Male leaping across the sand river but, my favorite was the porcupine ‘s as they befuddle the pride of lions. Great week. thanks.
Thank you so much, William. Those are some great choices.
Hi Sean
It was a good viewing of leopards this week in addition to the other sightings. There were certainly some excellent portrait images but my vote this week goes to your Three Rivers female and cub, him leaping after her – brilliant capture!! Thanks for sharing all of these special moments.
Thank you so much, Denise. There really were some great photographic opportunities this week.
So glad you had the chance to see Makomsava. Saw her when she first emerged from her den. Happy to see she oils going well.
It is always great to see leopards that we have not seen in a while. It is a pity that the Makomsava Female has shifted further north and that we do not see her often anymore. But she appears to be doing really well.
I agree with everyone that Pat’s 1st photo of the Senegal Bush male leaping has to be my winner this week, it really has it all. But as always it’s hard to choose. I also particularly love yours of the Ximungwe young male sitting under the windsock – wouldn’t it have been wonderful if there had been enough wind to blow the sock out so you could read Londolozi!
Thank you so much, Suzanne. I think Pat’s image is definitely the favourite. But yes the Ximungwe Young Male under the windsock would have been great to see the Londolozi on the sock, I did manage to get a video of that though.
What a bumper week you have all had with leopard sightings and all the fabulous images you have all managed to capture of them Sean !! I have truely found it difficult to pick a favorite this week particularly with the Senegal bush male leaping so gracefully across the Sabi River and the Three rivers female and her cub playing..but I am going with the Nwieti male who’s eyes I found quite mesmerizing as he stared up at his kill ! The photo of the bee eater was stunning too by the way. Thank you to you all as always for sharing your favorites of the week🙏🏻❤️
Thank you so much, Cally. There were some great images this week.
Great selection Londolozi team! The Makhomsava female was mating with the Tortoise Pan Male a few months back north of Londolozi. Exciting she has returned to Londolozi!
Thank you, Michael. Yes, I believe that she had been mating. We are hoping to see her a little more frequently but i guess we will just have to wait and see.
Wow absolutely love the pic of the Bee-eater and the beautiful Nkoveni female on the branch – beautiful!
Thank you so much, Carly.