Welcome to this Week in Pictures where we find a striking selection of images making it into the top picks. After a period of a couple of weeks with little rain and rising temperatures, the new flush of green growth rapidly wilted and started browning. This week saw the heavens open and deliver a welcomed dose of rain to revive bushveld. It is truly amazing to see how quickly the vegetation responds to moisture. It felt like a matter of hours later the greenery was back and dominating the landscape.
With the rain, there has been a few days of overcast weather which changes the photographic experience, allowing one to capture images that do not have as defined highlights and shadows.
Anyways, this week we see another mating bout between one of the Ndhzenga Males and a Ntsevu Female on the Londolozi airstrip, quite a sight to see these two amicable lions. The Tsalala Female also features on the lion front.
When we turn to leopards, the Nhlanguleni Female perches atop a termite mound while on a territorial patrol. A herd of impala catches the Three Rivers Female’s eye, the Xinkhova Female displays her athleticism while leaping into a marula tree, and is later seen on a termite mound too. The Three Rivers Young Male is being found by himself more and more as his mother moves further and further afield, possibly trying to expand her territory.
We also have the pleasure of a pack of wild dogs moving through the reserve and a male cheetah being found. And we cannot forget the elephants with their playful youngsters burying their faces into the mud, or the warthog piglets, or birdlife and kudu bulls having a drink.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
The magnificent Nhlanguleni Female looks onto the horizon from the safety of a large termite mound.
Initially skittish she spent a lot of time in the Sand River, now relaxed she makes up the majority of leopard viewing west of camp.
A wild dog temporarily pauses and looks back for the rest of his pack whilst moving through the Sand River.
It has been difficult to keep track of which males have mated with which females and when, but the exciting part is that there is likely going to be a lot of little cubs running around Londolozi soon.
Mating lions is always an intense situation, and this particular encounter between this Ndzhenga male and Ntsevu lioness on the airstrip was a sighting I will not forget.
Three Rivers Female gazes toward a herd of impalas that had seen her before she noticed them. The alarm calls caught her by surprise causing her to freeze.
Forced into early independence as her mother was killed by the Southern Avoca Males.
A family of warthogs spin and run off across a clearing. These cute piglets have only just appeared from their burrows and have stolen the hearts of many visitors!
The Xinkhova Female has stepped right into independent life and appears to be thriving. Roaming around now and being found with a carcass of her own fairly often, this is a great sign.
A stunning young female with a very similar spot pattern to her mother, the Nkoveni Female. Litter still completely intact March 2022.
The energy of a breeding herd of elephants near a water hole or mud wallowing is contagious and always entertaining to witness. Here a small calf enjoys submerging face first into soft mud.
The energy of a breeding herd of elephants near a water hole or mud wallowing is contagious and always entertaining to witness.
![Male Cheetah On Fallen Over Knobthorn [2] (rb)](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/09113017/Male-Cheetah-on-fallen-over-knobthorn-2-RB-1-1598x1085.jpg)
A male cheetah perches atop a fallen over dead knobthorn tree in the late afternoon light, a very regal looking pose indeed.
One of the four Ndzhenga Males walks with purpose whilst gazing towards vultures that were flying low to the ground up ahead
Shotrly after quenching his thirst this elephant bull approached the vehicle to investigate before moving on to feed on some vegetation behind the vehicle.
The Tsalala Female has defied all odds and is not just surviving, she is thriving.
The Hooded Vulture is at the bottom of the vulture hierarchy at a carcass and is able to change the colour of its face. It flushes scarlet is a show of aggression as seen here.
We are hopeful that the Xinkhova Female will set up territory permanently on Londolozi and we are able to view her well into the future.
The Three Rivers Young Male is certainly filling out and becoming a very stocky, well-built young male leopard.
Somewhat skittish after becoming independent, he is an impressive young male with a rich golden coat.
A pair of Grey Go-away birds perch on a branch of a dead knobthorn in the late golden afternoon light.
Two kudu bulls spend some time around a waterhole, before this male bent down for a drink.
Stunning images. Thanks for sharing,Sean.
Thank you so much, Marc.
Well, as is the new normal, all are fabulous images, but Kate’s little elephant photos captured my heart this week, nose in water and laying across a big sister/brother. Certainly shows the playfulness of little Ellie’s!!
Elephants are always so great to watch.
Great to see the cheetah, from what i’ve heard they’re quite rare in Sabi Sands. I’m hoping to eventually see one on Wild Earth.
Cheetah are fairly rare in the Sabi Sands, we are seeing more now than we used to but there are certainly a lot less cheetahs than there are lions and leopards.
Oh my gosh, the elephant calf face down in the mud made me laugh out loud while finishing my breakfast! Definitely my favorite image for the week, although I appreciated the piglets and birds, too. The Xinkhova female leaping into the tree was perfectly timed.
It is such a comical photo of the young elephant face down.
Very hard to choose a favorite. But I have 2… the elephant calf submerging face first into soft mud & elephants near a water hole or mud wallowing
Those are two great choices. The elephants are always entertaining.
The Three Rivers Young Male looks to be well fed. He is very impressive.
It would have been quite funny if a plane with first-time visitors was approaching the airstrip while the lions were conducting their business.
He was relatively well fed which made him look all that more impressive. It would have been a fantastic welcome to Londolozi, wouldn’t it?
Oh no, I can’t just choose 1! Kate has certainly had an amazing week – the 2 of the ellie calf are irresistible, and as for the lions mating on the airstrip…outrageous! (I only hope no planes were due in at the time!) I also particularly loved Matt’s image of Xinkhova just as she was about to climb the tree.
Kate really did have an amazing week. And Matt’s picture is also stunning.
TWIP made it hard this time! So many great shots from the little elephant burrowing in the mud to the warthog piglets running to the beautiful cat photos! But picking one, I will pick the beautiful Tsalala female with that blue sky background. It barely edged out the male cheetah! One of the best TWIP’S!!!
The shot of the Tsalala Female is a stunning picture. Thank you so much, Darlene.
The leopards, the kudu bulls and the lions are gorgeous, but this time the elephant calf submerging itself in the mood made me laugh, there’s nothing more precious! So that’s my choice this week. I’m so glad to see the Tsalala female thriving and all those superb leopards as well. I hope the Mashaba female is fine too.
The photos of the elephants in the mud are great. The Mashaba Female is doing well. She is seen every now and then.
Great pictures again Sean, thanks. I liked the picture of the three elephants at the mud hole. Very entertaining to see their positions and I am sure they enjoyed themselves.
Thank you so much, William. The elephants at the mud wallow was such a lovely scene.
The leopards, the kudu bulls and the lions are gorgeous, but this time the elephant calf submerging itself in the mood made me laugh, there’s nothing more precious! So that’s my choice this week. I’m so glad to see the Tsalala female and the Xinkova thriving and all those superb leopards as well. I hope the Mashaba female is fine too.
I agree, the elephant in the mud is such a great choice.
Sean, Thanks for another set of reasons why we can’t wait to return to Londolozi! (August 2023!). We enjoyed the stories and our favorite image has to be the young elephant with its head in the mud! 🤣
We look forward to seeing you in August. The elephant shot with its face in the mud is classic.
Great photos again! Thanks for sharing.
I think I like the Kudu photo best because of the fantastic light.
But all the other photos show so much entertaining energy of their protagonists that it is really not easy to make a choice. They are all so wonderful.
The light on the kudu was fantastic, such a tranquil scene too.
So many stunning foto’s Sean and each one with their own story behind it. Loved the little elephant with his face in the mud and the little piglets are so cute. The Three Rivers male cub is something else, looking at him know reminds me so much of Ntomi which I thought was a stunning leopard. So soon this leopard will get his own name and rightfully so.
Forgot to mention how beautiful the Tsalala female is and how wonderful she kept on going even when everything was against her. She really is a true survivor and a formidable lionessess.
Thank you so much, Valmai. There were some great pictures this week. The Three Rivers Young Male is an impressive young male and I agree that the Tsalala Female is a true survivor.
It is hard to choose this week. So many beautiful and interesting images! Lions and leopards are always great, of couse the elefants bring us much of joy and fun. The “regal” male cheetah in golden light looks very beautifulvand elegant. Yet, my favoured is the one of the Xinkhova female about to jump. The exact moment is captured when she pushes herself off the ground: you can feel the concentrated energy unfolding in the next moment. What a storytelling capacity lies in this picture, which invites the viewer to tell it further in their own minds! Congrats!
Thank you so much, Ulrike. It is such a great image.
Another stunning week! The pictures of the elephants put a huge smile on my face – particularly the small one face first in the mud – I can just feel their joy through the photo!
Thank you so much, Kara. I also love the photo of the young elephant with its face in the mud.
I absolutely love the pic of the warthog and the piglets this week, followed by that beautiful pic of the cheetah!
Warthog piglets are such funny animals to watch. I am glad you like the pic of them.
Just have to love that little Eli with its face in the mud 👌🏻💗a real classic . Super photos as always Sean and team !!!
It is such a great image.