Following on from Londolozi’s incredible TWIP #600 milestone last week, has me overwhelmed with all kinds of feelings of gratitude, respect, pride and inspiration for being part of the contributing team today. As reflected in the video, the weekly TWIPs present a journal celebrating the diversity of life and beauty surrounding us here in the heart of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.
As we reflect on the past week, we’ve all been fortunate with an assortment of wildlife and activity across the reserve; from predators and prey to an abundance of large herds of elephants and buffalos, to birds and everything in between. On the predator front, the Ntomi Male traverses within his mother’s territory having not yet been driven out by any of the larger dominant males. The Kangela Male made a rather unique and relaxed appearance on Londolozi. On the lion front, the two remaining Ndzhenga Males continue to spend time interacting with the Ntsevu Pride and cubs as they continue to entertain us with their playful, restless antics.
Let’s not forget a fantastic morning following a pack of wild dogs not too far from camp across the rolling hills and clearings.
Let me know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
Nothing beats time spent with baby elephants. This calf became the perfect subject to photograph as it flapped its ears forward and danced around our vehicle.
High key black and white image of a mother and young calves walking across one of our open crests. I particularly like how the mother’s head and trunk frame the calf as she leads the way.
Our wintery, crisp mornings create a beautiful warm backdrop as we spent a morning exploring the open grasslands of Londolozi.
We have entered a time of year when male ostriches are ready and looking to mate, often ready to perform their mating display known as ‘kantling’ to any females they find within their territory. As a result, the male’s beak and frontal scutes on their tarsus are bright red as a way of trying to look more attractive to the females.
The Ntomi Male quickly climbed a marula tree to avoid direct confrontation with a few hyenas that were moving through the area.
A single cub of the Ximungwe Female's second litter. Initially rather skittish but is very relaxed now. Birth mark in his left eye.
With the Ntsevu Lionesses spending an entire day resting in a very open clearing with their cubs, we watched in the golden light as the cubs restlessly played with one another.
An adorable stare from one of the Ntsevu Cubs.
Action. Sometimes focusing on the smaller aspects of life, especially around a water hole, can be the most rewarding! We spent a good 10 minutes watching a Hamerkop fishing until it caught a relatively large tilapia.
A representation of the Ndzhenga Coalition. No longer a force of four males, the two remaining brothers bask in the morning sun after a lengthy evening territorial patrol finishing off with a bout of roaring.
First time seeing the Kangela Male! As a nomadic leopard born in December 2019, he is now in search of any vacant land in which to set up a territory. He has only been seen on Londolozi a handful of times but we are sure he will pop up every now and again going forward. In this particular sighting, the golden morning light just starts to break through and illuminate the grass beyond him as he explores what could be new ground for him.
Up close and personal with a pack of wild dogs as we spent a morning where they successfully caught five impalas between the seven in the space of about two hours. An incredible sighting watching these animals doing what they do best!
Whenever we get the chance to see a family of Southern Ground Hornbills, it is always a challenge from a photographic perspective since they are usually foraging in the long grass, or walking away from the vehicle. When I saw them walking towards a road, we patiently waited for the moment they stepped into the open.
No caption is needed for this one. But I will just say that I could sit amongst elephants playfully milling about all afternoon long.
Curiously mischievous Ntsevu Cub was lagging behind the rest of the pride as they weaved their way through a thick area of bush. A moment’s pause as it climbs a fallen over the branch for extra vantage as it watches the rest of the pride up ahead.
A focused stare from the Ntomi Male. No more cub-like features that is for sure!
When you find yourself immersed amongst a few hundred buffalo surrounding the vehicle and a water hole, it can often be overwhelming to try and focus on any one individual to take a photo since there is usually a hive of different activities going on all around you. This image captures a moment three bulls interlocked horns and dug their noses into the mud.
Golden afternoon light perfectly highlighted this female giraffe as she delicately fed on a buffalo thorn tree.
The illusion of stripes with five zebra faces all huddled together as afternoon light creates a glowing halo effect on their manes.
Young elephants have to be one of the most entertaining little animals to watch.
Distinctive ‘whooping’ calls in the distance of a few pack members that ran off in a different direction, grab the attention of this remaining pack member (and us) suggesting the possible success of another hunt not too far away.
#601 didn’t fail to impress! The baby elephant dancing is this weeks favorite for me!!
Thank you so much Mark!
Loved the Ntomi male in the tree this week. The Hammerkop was a unique shot. Glad to see the ostriches are still around and doing well. The image of buffalo horns was almost abstract–I found myself looking at it for quite sometime trying to imagine all the activity in that scene. Thank you for sharing your images this week!
Thanks so much Chelsea, I am glad you enjoyed so many of the images. I agree – I also really enjoyed focusing and zooming in on a smaller detail of the greater herd of buffalo.
Hi Kate, it’s impossible say which photo I like best, because I like all of them!
Maybe the zebras and then of course the Hamerkop with the fish. And all the others.
The Ntomi male is so good looking – a beautiful young leopard.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos.
Thank you so much Christa! I am so glad you enjoyed all the photos.
Quite a number of good pictures this week. My favorites are the wild dogs face on to the camera and the young elephant with its right forefront leg in the air. TWIP’s never disappoints.
Thank you William!
Wow, Kate! This is a really Great collection. My 2 favs are the full frontal view of the wild dog. Capturing eye-contact like that is really spine-tingling. My second favorite is the dazzle of zebra. Perfect capture as I’m sure they didn’t hold that perfect position long.
Thank you so much Ann! It is always so rewarding when you manage to capture a good eye-shot with any animal!
Beautiful pictures. Hard to choose. I have 2 favorites lion cubs and baby ellies. Think the baby ellies win. They are so amazing to watch.
Thank you Sandra! Baby animals are always the most entertaining to watch.
They all are first class images, but my personal favorite is the three male buffalo locking horns.
Thank you so much Karen!
Fab photos, Kate. Appreciate that two were of my favorite birds. Regarding the Kangela: who is/was his mother?
Thank you Willa! The Kangela Male was born in December 2019 to the Schotia female and Nyelethi male in Singita.
Some really special photos this week Kate. I love the color, light, composition and feeling of several, however the photo Ntomi male is a powerful shot! Thanks for posting. 🙏🏻📸🤩
Thank you Marcia!
Hi Kate your TWIP this week is just as entertaining as previous weeks. Stunning foto’s and a variety of animals to see. My favorite this week must be the Ntomi male leopard up in the Marula tree. Also loved the lion cubs and elephant calf on his own. I don’t know the Kangela leopard, but he is beautiful indeed. But my favorite is still the young Ntomi.
Thank you Valmai! I am so glad you enjoyed so many of the images.
A fun collection of images this week, Kate – thanks! And who is the Kangela male? Born where? Handsome guy!
Thank you Mary Beth! The Kangela Male was born in December 2019 to the Schotia female and Nyelethi male in Singita.
SUPER PHOTOS , the last Ntomi male is a stunner
Thank you so much Ian!
Congratulations Kate on producing on outstanding #601! All of your images are wonderful, so much so it is difficult to choose one but one did have a millimetre edge over the others – the dancing baby elephant! Priceless shot. Thank you for sharing your stunning photos.
Thank you so much Denise! I am so glad you enjoyed so many of the photos.
Great collection of photos this week Kate! Glad you are seeing the Ntomi Male still on Londolozi!
Any sightings of the Ndzanzeni Female and her cub recently?
Such a special set of photos Kate, thank you. Not possible to choose a favourite – I would end up listing the whole lot! What an amazing week you’ve had. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Jane!
Love the wild dogs and the last little Ellie pic is precious but of course my fave is the very grown up and regal shot of the Ntomi male! So handsome!
Thank you Anita!