While putting this week in pictures together, I couldn’t help but reflect on the amazing photographic opportunities we are lucky enough to have at Londolozi. The first week of 2024 was no exception.
On the Leopard front, the impressive Maxim’s Male featured, as did the Three Rivers Young Male (whom he most likely sired). How much longer he will allow his son to roam his territory is anyone’s guess, but it shouldn’t be long until the young, impressive male leopard flees from the southeastern part of Londolozi. Another young male leopard that has recently graced our cameras’ viewfinders is the Kangela Male, who had a hoisted impala kill stashed up a marula tree in an open clearing – a photographer’s dream. Over-exposing in overcast conditions (which we experience quite frequently during the summer) allowed for an effective high-key edit of the Plaque Rock Female lying in a bare marula tree. Lastly, we spent time with the Xinkhova Female rainy conditions.
Moving onto lions… it’s the males that featured most this week. The Ntsevu Sub-adult Males were in pursuit of buffalos in the southwestern open plains whilst the Ndzenga Males were seen patrolling their territory further East. Vultures a plenty littered in dead trees in the deep south lead us to finding the Black Dam Males, who seemingly have returned to Londolozi after an extended period of time in the Northern Sabi Sand; they had successfully killed a buffalo cow.
To wrap up on the predator front, both a young male cheetah as well as wild dogs feature this week. The cheetah had successfully killed an impala lamb, only to have his hard-earned meal stolen away by a cunning hyaena. He subsequently fled the scene and walked off towards the setting sun. A pack of four wild dogs attempted to cross the Sand River, only to turn back around after deciding the water level was too high after the heavy rains we have had.
Wrapping things up nicely, the ever-present elephants were abundant on the reserve and visibly excited after the rain had filled up water holes and given the vegetation a fresh burst of moisture and nutrients.
Without further ado, I present the first week in pictures of 2024. Enjoy!
![Maxim's Male Stretching On Termite Mound [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26091329/Maxims-male-stretching-on-termite-mound-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
The Maxim’s Male stretches in the mid-afternoon prior to conducting a territorial patrol through the heart of his territory
![Maxim's Male Lying On Termite Mound (2) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26091123/Maxims-male-lying-on-termite-mound-2-RCB-1598x1598.jpg)
If looks could kill… The Maxim’s Male pauses temporarily from his territorial march and glances towards our vehicle
Fairly skittish male that is presumed to have come from the Kruger National Park.
![Ntsevu Sub Adult Males Walking Rhrough Clearing (3) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26100412/Ntsevu-Sub-adult-males-walking-rhrough-clearing-3-RCB-1598x807.jpg)
Three of the Ntsevu sub-adult Males walk with purpose through an open plain in pursuit of a herd of buffalo
![Kangela Male Leopard Ascending Marula (3) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26095018/Kangela-male-leopard-ascending-marula-3-RCB-1065x1598.jpg)
The Kangela Male leopard ascends a marula tree in the late afternoon to get to an impala kill that he had stashed in the branches
Somewhat skittish after becoming independent, he is an impressive young male with a rich golden coat.
![Plaque Rock Female Lying In Marula B&w (4) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26090755/Plaque-Rock-Female-lying-in-marula-BW-4-RCB-1598x1598.jpg)
A monochrome high-key edit of the Plaque Rock Female glancing towards us from the branch of a marula tree
A pretty young playful female found along the river to the east of camp
![Elephants Fighting In Sand River (2) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26090632/Elephants-fighting-in-sand-River-2-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
Two young elephant bulls have a sparring contest in a shallow channel of the Sand River
![Wild Dog Jumping Out Of Sand River [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26085843/Wild-Dog-jumping-out-of-Sand-River-RCB-1598x784.jpg)
A wild dog leaps out of the Sand River to rejoin the rest of his pack
![Wild Dogs Feeding On Impala Lamb (5) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26085821/Wild-Dogs-Feeding-on-Impala-Lamb-5-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
A pack of four wild dogs tears apart an impala lamb that they had successfully caught in the clearings nearby
![Elephant Bull With Moody Sky [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26090219/Elephant-Bull-with-moody-sky-RCB-1598x825.jpg)
A moody horizon with an elephant bull in the foreground
One of the Ndzhenga Male lions marches down the road on a territorial patrol
![Male Cheetah And Hyaena (11) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26142614/Male-Cheetah-and-Hyaena-11-RCB-1-1598x1065.jpg)
The look of defeat… Moments after this young male cheetah successfully killed a young impala, a hyena was on the scene and stole the cheetah’s hard-earned meal.
![Male Cheetah And Hyaena (7) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26142754/Male-Cheetah-and-Hyaena-7-RCB-1398x850.jpg)
![Male Cheetah Walking Towards Sunset [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26142334/Male-Cheetah-walking-towards-sunset-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
After conceding to the hyena, the same male cheetah strutted off towards the setting sun
![Male Cheetah Walking Towards Sunset (3) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26142111/Male-Cheetah-walking-towards-sunset-3-RCB-1598x997.jpg)
![Vultures In Dead Knobthorn Tree (2) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/02160444/Vultures-in-dead-Knobthorn-Tree-2-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
A moody scene indeed, with mostly white-backed vultures perched in a dead knobthorn tree hoping to get some scraps of the buffalo carcass after the Black Dam Males leave their meal
![Black Damn Male Lion Standing (2) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/02160418/Black-Damn-Male-Lion-standing-2-RCB-1598x979.jpg)
One of the Black Dam Males went for a drink of water in the late afternoon, leaving his brother to stand guard over the prized meal in the background where the vultures so eagerly await
![Black Damn Male Lion Standing [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/02160340/Black-Damn-Male-Lion-standing-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
![Backlit Black Dam Male Lion Walking (2) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/02160158/Backlit-Black-Dam-Male-Lion-walking-2-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
After quenching his thirst, he hastily returned to his brother with the setting sun to the west
![Breeding Herd Drinking At Ximpalapala Pan [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26090510/Breeding-herd-drinking-at-Ximpalapala-pan-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
A small breeding herd of elephants, almost in order of age and height, take a moment to drink from a recently filled water hole late in the morning.
![Xinkhova Female On Termite Mound In Rain [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26090728/Xinkhova-female-on-termite-mound-in-rain-RCB-1-1598x1065.jpg)
The Xhinkova Female glances down towards an open clearing from atop a termite mound. If you look closely enough you can notice the drops of water that have gathered on her whiskers from the light rain
A stunning young female with a very similar spot pattern to her mother, the Nkoveni Female. Litter still completely intact March 2022.
![Ntsevu Sub Adult Male On Termite Mound (5) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26100823/Ntsevu-sub-adult-male-on-termite-mound-5-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
One of the four Ntsevu sub-adult male lions holds a regal pose from atop a termite mound after an unsuccessful attempt to hunt buffaloes.
Robert, my favorite picture this week is the young cheetah walking off into the sunset , The close up picture is stunning.
Beautiful photos! The bull elephant is a stand out for me as are the cheetah moving towards sunset and the vultures. Thanks for sharing!📸🤩
I love all your photos, Robert! Thanks for sharing them.
The last one of one of the Ntsevu’s young males looks as if he had just come from the hairdresser’s, very elegant coiffure !
The herd of elephants on the pool is so beautiful and also the photo of one wild dog having crossed the river.
Super photos as always
I think I can speak for many when I say how appreciative I am of the hard work that goes into TWIP
I must say, for being an 11 year old leopard, the Maxim’s Male has very few battle wounds to his face. He’s still quite handsome. The images of the cheetahs walking toward the sunset were so dreamy.
All images are equally striking this week. My eyes stopped on the beautiful well-rounded muzzle of the imposing Maxim male, as he is not so frequently photographed as other leopards, he likely had a negative experience in the daylight with vehicles when living elsewhere. The elephant bull and the moody horizon, the cheetah in the setting sun… all are images that catch the attention with beauty and relaxation. Leopards and lions are spectacular. It seems that the Nkoveni’s tactics were often successful, as she has daughters thriving. The vulture tree and the blond lion are also peculiar…
Hi Robbie, the Maxim’s male leopard is such a stunning specimen and he one huge leopard to be reconed with. I don’t know the Kangela male but looks like he knows Londolozi. Loved the Ntsevu lions and shame the poor little impala lamb was pulled and torn to pieces. Ndhzenga male lions are impressive.
Thanks Robbie for your week in pictures. You’ve captured some stellar moments in the bush, especially that wild dog kill. However my favorite image today is that portrait of the Maxim male. He truly is a magnificent leopard, possibly the largest male within the reserve. I’m assuming from the photo of Kangela followed by the bio of Three Rivers male, that this is the name given to him by the rangers/trackers of Londolozi.
Kangela is a nomadic young male, who is the only surviving offspring of the recently deceased Schotia female on Singita, and (likely) of the deceased Nyelethi male (also of Singita). He is now about 3.5 going on 4 years of age.
Thanks Robbie for a stunning TWIP, full of gorgeous sunsets. Like Denise, I also wondered if Kangela is the name given to the 3 Rivers young male? – fabulous photo of him at full stretch climbing the tree.
Loved the vultures in the tree with the beautiful sky behind them.
One of my favourite WIP’s. Maxim’s gaze is amazing. Are there any updates on the 3 cubs of the Plaque Rock Female? And is the female Ntsevu lioness still going around with the 4 boys?
The portrait of the Maxim’s male is so special! We’ve spent literally hours pursuing him over multiple visits! So to see a close up image of him staring at the lens is super special!
The cheetah walking off into the sunset……simply wonderful photos!!!
Robbie, Thanks for an awesome set of images! We loved them all and our favorite is the Maxim’s Male – what a handsome guy!
The skies were helpful this week! The cheetah walking off defeated was the best but so many other great ones too! How lucky are you?!