As the summer heat settles over Londolozi and the Sand River starts to full, the bush teems with life and energy, offering moments of quiet awe and thrilling spectacle. This week brought a delightful mix of unique sightings and memorable experiences, beginning with the Three Rivers Female Leopard and her growing cub, whose presence continues to captivate. The elusive Jacana Female made a rare appearance, perched high in a marula tree. At the same time, the Maxims Male surprised us with an unusually confident display, adding a fresh dynamic to our leopard encounters.
Among the week’s highlights was a Martial Eagle showcasing its hunting prowess with a slender mongoose kill—a raw and dramatic display of nature’s balance. A hippo wallowing contentedly in the mud provided a playful contrast, embodying the laid-back charm of the bush.
One of the most exhilarating moments came when ranger Pat could barely contain his excitement, fist-pumping as a Ndzhenga Male Lion roared just meters away—a moment that perfectly captured the unfiltered thrill of the wild.
This week at Londolozi showcases the sheer unpredictability of nature, where each day is filled with stories of patience, perseverance, and serendipity. I hope this collection of images transports you to the wild’s raw beauty and inspires you to appreciate the magic of the bush.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
The Three Rivers Female looks on towards her growing young female as the youngster continues to play with her latest meal before she settles down to finally start feeding.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
Three warthog piglets bring all the joy and big smiles to anyone who manages to catch a glimpse. These 3 we caught off guard and I was able to snap a picture before they ran off to join their mother.
The seldom-seen Jacana Female tried to find the most comfortable position up in a Marula tree where she had hoisted a young waterbuck kill.
This young female now roams the open grasslands, occupying territory to the north of her mother. She has striking orange eyes.
Perched in the branches of a marula tree, a Martial Eagle grips its slender mongoose prey, a striking scene of nature’s raw beauty.
A thrilling sighting as we tried to keep up with the Xinkhova Female as she moved through the Sand River. Eventually, we got a spectacular view of her as she walked out into the open across the boulders in the morning golden light.
A stunning young female with a very similar spot pattern to her mother, the Nkoveni Female. Litter still completely intact March 2022.
An afternoon well spent with the Maxims Male. This male leopard is often one to shy away from the cameras. This particular afternoon he surprised us all as he moved from termite mound to termite mound, pausing on each one to strike a pose as he did.
Fairly skittish male that is presumed to have come from the Kruger National Park.
Elevated on a termite mound, the kudus act as sentinels, each taking a different vantage point to survey their surroundings.
Head in the clouds, a mouth full of leaves, and an oxpecker hitching a ride while it finds its next meal.
One of the Ndzhenga Males looking on towards his brother and two lionesses from the Kambula Pride.
Ranger Pat Grealy’s expression and fist pump says it all as we were all treated to an impressive performance from this Ndzhenga Male and a Kambula Lioness.
The Nkoveni female scans here surrounds from a fallen over marula tree. Turns out, later that afternoon both her and her now one year old young male were successful in hunting young impalas.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
A rather comical sighting watching this hippo wallowing in the mud. While you are most often likely to come across a rhino or warthog wallowing, hippos also enjoy the cooling benefits and the mud aids to protect their sensitive skin from the sun.
The Three Rivers Young Female gazes up into a schotia tree where she finds the young impala lamb her mother had caught and hoisted for her to find.
A young waterbuck calf shows off its fluffy hair in the morning golden light.
The Ngungwe female is becoming notorious for spending time on the boulders of the northern section of the reserve. You just have to be in the right place at the right time to catch her there!
Young inquisitive beautiful female, bordering on independence as of November 2021
Apparently this black stork wasn’t too close for comfort as it pose next to a crocodile – both more interested in catching a fish for their next meal.
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