There’s a particular magic that wraps itself around Londolozi during the winter months. If you have had the pleasure of visiting the reserve, you will know there’s something special about winter mornings. They start off cold and quiet, but for those willing to brave the early chill, the adventure and wildlife sightings are always worth it.
I love to stop on the airstrip and take in the golden glow of dawn just before sunrise.
Every time you head out on the open Land Rover, there’s a bite that catches you off guard, no matter how many mornings you’ve done this. It’s cold, crisp, and invigorating. The smell of winter is hard to describe, but it’s sharp, fresh, and somehow cleaner than any other air you’ve inhaled. There’s a stillness that hangs over everything — the kind that makes you want to take a deep breath and just sit with it for a moment.
The winter mornings can be misty, and it’s always exciting to discover animals walking through the golden glow of a misty sunrise.
One of my favourite things about winter mornings is watching the sun rise over Stwise Koppie in the East. The rocky outcrop stands silhouetted against the sky above the mist, and the golden light breaking through feels like the bush is slowly waking up. No matter what the morning brings, often we’ll pause here, in silence, just to watch.
This scene excites me as winter approaches, a misty morning that gives way to a beautiful golden sunrise.
Then comes the sound that cuts through the silence like a knife — a lion’s roar. It rolls across the bushveld. And when you’re close enough to see him, there’s nothing quite like watching his breath rise in clouds of mist as he roars. The sound is loud, and it rattles your ribs. The sight of it, his breath catching the light as he announces his presence to the world, is something that stays with you.
A male lion’s territorial display is a powerful and dramatic sight. Just after sunrise, lions will release their final territorial calls. These deep, resonant roars carry across the landscape, marking their presence and reminding other males of their dominance in the area.
The animals feel the cold too. Birds fluff up their feathers and perch in the sun, trying to warm up. Impalas stand still with their soft winter coats like a visible second skin. Their coats puff up, trapping warmth, giving them a fuzzy outline in the early light. These subtle changes are easy to miss if you’re not looking, but once you notice them, they become part of the quiet beauty of the season.
A Lilac-breasted Roller tries desperately to warm up on a cold winter’s morning. This bird uses its feathers to trap warm air close to the body as it waits for the warm sun to heat up its feathers.
An impala ram waits patiently for the sun’s rays to hit his body. The darker shade of his fur shows his ‘winter coat’ that impala so often have in the early mornings.
Eventually, as the sun climbs higher and we thaw layer by layer beneath our jackets and blankets, the cold doesn’t last forever. The thought of a warm cup of coffee becomes more and more appealing. And so we search for the right spot, maybe a clearing with a view or a sunny area near the Sand River. Stopping in the bush for a morning coffee has to be one of the best parts of the winter morning game drive. Hands wrapped around the warm mug of coffee, soaking up the warmth and taking in the view.
Joy loves making coffee for our guests and talking about his stories from the bush.
And lastly, I find the light in the mornings just right. As the sun rises higher, it casts a warm, golden glow over the landscape, perfect for photography. Everything seems to light up from the dust. The animals and the trees glow, which gives even the most familiar scenes a touch of magic.
The Nkoveni Female walks along a waterhole in spectacular morning light, which casts a perfect reflection of her body in the water.
Winter might mean extra layers and a cold start, but for me, it also brings some of the most beautiful and memorable drives of the year. It’s the stillness, the light, the quiet power of a lion’s breath in the cold and the anticipation for amazing sightings.
These are the moments that I long for on a morning game drive in the wintertime.
Nick, What a great surprise to see your post this morning! We loved our recent early morning drives with you and Joy “Full” and miss you guys! Your shot of Nkoveni is gorgeous and we love seeing Joy’s big smile! You guys are the very BEST!!
Thanks Michael and Terri! It was great to have you guys back at the lodge !
All four times we’ve been there it’s been wintertime. I love the morning drive rituals of hot water bottle, blanket, beanie, gaiter, gloves, puffy jacket. Then, by coffee break time we’re shedding our ‘skins’ as the day warms up. Magical!
What a nice picture of Joy. I believe I was along for his very first official game drive along with the wonderful, I understand now retired, Sandros.
That sounds right Leslie! Thanks for the comment.
You make a winter morning sound so inviting through your images and prose that I wish I was there to take in that pure fresh air, considering the heat of summer here. In a way, I find I can experience a bit of winter by spending time there in autumn, when the hottest days of summer have cooled and the mornings oftentimes display a mist hovering over the Sand River. Continue to enjoy the rest of winter and pass along a hi to Joy who does make the best Bush Coffee!!
Thanks Denise, Will do!
Very nice, I did know impala s coat appeared like that, they always look elegant and beautiful in every “dress”… early morning has such a mystical atmosphere. Beautiful rendering
Dear Nick, so wonderful lights. I know why I mostly come in juli/august to londolozi.
Hi Nick, winter mornings are very cold and the brave people that do enjoy the bush will not be disappointed by the beautiful sunrise and animals in the sun. The photo of Nkoveni leopardess in the sun’s rays and reflection in the water is magical. The impala’s skin seems to glow and stand up in the winter, they too are looking for the sun to warm themselves up.
Your description of the winter mornings sound enticing. So far I’ve not been brave enough to face the cold of winter on an open vehicle. But maybe, who knows, it sounds really great.
Which winter month would you recommend the most? June or July? And which one is normally the coldest?
July is usually the coldest. I would recommend end of May and June.
UNIQUELY ATMOSPHERIC DESCRIPTIONS.
THE LEOPARD PHOTO IS QUITE SPECTACULAR.
THANK YOU.