With the last stretch of 2025 already here and summer in full swing, I’ve been thinking back to what was happening in the bush around this time last year.
So when I was editing my images for a recent TWIP, I took a moment to go back through my image archives over the years, and I have a feeling there’ll be a few more of these “walk down memory lane” blogs coming. But to kick things off, let’s look at October and compare it to what is happening now.
Out here, it can sometimes feel like nothing really changes – but as we know, change is constant. The bush is always shifting and surprising us.
When you’re out exploring every day, the sense of time blurs – days roll into one another. So, taking a moment to scroll through the archives has been such a great way to pause, reflect, and remember which animals we were spending time with at this point over the last few years. Enjoy!
October 2024
Nottens Male about to hoist an impressive warthog kill. This beautiful young male leopard spent a fair amount of time in the southern parts of Londolozi last year, and is now seen more frequently in the southern Sabi Sands. Hopefully, he decides to push back north now that his father (Nweti Male) is no longer around.
Born 2021, mirrors father Nweti's presence. Young force showing remarkable confidence while navigating nomadic phase in southern territories
Around this time last year, the Kruger Male and Southern Avoca Male Lions spent a fair amount of time roaming around together. Bonding and successfully hunting. We have not seen much of the Kruger Male this year, but the last sighting was in the first few months of 2025 when he was seen hanging out with the Black Dam Male. I believe he is still alive and being seen much further north.
Before the tragedy of the Nkoveni Female losing her young female cub at the end of last year, we were blessed with some incredible sightings of the two relaxed cubs. I love this image showing a distinct size difference between the Young female (left) and the Young Male (right) at roughly 10 months old.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
October 2023
Back in 2023, sightings of the Nkuhuma Male lion were few and far between. Nowadays, he is spending a lot more time on Londolozi with the Talamati Male. I remember this sighting so vividly, watching as the Nkuhuma Male dragged a substantial portion of a warthog kill several hundred meters until he reached some solid cover down in the Sand River.
My first proper full body shot of the Maxims Male! And an incredibly rare sighting back then of even finding him relaxed in daylight. We’ve been seeing a lot more of him in recent months, and his demeanour is a lot more relaxed around our vehicles.
Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.
Back in 2023, two of the Ntsevu Lionesses had recently given birth to four and two cubs, respectively. One of these cubs is one of the surviving subadults we see today in the Ntsevu Pride of 3 adults and 3 subadults.
October 2022
Tribute to the beautiful Plaque Rock Female. Back in 2022, she was a resident Londolozi leopard, constantly found along the river, near and around camp, or lying atop a prominent termite mound posing for the camera – just like she’s doing here.
Born 2018, skilled huntress and determined mother. Dominated Sand River territory until her tragic end in 2024.
A beautiful Blood Lily (Scadoxus Multiflorus). This pop of colour blooms in October and November in this Lowveld area. A magnificent geophyte that grows from a rhizomatous bulb and can have semi-succulent, bright green leaves and a spectacular flower head.
This will always be one of my top leopard sightings to date. We were fortunate to spend an entire afternoon with the Three Rivers Female and the Nsuku Male back when he was still dependent on her. The afternoon ended with the Nsuku Male playfully climbing around a fallen marula tree in golden dusk light.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
Born 2021, son of Three Rivers Female. Once playful cub turned skittish post independence. Striking golden coat.
Back when there were three! One of my only shots I managed to get of the three Ndzhenga Male Lions all together, locked in staring at a soaring vulture up ahead. Full-bellied after their meal and a drink at the waterhole behind them, they settled in some shade for the day.
Great look back, Kate. We were introduced to the Three Rivers young male [Nsuku] during an August morning drive in 2022. He was playing catch & release with a slender mongoose while his mother dined on a kill.
Hi Kate, a beautifully nostalgic blog edition…. I was immediately struck by the Blood Lily, it’s an absolutely stunning, hypnotising flower you can’t surely miss… the Nkoveni Female is a pure force of nature and her beauty reflects it, passed on to her offspring. I just love the picture of the Plaque Rock female and the Nkoveni young female with her double in size, her brother. I just can’t take my eyes off of them. All exquisite, carved by the same beauty of their mother. All pictures mean something special. The last of the Three Ndzenga males is great, an incredible image of power. So sad that lions, being apex predators and the most powerful among hunters, loose so many cubs.
Wonderful photos, Kate, full of memories.
By the way, is it usual that a male cub is so much bigger than a female cub like the two Nkoveni cubs? When I saw them last year, the difference in size was really remarkable. So much has happened during the last year regarding the chances and fates of lions and leopards.
Hi Kate, what a Look Back you have displayed in your story today. Loved seeing the Plague Rock female lying on her rock. Also the Ndhzenga Males, they were very impressive last year. A good story down memory lane Kate.
I enjoyed your trip down memory lane, Kate. Having been there in 2024, I remember the sightings you mentioned. Thanks!
Kate, what a cool idea to look back! Thanks for the memories!
I enjoyed traveling back with you through Octobers’ past. There was immediate déjà vu via your 2024 photos as I was there during that period of great joy, watching Nkoveni with her two playful cubs in addition to the Nottens male lounging nonchalantly under the deck of a house
on a particularly hot morning. Most of your other leopard and lion sightings were familiar faces to me in April of 21 and 23….. now and then I find myself scrolling through some of my favorite images, and although some of those lions and leopards are no longer with us physically, they still play an important part in the Londolozi story. Thanks for taking us back with you.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Kate. Although I’ve been in October and November quite a lot of times, I don’t remember ever seeing a Blood Lily – really stunning. When I’m back in 2 weeks I’ll ask Alfie if he can show me one!
I love looking back for context. You’re right–things are always changing, and we don’t necessarily notice in the day-to-day operations. I’m still so sad about the loss of the Plaque Rock Female before she could fully raise a cub.