This week at Londolozi, we got a blunt reminder of who’s actually in charge out here. A massive weather system off the Mozambique coast has essentially rewritten the map, bringing a staggering amount of rain to the Lowveld and turning the Sand River into a beast. The roads are pure mud, the bush is thick, and the humidity is a constant battle for the camera gear.
These are the conditions that really test you. The dust is gone, replaced by a relentless moisture that makes tracking almost impossible. Visibility is poor, and you spend half your time just trying to keep the sensors dry and the lenses clear. There are long stretches of quiet frustration—sitting under a grey sky, waiting for a break, listening to the hum of the gear as it fights the damp. It’s not always cinematic, but it’s real.
Despite the mess, the bush eventually stretched out a hand. We had some incredible sightings that, honestly, we didn’t have to work that hard for once we found them. We caught the Msuthlu Pride out on the open airstrip toying with a few giraffe, and found the Gijima males just sitting tight in the downpour—I was lucky enough to be there when the rain let up just enough to catch a head shake.
To top it all off, we finally tracked down a leopard. In fact, we found two: the Nkoveni female and the Shingi male. We watched them meet up briefly before they disappeared back into the thickets.
These are the moments that make the struggle worth it. It’s proof that even when the elements are against us, the machinations of nature just keep turning. Every sighting this week felt like a hard-won gift from the heart of the bush.
Enjoy This Virtual Safari…
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The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
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on Lions In The Rain | Virtual Safari #306