With my harddrive on the brink I was unfortunately unable to access my latest photos, so while I try and sort out the problem, I thought it would be fun to go back through some old shots. Some were taken long before I began contributing to the blog, some more recently but didn’t make the cut.
Either way, enjoy this week in semi-forgotten-but-now-dug-up-again pictures…
Two of the Tsalala Breakaway lionesses cross the Londolozi airstrip on a chilly winter’s morning. At least two of these lionesses are currently believed to have cubs. One has been denning in the Munghen Drainage system and the other is believed to be keeping cubs in the Sand River (so far only tracks have been seen). f5, 1/640, ISO 200
The Male cheetah seems to enjoy watching the sunsets as much as we do. f4, 1/250, ISO 1600
The male cheetah snatches a quick drink from Weaver’s Nest Pan before a nearby herd of buffalo pressured him into leaving the area. f4, 1/320, ISO 2000
One of my favourite things to watch; elephants swimming. Elephants are one of the few species who can on occasions be seen to simply be full of the joys of life! We lost no time in telling every nearby ranger to hurry to the waterhole, as this was one sighting not to be missed! f5.6, 1/640, ISO 200
A mother elephant and calf make their way across a recently burnt and very dusty part of the reserve. f4, 1/400, ISO 200
The azure blue of a malachite kingfisher is one of the most beautiful colours in nature. f10, 1/800, ISO 400
The cub of the Mashaba female leopard. f3.5, 1/320, ISO 320
The Notten’s female, still going strong at almost 18 yrs old, watches a bateleur eagle fly overhead. f5.6, 1/800, ISO 200
The cub of the Piva female hides from some hyenas in the fork of a leadwood tree. This cub has not been seen for many months on Londolozi. f4, 1/320, ISO 800
A blur of mane as one of the Majingilane prepares to rise. f7.1, 1/250, ISO 400
Photographically a disaster, but still one of the most incredible sightings I have witnessed, as the Tugwaan male grapples with an enormous warthog sow. He had been mating with the Nottens female when he spotted the warthogs in long grass. Rushing in, he broke the back of a piglet but before he could kill it the mother warthog had hit him in the flank, gashing his hind leg open. He leapt upon her back, but his awkward grip and her sheer size made it difficult for him to gain a stranglehold, and it took him 10 minutes to kill her. The piglet was squealing the whole way through until the Nottens female timidly approached the commotion and ended its suffering. Two leopards, two kills, one sighting. Incredible. f4, 1/250, ISO 200
Two of the South Pride lions, who are making regular forays onto Londolozi territory. The Kruger Male, their pride male, has been seen in our Southern areas of late, but it is unsure whether he has been properly evicted by the Sparta males yet or not. f5, 1/800, ISO 100
The tail of the Vomba female leopard in all its glory. f2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100
The Tamboti female, pre-cubs. She had been mating with both the Camp Pan male and Maxabene 3:2 young male leopards before this, and we are still unsure as to who the father of her cubs is. f4, 1/30, ISO 1600
My first ever sighting of a narina trogon was probably the hardest I have ever hit the brakes whilst out on game drive. We were looking for the Dudley Riverbank female leopard in the Tugwaan drainage line when we rounded a corner and spied the bird sitting low in the riverine foliage. f4, 1/125, ISO 1600
Photographed by James Tyrrell
Wouldn’t mind chatting over e-mail if you had the chance, James. I just finished a semester at New York Film Academy and I’d love to pick your brain about settings in the bush. Let me know if you have the time!
Exquisite photos James, especially like the black and white with the cub in the tree, but can’t stop admiring the Narina Trogan shot, the colours are stunning – all winners Hope your computer problems are short-lived.
This inspired me to look back through my pics from Londolozi and more S.A. in 2011. The black and white picture above of the Piva female’s cub, and how it is camouflaged in the bark of the tree, got me to thinking…how many animals are hidden in a picture. It’s a game, and one as children we all played…spot the hidden item. So, I found many pictures of animals hidden in underbrush(rhinos peeking out from huge thorns!), grass, trees. Mine are actually all in color…BUT if animals only see in shades of black, white and grey, how much more interesting the game becomes! If animals don’t see colors…why are birds so flamboyant? If they only see black and white, then the ‘follow me’ signs on the back of the cats’ ears are really quite visible. SO, how many colors do these animals see?
Where’s Camp Pan Male? It has been a while since we’ve heard of him?
Hi Vin,
He is still around! As far as I know, the last time he was seen was with the Tamboti female and her cubs on a kill, a phenomenal sighting! THis makes us think that he is indeed the father of these cubs which is great news, becaus as he moves on in age his reign may be coming to an end.
Kindest regards,
Kate
Your Londolozi images are timeless James.
James, I know that I am repeating myself, but you have once again made my day with your “old” pictures. I could list the favourites, it would be all, but the Leopard tail, Cub in the tree & Narina Trogan come out tops. So thanks a ton and I now look forward to the “next exciting episode”!
Enjoy your weekend
Kind regards
Love the action shot of Tugwaan male. You get a sense of his power and the chaos and noise of a kill. Nice shots.
Love the leopard cub tail. I have a similar one that I took which is one of my favorites of my photos. Thanks again for a great post.
hello James,
Thanks for this feast of images…enjoyed them especially the story of two leopards, two kills and one sighting. hope the Piva cub is found soon- it looks so beautifully blended with the texture of the tree trunk. Wish I could see the Trogon in Londoz.
The website is my father in law’s images…you might find some of your leopards in it.
Best,
Shveta
Piva cub, incredible!
Simply WOW..