This past week delivered a wonderful mix of sightings across Londolozi. A male cheetah was found in the south-western parts of the reserve and, after a failed attempt on both impala and zebra, eventually settled on a beautiful outlook to rest and scan the landscape. The Styx Male seems to be finding his voice as we enjoyed a powerful display of him on the patrol, belting out roar after roar on what was quite a sublime morning!
Down at the Sand River, a crocodile reminded me how striking and almost prehistoric in appearance they are. A hint at the ancient lineage that still dominates these waters today.
I also came across a Msuthlu Lioness sharpening her claws, and with a bit of quick reflexes, I managed to capture the moment. The Gijima Coalition continue to tighten its grip on the territory as the lion dynamics begin to stabilise after what has been a rather tumultuous few months.
Birdlife also featured strongly this week. A pair of Yellow-billed Hornbills glowed in the golden afternoon light. A gentle reminder of the bonds between male and female as the breeding season begins to wind down. Not far away, one of their larger cousins, the endangered Southern Ground Hornbill, stood proudly atop a termite mound surveying the surrounding area.
Perhaps the most special moment of the week came during a peaceful morning spent with the Nkoveni Female and the Shingi Male. Watching these two together was an absolute privilege and produced one of my favourite images of the collection.
The Maxim’s Male, meanwhile, continues to move quietly through his territory with the calm precision that has defined his reign for so many years.
To round things off, a relaxed rhino bull offered a fantastic portrait opportunity, and we enjoyed an incredible afternoon watching a pack of wild dogs moving through the Manyeleti riverbed.
Let us know in the comments section below which are your favourites.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
A black and white version of this stunning male cheetah as he caught my eye line!
A hyena strolls towards a big herd of zebras. Londolozi is lush green at the moment!
The male cheetah we are lucky enough to see from time to time rested and surveyed his surroundings on this raised outlook.
The Styx Male has been finding his voice of late. Only time will tell what this stunning male lion has in store for us!
An animal that has truly stood the test of time. I can’t help but marvel at their beautiful markings!
A Msuthlu Lioness sharpens her claws on this Tamboti tree.
Notice the muscles rippling through her back.
The Gijima Coalition alive and well. They continue to tighten their grip on their newly claimed territory.
The light-maned Gijima Male rests peacefully in the road. I almost fell out of my Land Rover trying to get eye level with him.
This pair of Yellow-billed Hornbills was basking in golden light.
One of the more endangered birds in this area I really enjoyed this moment!
Sightings of these two together will continue to grow far and few between. What a special morning we had with them! The Shingi Male and the Nkoveni Female!
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
Just pure intensity as the Nkoveni Female confidently walked down the road.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
This leopard tortoise gave me quite a comical feeling. If you look closely, it almost looks like he/she was smiling. Impossible, I know, but the mind wanders!
The Maxims Male with business as usual. This dominant character shows no sign of letting up any time soon!
Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.
This gentle giant was resting on a beautiful crest
The Shingi Male perched right above us stares down.
Other then the Shingi Male and Nkoveni Female this was comfortably my other most satisfying shot.
A wonderful afternoon of a pack of Wild Dogs as they walked up and down the dry Manyeleti river bed.
An inquisitive elephant calf came charging up towards us.
The 3:2 Male relaxes in a marula in the northern stretches of the reserve
An elusive and intriguing newcomer with an unknown past. Likely originating from the Kruger National Park, he is currently unnamed.
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on The Week in Pictures #745