August and September marked the arrival of spring at Londolozi. As the landscape shifted from the golden tones of winter to fresh shades of green, the bushveld began to stir with new activity.
It has been a particularly memorable season for new life. Leopard cubs have emerged, wild dog pups have filled the den with energy, and newborns have taken their first tentative steps into the world. Alongside these moments, there have been unexpected encounters, dramatic wildlife interactions and the quieter scenes that remind us how much is happening beyond the main road.
Here are some of our favourite reel highlights from the past two months, capturing a few of the moments that have made spring at Londolozi so special.
Be sure to let us know your favourite snippet in the comments below.
1. A Sunset Encounter with a Honey Badger
Sometimes, being in the right place at the right time is just the wild’s way of rewarding you. Lucky for Ranger Matt Rochford and his guests, that’s exactly where they found themselves. A perfect winter sunset, and a cheeky honey badger to end the day.
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2. The Msuthlu Pride vs. The Ostrich Nest
Ten lionesses. One determined ostrich. Sixteen eggs.
The Msuthlu Pride discovered an ostrich nest and, despite the male’s best attempts to draw them away, the lions were not giving up easily. Ostrich eggs are remarkably tough, and the pride soon had to work out another way to get to what was inside.
It was an unusual sighting, and a fascinating glimpse into the problem-solving behaviour of a lion pride.
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3. When a Leopard Walks Past
There are leopard sightings, and then there are moments when a leopard comes close enough to make an entire vehicle fall silent.
For a few seconds, the distance between observer and animal disappears. You are simply there, watching her move through her world, close enough to hear every footstep.
It is moments like these that stay with you long after the vehicle has driven away.
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4. Kambula and Ntsevu: A Family Divided
The Kambula Pride and the Ntsevu Pride share a complicated history.
Once part of the same larger pride, related females eventually split as the group became too large to function as one. Today, they occupy different territories and live separate lives, but their shared history remains written into the relationships between them.
When these two prides meet, there is more to the encounter than meets the eye.
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5. Leopards from above
Seen from above, a leopard mating encounter takes on an entirely different perspective.
The Xinkhova Female and an unidentified male spent four days together, with the intense snarling and dramatic interactions that form part of leopard courtship and mating behaviour.
It may look aggressive, but there is a remarkable evolutionary process behind the spectacle.
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6. They say there’s something special waiting at the end of every rainbow…
There are moments in the bush that seem to arrive perfectly timed.
A rainbow stretched across the Londolozi landscape, creating one of those fleeting scenes where the light, weather and wilderness come together for just long enough to be captured.
Sometimes, there really is something special waiting at the end of a rainbow.
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7. Wild Dogs Are Denning at Londolozi
Spring brought some particularly exciting news: wild dogs are denning on Londolozi.
With pups now at the den, the pack has entered one of the most important stages of its breeding cycle. For us, it means watching quietly from a respectful distance and allowing the pack to go about the business of raising the next generation.
It is a privilege to witness new life beginning here.
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8. The Makhatini Brothers: A Lifelong Coalition
Since leaving their mother, the Makhatini sub-adult males have paired off and are expected to remain a coalition for life, a partnership that will count for something when it comes to holding territory or tackling prey too large to handle alone.
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9. The Leopards of Londolozi, crafted and created by Ardmore.
To mark Londolozi’s centenary celebration, two ancient art forms merged: tracking the earth and shaping it. Crafted by the renowned artists at Ardmore, this custom lantern features our iconic leopards, the golden marula tree, and the Leopard Orchid.
Beyond its beauty, 10% of every lantern sold directly supports the Londolozi Ripple Fund, Good Work Foundation, and the Tracker Academy.
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10. First Steps: A Newborn Giraffe
There is nothing quite like watching a newborn giraffe calf discover its legs for the very first time against a glowing sunset backdrop. A delicate, heartwarming reminder of how precious new life is in the wilderness.
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11. The Nkoveni Female and her cub
At just twelve weeks old, Nkoveni’s cub is already beginning to discover the world beyond the den.
For a young leopard, there is no better teacher than its mother. Nkoveni is one of the most experienced mothers on Londolozi, and every moment spent alongside her is another lesson in the art of being a leopard.
For now, there is still plenty of time for simply following her paws.
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12. Life at the Wild Dog Den
Life at a wild dog den is anything but quiet.
The arrival of pups brings energy, movement and plenty of chaos as the youngsters learn to navigate their new world and the adults work together to care for them.
After a season of waiting, watching these wild dog pups emerge has been one of the most special parts of spring at Londolozi.
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13. Honoured with Three MICHELIN Keys & Local Gateway Award 2026
We are deeply humbled and thrilled to announce that Londolozi has once again been awarded three MICHELIN Keys, alongside the MICHELIN Local Gateway Award for 2026.
To us, the word “gateway” has always meant more than just a doorway to a safari—it is a gateway back to nature, to one another, and to the profound realization that we are not separate from the natural world; we are a part of it. Standing alongside South Africa’s incredible hospitality community, we are reminded of Ubuntu: a generosity of spirit that welcomes every traveler not as a guest, but as family coming home.
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14. Golden Hour Dust Baths
Elephants rely on dust baths to protect their skin from the harsh sun and insects. On this particular evening, science met pure magic as a dust-bathing ritual unfolded entirely bathed in rich, golden light.
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And that brings us to the end of our spring round-up.
From leopard cubs and wild dog pups to newborn giraffes, lions, elephants and the unexpected visitors that appear along the way, August and September have given us plenty to remember.
The bush is constantly changing, and there is always something happening just beyond the next bend in the road.
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on August & September in Reels: Experience Londolozi Through Video Highlights