Firstly I would like to wish everyone a happy World Environment Day. On this very special day, I get to share with all of you just a small portion of what makes this beautiful Earth of ours so amazing. The week leading up to today has been nothing short of breathtaking. We have had some incredible sightings and all count ourselves very lucky to see what we have seen. From the Tsalala pride walking in the night in search of food to the Mashaba young female hoisting a kill into a tree seconds before being robbed by a hyena, to witnessing life fade before our eyes as a male cheetah suffocated a nyala…. it truly has been a special week.
Night photography is swiftly becoming a passion of mine and I have included a few shots in this week’s post.
There are few things more powerful than viewing lions at night. Here, a young Tsalala male lies with the pride being side lit. Using a spotlight from another creates the side-lit effect. ISO 2000, F4, 1/80
A Tsalala female walks towards us while being backlit by Amy’s vehicle. ISO 1600, F4, 1/80
Another side-lit shot, this time of the Mashaba young female, as she rests before setting out on her night’s foray. ISO 1600, F4.5, 1/80
The Mashaba young female again, backlit, just before she drifted off into the darkness without a sound. ISO 2000, F4.5, 1/4000
A nightjar uses the road as an observation platform for hunting during the first few hours after sunset and then as a convenient place for resting and digesting its food. ISO 2000, F5.6, 1/160
The normally skittish Short Tailed male provided for an incredible afternoon after he robbed the Tamboti female of her meal that she had so painstakingly hidden away and hoisted into a tree. ISO 1600, F4, 1/80
After feeding, he moved to a nearby pan to slake his thirst and lie resting, too full to do much but raise his head occasionally. ISO 1600, F4, 1/80
One of the three Sparta young males waking up from his slumbers on a cold cloudy morning. There is a chance we may have seen the last of these males for awhile, if not for good. They were last seen heading North from the Sand River and not looking back. With the activity of the new coalitions of older and bigger males moving in, there is not a lot of space left for these three young lions on Londolozi anymore. ISO 500, F2.8, 1/1000
The Mashaba young female moves through a chilly winter’s morning. ISO 400, F4, 1/1600
Leopards will often climb onto termite mounds or fallen logs in order to see what prey species are potentially available in the surrounding areas, and the Mashaba young female displays a perfect example of this behaviour before settling down to rest out the hotter hours of the day. ISO 800, F4, 1/4000
We were privileged enough to witness a chase and kill, as a male cheetah took down a young nyala just next to the airstrip. Although it is never easy being present at the death of an animal, we as observers try to remain unemotional, and acknowledge that it is simply energy moving through the system. ISO 400, F4, 1/2500
Cheetahs are always extremely alert at their kills as they can be so easily chased off by other predators and even vultures. ISO 400, F4, 1/1000
The most beautiful are often the most dangerous, and in the case of the Impala lily, pictured here, the latex from the stem is used as a traditional arrow poison. The flowers provide a stunning contrast to the surrounding browns and yellows of winter. ISO 800, F5.6, 1/250
Photographed by Nick Kleer, Londolozi Ranger
Stunning pics Nick. Love the night photography. Sad to see the young Sparta males leave.
Hi Marinda thank you very much. It is sad to see them go but they may be back sooner than we think, who knows? 🙂
The Sparta boys are beautiful. I hope they’ll be safe on their own. The Tsalala boys have grown so much, they look huge now! All of the cats are magnificent and the photos you took are truly amazing.
Hi Loretta, thank you very much and glad you enjoyed the post. We are all holding thumbs for them and if they return in a couple of years I think that they will be a force to be reckoned with!!
Always excited to see young Mashaba. She is special because we saw her when she was a cub with her mama. So happy to see her grow up. Thank you for the blog.
Hi Arden its a pleasure. She is such a beautiful little girl and always brings a smile to everyones faces.
Great images. I would love to see the metadata for the night shots.
Hi Jeff. The best way to do it is to start off on manual with your ISO around 1600, F stop as low as you can go and shutter speed at 1/100. From there it obviously helps having a second vehicle to do lighting for each other and a bean bag to ensure no movement on the picture. From there depending on what you are looking for in a shot it is easy to slightly adjust those settings to get the image that you want.
As always, lovely photo captures. Thank you for the information on the Impala Lily. I didn’t know about them. Such a beautiful flower. Thank you for sharing every day.
Hi Diane they are really striking flowers at this time of the year! Pleasure and hope you enjoy the other posts!
Sad to see the Sparta males leave. Curious why they moved North, doesnt seem any safer with the Matimba and Birmingham males up there.
Hi Mike, you are rite it doesn’t seem like a particularly safe place to move but then we have the Styx males, Fourways males and a new coalition of 2 males that have all been trying to squeeze into the south recently. A lot of pressure for any young males at the moment and very exciting times!!
Incredible images Nick! I’m also sad to see the young Sparta males go but I want them to be safe….maybe they will return someday as the new strong coalition. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs!
Hi Jill, its a pleasure and thank you for the comments. We are all hoping for their safe return in the future but who knows perhaps they will become a dominant force and spread those powerful jeans elsewhere.
I can see why you are becoming enamoured of the night photos. You do them rather well.
Hi MJ thank you very much, still got much more to learn with them but it is a lot of fun. Have you played round with any night shots?
Beautiful pictures Nick! I love them all, but compliment you on the night shots, the Tsalala female almost looks transparent. Thank you & I wish you a wonderful weekend & week of more stunning pictures to make the day brighter for me 🙂
Wendy thank you for the kind words. Im sure the up coming week will provide some more opportunities for everyone to get some great shots. Have a good week and thanks again for the reply!
anyone could tell me what happen with the Sparta cub with big head