Jess Shillaw

Guest contributor

Jess was born in Kwazulu/Natal but grew up in Cape Town. Having an innate love for all things wild but getting to spend little time in the bush while growing up, she headed straight for the Lowveld after school. She completed a guiding course and spent a year guiding in the Sabi Sand Reserve. It was during this time that she realised that Londolozi was the place she really wanted to be, and in 2018 she successfully completed the Londolozi Guide Selection Course.

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Why do Giraffes Have Spots?

Jess Shillaw March 15, 2021 7

I often get asked by guests: why are some giraffes light and why are some so dark? Why are they even patterned the way they are in the first place? …

General Nature Wildlife

The Lunar Moth

Jess Shillaw February 23, 2021 13

“The Lunar Moth is attracted to the moon as a source of light”, Bronwyn Varty-Laburn often shares with me how she believes that the Lunar moth – or African Moon …

General Nature Londolozi Family Wildlife

The Week in Pictures #478

Jess Shillaw February 5, 2021 22

After three years of being a ranger here, and having ventured somewhat into the field of photography, it was time to contribute my first Week in Pictures… The bird life …

Featured Photography The Week in Pictures Wildlife

Sitting with an Elephant

Jess Shillaw January 30, 2021 31

When the lodge is quiet, the rangers will often go out into the bush by themselves or with a couple of colleagues to work on their tracking, birding, or simply …

Featured Wildlife

Vervet Monkeys Raid Weaver Nests

Jess Shillaw December 31, 2020 12

Crossing the Causeway over the Sand River on our way back to camp, we noticed something unusual. There is an island of trees in the middle channel of the river …

Birds Featured Wildlife

The Guardians of the Leadwood forest

Jess Shillaw December 22, 2020 4

Previously, I wrote about walking barefoot through the Leadwood forest in the Northern part of Londolozi. While doing just that, I noticed that at both ends of the forest there …

Wildlife

Leopard Kills Wild Dog

Jess Shillaw December 8, 2020 29

We have been really lucky with sightings of wild dogs as of late, hence why I headed out into the bush early one morning to find the pack we had …

Featured Wild Dogs Wildlife

Touch the Earth With Your Bare Feet

Jess Shillaw November 19, 2020 13

I recently found out about earthing or grounding, which is when you expose your bare skin to the ground, transferring energy from the earth to your body. It turns out …

Wellness Wilderness teachings

Tsalala Lioness Kills Kudu: Through the Eyes of Trainee Rangers

Jess Shillaw November 12, 2020 32

I recently joined Trainee Rangers Kirsten, Patrick and Kyle on a morning drive. We had two incredible lion sightings; the Birmingham male first and then the Tsalala female with her …

Featured Lions Wildlife

The Meaning of Life: the Circle

Jess Shillaw June 1, 2020 1 15

One morning during my time as a trainee, we set out to go and see the most beautiful Strangler Fig tree (Ficus stuhlmannii) in the Southern part of Londolozi. For …

Wilderness teachings Wildlife

The Moon Phases and What They Can Mean for the Animals

Jess Shillaw April 16, 2020 20

We have always been strangers to the night. Darkness brings fear; the fear of the unseen with unfamiliar sounds and not being able to make out anything past your hand. …

General Nature Leopards Lions Wildlife

The Evolution of an Eye

Jess Shillaw March 9, 2020 12

Have you ever watched an action-packed scene unfold around you and you try your best to focus on a certain object moving? Or have you ever watched your house cat …

General Nature Wildlife

A Drive of Unusual Occurrences

Jess Shillaw February 9, 2020 14

On a warm afternoon we set out with the specific intention of finding and appreciating some of the smaller inhabitants of the bush. The Sand River was running strongly, and …

Wildlife

Birdsong: A VERY Brief Human History

Jess Shillaw December 16, 2019 8

I was watching the Ximungwe female recently when the call of a Village Weaver caught my attention. I happen to know this particular call very well because of a village …

Birds Featured General Nature Wildlife

The Elephant Effect

Jess Shillaw October 29, 2019 23

“There is nothing that reduces us to our proper dimensions more rapidly and completely than spending long periods in the company of elephants.” Mitch Reardon, Shaping Kruger Everyone that has …

Wilderness teachings Wildlife