A Look Back In Time- October

With the last stretch of 2025 already here and summer in full swing, I’ve been thinking back to what was happening in the bush around this time last year.

So when I was editing my images for a recent TWIP, I took a moment to go back through my image archives over the years, and I have a feeling there’ll be a few more of these “walk down memory lane” blogs coming. But to kick things off, let’s look at October and compare it to what is happening now.

Out here, it can sometimes feel like nothing really changes – but as we know, change is constant. The bush is always shifting and surprising us.

When you’re out exploring every day, the sense of time blurs – days roll into one another. So, taking a moment to scroll through the archives has been such a great way to pause, reflect, and remember which animals we were spending time with at this point over the last few years. Enjoy!

Nottens Male about to hoist an impressive warthog kill. This beautiful young male leopard spent a fair amount of time in the southern parts of Londolozi last year, and is now seen more frequently in the southern Sabi Sands. Hopefully, he decides to push back north now that his father (Nweti Male) is no longer around.

Born 2021, mirrors father Nweti’s presence. Young force showing remarkable confidence while navigating nomadic phase in southern territories

Around this time last year, the Kruger Male and Southern Avoca Male Lions spent a fair amount of time roaming around together. Bonding and successfully hunting. We have not seen much of the Kruger Male this year, but the last sighting was in the first few months of 2025 when he was seen hanging out with the Black Dam Male. I believe he is still alive and being seen much further north.

Before the tragedy of the Nkoveni Female losing her young female cub at the end of last year, we were blessed with some incredible sightings of the two relaxed cubs. I love this image showing a distinct size difference between the Young female (left) and the Young Male (right) at roughly 10 months old.

The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.

Back in 2023, sightings of the Nkuhuma Male lion were few and far between. Nowadays, he is spending a lot more time on Londolozi with the Talamati Male. I remember this sighting so vividly, watching as the Nkuhuma Male dragged a substantial portion of a warthog kill several hundred meters until he reached some solid cover down in the Sand River.

My first proper full body shot of the Maxims Male! And an incredibly rare sighting back then of even finding him relaxed in daylight. We’ve been seeing a lot more of him in recent months, and his demeanour is a lot more relaxed around our vehicles.

Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.

Back in 2023, two of the Ntsevu Lionesses had recently given birth to four and two cubs, respectively. One of these cubs is one of the surviving subadults we see today in the Ntsevu Pride of 3 adults and 3 subadults.

Tribute to the beautiful Plaque Rock Female. Back in 2022, she was a resident Londolozi leopard, constantly found along the river, near and around camp, or lying atop a prominent termite mound posing for the camera – just like she’s doing here.

Born 2018, skilled huntress and determined mother. Dominated Sand River territory until her tragic end in 2024.

A beautiful Blood Lily (Scadoxus Multiflorus). This pop of colour blooms in October and November in this Lowveld area. A magnificent geophyte that grows from a rhizomatous bulb and can have semi-succulent, bright green leaves and a spectacular flower head.

This will always be one of my top leopard sightings to date. We were fortunate to spend an entire afternoon with the Three Rivers Female and the Nsuku Male back when he was still dependent on her. The afternoon ended with the Nsuku Male playfully climbing around a fallen marula tree in golden dusk light.

Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she’s proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.

Born 2021, son of Three Rivers Female. Once playful cub turned skittish post independence. Striking golden coat.

Back when there were three! One of my only shots I managed to get of the three Ndzhenga Male Lions all together, locked in staring at a soaring vulture up ahead. Full-bellied after their meal and a drink at the waterhole behind them, they settled in some shade for the day.

Kate Tennick

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