The Golden Light Of Mid-Winter And Lions Drinking – Londolozi Blog

Winter has a unique appeal but also brings many hardships. It stirs our memories and engages our senses. The bite of a cold morning, the mysterious hanging mist, the richness and warmth of the sunrise, and the setting sun—a ball of fire that warms the earth before disappearing below the horizon, bringing with it the darkest, coldest night—are all part of the winter experience. During this time, animals spend much of their time searching for vital resources like water and food, as there is no rainfall and the grass is brittle and dry.

For me, winter is a time of colour and light. The caramel grass and burnt orange teak leaves, the shades of rust, copper, gold, and brass, the rich golden morning light, and the pale blue skies create a stunning landscape. A subdued sunset fills the sky with a palette of colours that only the naked eye can truly appreciate. Once you are set to manage the chilly cold mornings and open your mind to the possibilities, winter becomes an amazing season.

After a very relaxing two-week leave, returning to Londolozi during the height of the winter season brought much excitement. Heading out from camp on one of our first morning drives back and discovering a pride of lions just after they had finished off a kill from the night before was a highlight of the beginning of this cycle. Not long after finding them, they all stood up and moved towards a waterhole as the sun began to rise. At least half the pride of lions lined up side by side, quenching their thirst. The beautiful winter light reflected off the water’s edge, casting a golden glow on their coats.

I couldn’t help but think to myself, “This is what winter in the African bush is all about.”

Enjoy a few pictures from this magnificent start to my winter cycle at Londolozi:

One of the Kambula lionesses and a few cubs all take to the water’s edge. We watched as the pride approached and disappeared from the waters adage for a good 20 minutes, all quenching their thirst to prepare for a warm mid-day. Notice the lion’s coats, they are all very dark-looking. They had been playing and walking through some wet grass to get to this waterhole.

There’s something special about watching any wild animal drink, especially when it’s a whole pride of lions. The sound of their tongue lapping up the water and their small gestures in communication to each other could keep one mesmerised for hours.

What a privilege it is for us to watch, in this case, seven lions line up at the water’s edge.

A young male and female of the pride are last to drink as the rest of the pride move off into the golden light.