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The Week In Pictures #598 – Londolozi Blog

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Although we are approaching mid-winter, we have yet to experience the bitterly crisp early mornings nor the constant golden winter light at dusk and dawn. With that being said the weather has been hugely contrasting over the past week,  including overcast, blue and golden skies. Along with the array of hues in the sky, came a variety of leopards, prides of lions, birds and dazzling zebras.

On the male leopard front, the Senegal Bush Male surprised us on the way back to camp one morning with an appearance on the airstrip. The Maxim’s Male was found and incredibly relaxed as he rested near a waterhole in the late afternoon. On the female front, the Xinzele Female Duo graced us with an exciting sighting in the North whilst the Stone Drift Female continued roaming her mother’s domain looking to claim a territory of her own.

Onto the lions, whilst the newest additions to the Ntsevu Pride are growing in both size and stature, their fathers, the Ndzhenga Males, continue patrolling their territory and in doing so protecting their offspring and pride. The Tsalala Female has been roaring in and around the Sand River near camp every morning and the Talamati Pride continues with their relatively nomadic existence, roaming Londolozi and the surrounds with no male coalition to anchor them.

Unlike the previous week, I saw fewer elephants on the reserve, making this a predator-dense week in pictures. It was completed with a sighting of a pack of wild dogs at sunset and a young male cheetah in the southwestern grasslands.

Let me know your favourites in the comments section below.

Enjoy This Week In Pictures…

A typical early afternoon scene with zebras and impalas looking to quench their thirst at a waterhole.

Male Cheetah Sitting On Mound [rcb]

The young male cheetah that has been roaming the reserve of late pauses temporarily atop a termite mound to assess his options.

Backlit Talamati Young Male [rcb]

Early morning sunlight warmly backlights the Talamati Young Male as he follows the rest of his pride.

Maxims Male Lying Next To Waterhole [rcb]

A rare opportunity to photograph the Maxim’s male up close whilst he was gazing over a waterhole in the late afternoon.



Fairly skittish male that is presumed to have come from the Kruger National Park.



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Spotted Eagle Owl In Spotlight [rcb]

On our way back to camp we were lucky enough to come across a Spotted Eagle-owl, that was presumably out in search of dinner.

Ndzhenga Male Lying In Clearing [rcb]

A Ndzhenga Male lion soaks up the morning light.

Fish Eagle Perching On Dead Tree [rcb]

The regal pose of an African Fish Eagle perched in a dead knobthorn tree.

Senegal Bush Male Standing In Clearing [rcb]

The Senegal Bush Male strikes a powerful pose in an open clearing. A Crested Francolin alarm calling nearby had caught his attention.



Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019



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Xhinkova Stonedrift Female Portrait In Marula [rcb]

The Stone Drift Female glances distantly over our vehicle in the direction of a herd of impala.



Also young and playful but rather with a spot pattern of 3:2. She is slightly bigger than her sister.



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Xinzele Female Intense Stare In Marula Marula [rcb]

Momentarily after vocalising, the Xinzele Female sees another leopard approaching in the distance.



A small female often found in NW Marthly. Similar spot pattern to her mother the Ingrid Dam Female.



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Born into a litter of two, male cub did not survive. Sightings of have been few and far between, although becoming more regular.



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Xinzele Young Female In Marula [rcb]

To the Xinzele Female’s relief, it was her cub approaching. The two locked eyes with each other as a clan of hyenas milled about at the base of this Marula tree.

Senegal Bush Male Crossing Airstrip [rcb]

The Senegal Bush Male crosses the airstrip as a ray of late morning light catches his golden coat.

Brown Hooded Kingfisher Perched [rcb]

Whilst other species of kingfishers such as the commonly known woodland species have migrated northwards to warmer climates, their brown-hooded relatives continue to grace us with their elegant demeanour and eye-catching colours.

Tsalala Female Sitting On Fallen Over Marula [rcb]

The Tsalala Female perches upon a fallen marula tree with an evidently full belly.

 

Lion Cubs Walking With Lioness [rcb]

The latest additions to the Ntsevu Pride bound through short grass whilst their mother keeps a beady eye on them. If you look carefully you’ll notice the third lion cub hiding in the shadows of its mother.

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Robert Ball

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