Can you believe another 5 weeks have already passed since we released our 600th TWIP video? Time does fly when you are having fun and there has been a lot of that to be had this last week. An epic battle between two zebra stallions had our hearts in our throats, the two males holding nothing back as they reared and snapped at one another.
It’s been a lousy week for warthogs; the Senegal Bush Male managed to take one down but soon lost his prize to a marauding hyena. Then the Ntomi Male managed to take an absolute behemoth of a warthog boar down, highlighting that he is indeed becoming a formidable adult, only to lose it to the Skorro Young Male, the new lion on the block that we are all watching with great interest as he is the only single male in a sea of two-brother coalitions. At the sight of this carcass, not 50m away the Ntomi Male then faced down a curious hyena that had come to investigate and sent him packing.
The aloes are in full bloom and that means fun for anyone with the patience to sit and wait for any of the myriad beautiful sunbirds to arrive to gather the delicious nectar within. Ranger Kelsey Clark is featured with a massive grin on her face as the Ntomi Male perches atop a termite mound behind.
The Wild dogs have been about and that means chaos all around as the Toulon pack of 22-odd members screams across through various clearings, shuffling various herbivores off of this mortal coil. The Ntsevu Pride is back with very full bellies after a week-long absence, their cubs had us gasping with delight at their pugnacity. A Southern Ground Hornbill investigates a termite mound, a reedbuck stares down the lens and a hippo shows off his weaponry in spectacular style.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week in Pictures…
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
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The sunbirds are out in full force. Here, a White-bellied Sunbird reaches back to dabble in the delicious nectar of a flowering aloe.
Almost time to hunt.
An enthusiastic greeting to the sire of these young cubs, a Ndzhenga Male looks down at one of the Ntsevu Cubs.
Not right now…
A Southern Ground Hornbill gains the height advantage of a termite mound in its never-ending search for prey.
One stallion rears in an attempt to gain the advantage over the other, canines flashing in the sun.
The Xinzele Female shows off her agility.
A small female often found in NW Marthly. Similar spot pattern to her mother the Ingrid Dam Female.
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Now time to rest.
The Xinzele Young Female stares off in the direction of her mother who at this point was busy avoiding the interruption of her feeding on an impala carcass by an unknown mating pair of other leopards!
Best of friends sharing a drink together, the buffalo and ride-along-companion, a Yellow-billed Oxpecker.
The Skorro Male stares intently into the lens.
Not happy with the intruder, the Ntomi Male bares his teeth at an approaching hyena.
A single cub of the Ximungwe Female’s second litter. Initially rather skittish but is very relaxed now. Birth mark in his left eye.
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Stare down.
A very happy ranger. Kelsey Clark enjoys the view.
The Skorro Male cleaning his claws on a combretum.
A contemplative stare at the Skorro Male Lion who was currently sitting on this young male’s warthog kill.
This hyena had just robbed the Senegal Bush Male who sat nearby full-bellied and reluctant to have to fight to retrieve the remains of his warthog kill.
This is my swamp!
A Tawny Eagle poses atop a dead knob thorn, making for a great high-key opportunity.
Greeting mum.
A young male, one of the Ntsevu Breakaway Pride, pauses to drink as they trail the large herd of buffalo just to the South of them.
The pride managed to isolate two bulls but after a manic 15 minutes of trying, they were ultimately forced to give up the chase.
Kyle Gordon
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