December is here and most of us are wondering where this year has gone. This last week, however, has been no different from any other with endless photographic opportunities, only the heat has certainly gone up a few notches! It’s been all about quenching ones thirst and taking to the shade under the sprawling branches of the Marula trees. From elephants parading and a lioness from the Ntsevu pride leading the three youngest cubs towards the nearest water hole to a large herd of buffalo crossing the Sand River. There has been plenty of activity this last week, most of it centred around a water source.
Leopard viewing has been exceptional as usual, my highlight of the week was after a long blistering morning with no luck searching for any signs of cheetah in the open grass plains. Yet, you never know what’s around the next corner, as we spotted the Nkuwa Female up in a Marula tree contact calling for her two cubs who eventually joined her resulting in some enormous grins across the vehicle.
With endless photographic opportunities along with a number of skilled and talented photographers on the team, it is always a privilege to share a snippet of what you have recently captured.
Enjoy this week in pictures…
A graceful procession – A convoy of elephants parades along the road after having recently splashed themselves with mud and quenched their thirst at a nearby water hole.
Leading the future – A lioness from the Ntsevu pride strides alongside her three cubs. This litter has recently joined up with the rest of the pride, becoming integrated into the lions social structure learning the dynamics of the pride.
Zebra and foal
Often young leopards will use trees as vantage points to scan for hunting opportunities and keep an eye out for any threats. Here the Xinkhova female lounges in the shade on a sprawling branch of a Marula tree.
A stunning young female with a very similar spot pattern to her mother, the Nkoveni Female. Litter still completely intact March 2022.
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A family trio from the Ntsevu pride quenching their thirst.
The Three Rivers Young Male although more elusive as he navigates the transition from his mother’s care to independence, he confidently navigates along the branch of a marula tree.
One of two cubs to survive, the sister lost at five months. Still dependent on his mother, but is growing into an impressive young male.
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A large elephant bull strolls through a clearing as the golden light bathes the scene.
It is no easy feat raising two young males. The Nkuwa Female attempting to cool herself and catch her breath in the shade of a marula tree with one of her cubs watching over her waiting for his sibling to join them.
One of two sisters born to the Nhlanguleni Female, both of whom made it to independence, the first intact litter to do so in 7 years.
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One of the Nkuwa Female’s cubs strikes a pose at the base of the Marula tree. Now just under a year old, this was the first time I had seen the trio together.
Looking up into the marula where the Nkuwa Female and her other cub rested above.
After having only seen a glimpse of this newborn calf the day before, it was a special moment watching it keep up with its mother the next morning.
Kelsey Clark
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