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With the current shift in lion dynamics, you’re never quite sure which lions you’ll find where. Over the past week, I’ve had a good run with the Kambula Lionesses. Both pairs—the two mothers of young cubs and the two without— and both were still on a morning hunt at the time. Despite being unsuccessful, the adrenaline in those moments was high.
Adding to the mix, the Gijima Males and the Talamati and Nkuhuma Males continue to move through the reserve. The Gijimas were even seen mating with a Ntsevu Lioness, further stirring the dynamics.
Leopards told a similar story of change. Both the Nkoveni Young Male and the Three Rivers Young Female are nearing independence, and sightings of them with their mothers are becoming less frequent. They are now stepping into their own, exploring the reserve with a blend of confidence and youthful curiosity.
Between the thrill of lions on the move, the calm of leopards in repose, and the charm of smaller creatures from mongoose to monitor lizards, the bush continues to show its rhythm. Each scene is just one note in the ongoing story of Londolozi.
Let us know your favourites in the comments section below.
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
A fresh wound across the nose of one of the Gijima males hints at a recent tussle – we think most likely with one of the Plains Camp males. This is just a small battle mark in the life of a dominant male lion.
Soaking up the last of the winter mornings and the golden light. The Nkoveni female takes a break to rest on a termite mound after we had found her on a territorial petrol.
Londolozi’s most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
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More often found on her own these days the Three Rivers young female is coming to terms with her independence.
A confident and curious young leopard, that is nearing independence after a remarkable start to life alongside her resilient mother.
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A giraffe moves across the Sand River, pausing mid-step as it navigates the water despite the low levels.
Having crossed the river, this giraffe pauses on the bank to stare directly at us before it continues on – captured in a stark black and white edit.
On of the 2 Kambula lioness currently raising the 6 months old cubs, fixes her gaze on a herd of wildebeest just as the sun was coming up. While she crept forward through the grass, the 2nd lioness circled silently through the Bushwillow thickets in a coordinated attempt to outflank the herd. Though the hunt was unsuccessful, the tension of the moment was unforgettable.
Two dwarf mongoose bask in the morning sunshine at the entrance of their termite mound burrow. These tiny carnivores live in highly social groups, constantly grooming, foraging and keeping watch for danger.
Hidden between the branches of a Jackalberry tree, the Nkoveni female feeds on an impala kill.
The Nkoveni young male up in the the same Jackalberry as his mother, with blood-stained paws from the shared impala kill.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
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The Talamati and Nkohuma males had been calling all morning until they eventually settled in the central parts of the reserve on a termite mound mound in the morning golden light.
Synchronised sleeping. The Talamati and Nkohuma males seem to enjoy finding a spot to rest on termite mounds.
A water monitor lizard rests on a sun-warmed rock along the Sand River. How it lost its leg we will never know, but it’s a clear reminder of the daily challenges and resilience of all reptiles and mammals.
After returning to a duiker carcass hoisted into a Schotia tree a third time, we got our timing just right to discover a new leopard in the area. The Makomsava young female, identified through her spot pattern, seems to be making appearances on Marthly, the northern section of the reserve more frequently.
All in the details. As part of a larger herd, this buffalo allowed us to appreciate the finer features and textures of these majestic animals up close.
Once an uncommon sight, yellow billed oxpeckers are now commonly seen perched on buffalo, as their number seem to have grown over the years across the area.
The Ximungwe female quenching her thirst after covering a fair amount of ground throughout the day pursuing her next meal.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
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Easily one of my favourite views from Londolozi as the sun sets over the northern Drakensberg mountains.
An African fish eagle perches atop a dead leadwood tree, with a flock of greater blue-eared starlings flitting and chattering around it, bringing movement and sound to the quiet sentinel’s perch.
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Kelsey Clark
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