With the landscape now glowing after some warm weather following the torrential downpour, everything feels alive and flourishing. Birds chirp constantly, insects buzz in the background, predators reclaim their territories, and the young grow strong and fast, making the bush feel energetic and full of promise.
The passing of the recent weather system has placed the Londolozi landscape in an incredibly healthy position as we head into the drier months. Just because we’ve had these downpours doesn’t mean the rain is finished. Another two to three months of rainfall is expected, allowing the grass to stay greener for longer and waterholes to remain full for a sustained period.
With everything thriving, this week’s photos incorporate a little bit of everything. Glowing vistas, dramatic cloud cover, and clear skies have allowed me to play around with composition, light, and framing, capturing the mood of the bush as it continues to transform. From the new additions to the Mhangeni Pride, more on this soon, so stay tuned, to the Plains Camp Males in the rain, elephant textures, Eagles, the size difference between the Maxim’s Male and Three Rivers Female leopards and many other amazing shots in between.
I’ve got a few favourites in mind- let me know what you think?
Enjoy This Week In Pictures…
The detailed texture of an elephant’s trunk. This young male was feeding on the lush blankets of grass that rolls through the crests of the londolozi landscapes.
Not the usual perch for a vulture, but that being said, often you will see the Hooded Vultures on the ground lingering nearby to predators hoping to cash in on a small tit-bit or sometimes even being seen eating the scat of the predators.
A Mhangeni Lioness with her four new cubs—an incredibly special sight and one I certainly did not expect. Having only discovered the previous day that she had a new litter, we were fortunate to find her leading the cubs to a fresh wildebeest kill, gently introducing them to meat as they begin the gradual transition from suckling.
The raw affection of a cub towards its mother is always special to witness. These gentle interactions are crucial, as constant movement, play, and contact help the cubs build strength and develop their muscles as they grow.
The intense stare of this Plains Camp male lion, the larger of the two brothers and arguably one of the largest male lions in the Sabi Sands at the moment. The scar on his right eye deepens his stare and makes you feel hollow every time. He sits beside his brother in a light drizzle late one afternoon.
A teenage elephant stays back behind the herd as she is happy with the grazing grounds. Flowers bloom in the foreground, and open area that orders fresh green nutritious grass for all species let alone this elephant.
How many leopards do you see?
This amazes me to see the size difference between the Maxim’s male and the Three Rivers female as she goes to greet him. The head and body size difference absolutely blows me away. Yes, she is a smaller adult female leopard due to her tough upbringing, having lost her mother at an early age. However, this image encapsulates the size difference between these two magnificent individuals.
Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.
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Spotted this leopard?
You’ve seen this leopard
30 sightings by Members
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she’s proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
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Spotted this leopard?
You’ve seen this leopard
48 sightings by Members
A confident and curious young leopard, that is nearing independence after a remarkable start to life alongside her resilient mother.
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Spotted this leopard?
You’ve seen this leopard
12 sightings by Members
During the summer months, the sun rises considerably earlier than in winter. While playing around with some harsh backlighting, the wildebeest was illuminated to create this crisp, fresh image, with dead leadwood trees forming the backdrop.
The glossy glow of one of the Kambula Male lion’s eyes. For me, the intrinsic detail in a lion’s eye tells a story of power, awareness, and survival. Flecks of gold and amber catch the light, revealing depth, age, and experience shaped by countless hunts and confrontations. Within that steady gaze lies an intensity that reflects both calm confidence and ever-present readiness.
Sometimes it’s the simple moments that catch my eye the most. A dazzle of zebras stands almost perfectly in line, heads down and completely at ease. This image shows the social structure of a harem, with the male on the left and three females on the right. The male can be identified by a thinner black line between the legs beneath the tail, while the females have a thicker black line in the same position. In black and white, the contrast of their stripes becomes even more striking, turning an everyday scene into something a little more timeless and graphic.
A silhouetted view of a Long-crested Eagle perched on a dead knobthorn. This eagle is not seen very often and was a first for me at Londolozi. It is easily identified by the long feathers that stand tall on the back of its head and the bright white spots along the edges of its wings when in flight. I can’t help but wonder if the recent rains had anything to do with it being here now…
An inquisitive little, jackal pup was intrigued by our presence.
Potentially nature’s mimicry, with the trunk of this elephant looking almost identical to the marula stump behind it. The golden light and background made for a beautiful image of the bull as he picked up our scent, with the vehicle positioned downwind of him.
One would think that the golden, white, and black colours of a leopard would stand out against the vibrant green hues of the vegetation, yet the Maxim’s Male blends into his surroundings far better than one might expect.
The largest of the eagles we get to view at Londolozi. A Martial eagle perched in a tree with a dwarf mongoose tightly gripped between its talons.
A young buffalo bull gazes through some dense vegetation.
Impalas begin to gather in open clearings as the light starts to dwindle.
The Kambula Males have made a return to Londolozi and thanks to the Sand River levels rising, they have been unable to return back north, keeping them around here a fair amount.
After all the recent rains, the birdlife has been amazing. This Comb Duck or Knob-billed Duck perched on a dead knobthorn tree made for a decent shot.
Dean Jenkins
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