The past week has reminded us just how diverse winter at Londolozi can be. Very cool mornings, clear skies, and golden afternoon light created the perfect backdrop for some memorable sightings, from exciting predator encounters to quieter moments with some of the reserve’s smaller creatures and, of course, some birds!
Leopard sightings continued to steal the show, with excellent views of the Shingi Male and the Ximungwe Female. One of the biggest highlights was spending time with the Nkuwa Female again.
On the lion front, the N’waswitshaka Males have been seen moving confidently through the southern stretches of Londolozi and the Kambula Pride finally revealed the cute 8 cubs they have been raising in the Sand River. While the White Dazzle continued to marvel guests and provide some spectacular photographic opportunities. A young rhino calf offered a gentle reminder that there is always a new generation growing up in the bush and a Large herd of elephants features this week.
Away from the larger mammals, a rare view of a Serval and a Slender Mongoose provided a rewarding sighting, while vultures gathered overhead, playing their vital role in the ecosystem after chasing a Cheetah off its kill. Combined with beautiful winter landscapes throughout the reserve, it was another week that showcased the incredible variety that makes this place so special.
As always, let us know which images stood out to you in the comments below.
Enjoy This Week in Pictures…
Two beautiful Lilac-breasted Rollers
This is a very young calf estimated to be two months old. Along with her mother, they have been roaming the open grasslands of Londolozi.
Not something you see often, a brief but special sighting of a Serval! I am so grateful that I managed to get a shot of it before it disappeared.
The older N’waswitshaka Male has a lovely black mane.
Some loving Zebras
A Fork-tailed Drongo floats around the head of an elephant bull grazing on an open crest. These opportunistic feeders snap up any insects disturbed in the grass by the elephant.
The Ximungwe Female peers through the canopy of a jackalberry tree into the warm afternoon sunlight.
An unforgettable scene at a waterhole when more than 50 elephants came down to drink at sunset.
A Female Saddle-billed Stork perches on top of a dead leadwood tree.
A curious slender mongoose sat up on its back legs to scan the area. I had never witnessed this behaviour before.
The famous white zebra, is still alive and doing well. Here she was seen in a large dazzle in the southern parts of Londolozi.
The Shingi Male Leopard marches along the roads in search of his next meal. We hope he can find a suitable territory on Londolozi away from his mother, the Nkoveni Female.
A Hamerkop skilfully hovers above the water, waiting to catch some frogs surfacing for air.
My favourite Leopard, the Nkuwa Female, rests with her growing male cub on a termite mound.
A White-backed Vulture drops down to the ground where a male cheetah was feeding on a Kudu carcass.
In the next moment, ten more vultures landed and chased the cheetah off its kill and quickly devoured the remains.
The first glimpse of the new generation of the Kambula Pride. These cute cubs are sired by the territorial Gijima coalition.
To close out this week, I have added a picture of the ever-present Stwise Koppie looking over the remarkable landscape of Londolozi.
Nick Tennick
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