Tag: Lion

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2016-06-17: Feel Good Friday

These lions were amazing to spend time with while in the Sabi Sands in South Africa.  Over the course of a few days we spent time with them on two kudo kills, watched as the female chose which of her suitors she preferred (the one pictured here, of course) and even saw them mating several times.  Animal interaction in the bush is always exciting, and I learned new things which each game drive.

Thinking about spending time in the bush, and looking through my pictures, certainly helps to put me in a great mood 🙂

Here’s to a great weekend ahead!

Enjoy your Friday! 🙂

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Yawn… it’s the end of the week.  
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2016-01-26: WPC Optimistic

I am optimistic that all of these beautiful creatures will have the opportunity to live out their lives in the way nature intended, without the influence of poacher’s or trophy hunter’s bullets.  That is my hope, and if like minded people continue to join together, perhaps it will happen in my lifetime.

 

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This pangolin was definitely the most photographed animal on Londolozi that day. It was one of my safari dreams to see a pangolin. 
Londolozi, May 2015

 

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A leopard with one of her young, as they worked to reunite with the second cup (gratefully we were able to witness the reunion). 
Ngala Game Reserve, May 2015

 

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Part of an elephant parade on route to a waterhole for an early evening drink. 
Sabi Sands, May 2015

 

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A rhino calf eyes us up while his Mom has a drink. 
Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015

 

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We were fortunate to spend time with this lioness with her pair of young cubs (one was lying flat behind Mom when I snapped this). 
Kalahari Desert, April 2015

 

WPC: Optimistic

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Lions vs a leopard

The experience on my last game drive of my previous holiday is something I have wanted to post about since I got home. I am glad I have finally had a chance to go through the photos, select my favourites, and relive the experience.
We spent the last two nights of our trip at Londolozi, where we had the pleasure of having the team of Dave and Judas guiding us through the bush.  For anyone that missed it, I posted a few highlights from this trip previously: http://jennifersawicky.com/2015/06/29/londolozi-highlights/
On our last game drive, we had yet to see a leopard at Londolozi; and being that the property is known for amazing leopard sightings, our ranger was hoping we would see one before we set off for home.  We started a leisurely morning drive with a group of three rhinos, and then moved on to a herd of elephants in the most gorgeous morning light.  If that was all we saw that morning, I would have come home happy (me and elephants, everyone knows my love of them by now). Dave took a call about a leopard sighting quite some distance away, but a very unique one, a leopard that had been treed by a pride of lions. Dave put us on the sighting wait list, and we continued on with our drive. During a drive through a dry riverbed, we spotted an owl; while the light wasn’t favourable for photographs, I was still thrilled.
Still waiting our turn, we stopped for a coffee and watched a pair of giraffes grazing on acacia leaves. A hare hopped by and paused long enough for me to take a few photos before carrying on its way. Coffee finished, we took the call that our turn was coming up, and we made our way over to the area. As we drove into the area, two impala rams were facing off, rutting season being in full swing, and the noise they were making was absolutely incredible.

When we arrived, a female leopard called Mashaba was high in a tree, with the Tsalala lion pride lazing around near the base.

A full grown leopard in a very scrawny tree!
A full grown leopard in a very scrawny tree!
The group of lions waiting below.
The group of lions waiting below.
Her eyes were on either on the lions, or scanning the distance for other threats.
Her eyes were on either on the lions, or scanning the distance for other threats.
One of the young males of the Tsalala pride.
One of the young males of the Tsalala pride.

We weren’t there long though when the lions picked up the sounds of the nearby impala, and one by one, they slowly moved off.

Lions on the move.
Lions on the move.

As soon as the last lion was out of sight, Mashaba quickly made her way down the tree and disappeared, so we went to find out what had happened to the lions.

By this point, she had been in the tree for several hours. She must have been tired of that perch.
By this point, she had been in the tree for several hours. She must have been tired of that perch.
Getting ready to begin her descent.
Getting ready to begin her descent.
Watching the lions moving off.
Stopping to scan again.
In the tree tops.
In the tree tops.
Such amazing agility.
Such amazing agility.
Pausing to scan for further threats.
Pausing to scan for further threats.
Heading for lower branches.
Heading for lower branches.
On the move.
On the move.
Double checking that the coast is clear.
Checking again that the coast is clear.
Leaping to safety.
Leaping to safety.

Viewer discretion is advised…

We found the lions a short distance away, and the impala rams were no longer.  The pride of seven took down two impala at the same time, and devoured them in less than a quarter hour.  I was concentrating more on still shots, but I did take a few video clips, which I have included more for the sound than anything. Mostly the lions fed relatively peacefully, without coming to blows with each other over the choice pieces.

Family dining.
Family dining.
The group made short work of two adult male impala.
The group made short work of two adult male impala.
Tug of war!
Tug of war!
Trying to grab a chunk to take away (at least one of the lions moved off with a large chunk of impala to enjoy in peace under the bushes).
Trying to grab a chunk to take away (at least one of the lions moved off with a large chunk of impala to enjoy in peace under the bushes).
Such intensity will eating.
Such intensity while eating.
This was how we left the group; not much left to their meal at this point.
This was how we left the group; not much left to their meal at this point.

It was a thrilling end to an amazing trip!

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Weekly Challenge: Today Was a Good Day

The first thing I thought of when I saw this weeks photo challenge was seeing all of the big five in a single game drive.

It was our first game drive leaving from Chitwa Chitwa, and the first of the big five we came across were the elephants.  We ended up in fairly dense bush amongst a large herd, and I know some of the other people in the vehicle were a little nervous of the proximity!  At some points, we were completely surrounded by them (I was thrilled!!!)

A little too close for comfort for some of the people in our vehicle. 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 1000, at 98mm.
A little too close for comfort for some of the people in our vehicle.
1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 1000, at 98mm.

The second we came across was the leopard.  She was only steps away after we started moving away from the elephants.  We followed her through the trees as well, and spent some time with her as she rested atop a termite mound.

A gorgeous leopard rests atop a termite mound. 1/400sec, f8.0, ISO 5600
A gorgeous leopard rests atop a termite mound.
1/400sec, f8.0, ISO 5600

We stopped for a sundowner drink and spotted a group of 3 rhino in a mud wallow off in the distance.  The light was fading, and the viewing was certainly better without the camera.

A crash of rhino enjoy an early evening mud wallow. 1/100sec, f4.8, ISO 6400
A crash of rhino enjoy an early evening mud wallow.
1/100sec, f4.8, ISO 6400

Just as we were getting back into the vehicle after our drinks and snacks, Surprise our ranger pointed out a couple buffalo crossing the road off in the distance.  The photo is awful, I knew it would be when I snapped it, but I thought I should take it as evidence of seeing 4 of the big 5 in a single drive.

Two buffalo cross the road, long after my camera was able to take a photo without a flash or spotlight!
Two buffalo cross the road, long after my camera was able to take a photo without a flash or spotlight!

As we were heading back to camp for dinner, we followed the tracks of some lions, and came upon them resting quite close to the camp.  And with that, it was the big 5 all within the space of 3.5 hours!  An absolutely amazing time.

A gorgeous lion rest in the early evening darkness. A female was close by as well. 1/160sec, f6.3, ISO 6400
A gorgeous lion rest in the early evening darkness. A female was close by as well.
1/160sec, f6.3, ISO 6400

Of course, most people know by now that I am thrilled to view anything when on a game drive, from the smallest bird to the tallest giraffe and everything in between.  Here are a few other interesting sights from that drive.

A chameleon that our tracker spotted while we headed back to camp. I don't think he was too thrilled with being pointed at, he has a rather sour look on his face.
A chameleon that our tracker spotted while we headed back to camp. I have no idea how they can see them in the pitch black from a moving vehicle, but it seemed to be a skill most of the trackers had!  I don’t think the chameleon was too thrilled with being pointed at, he has a rather sour look on his face.
A yellow billed hornbill perched at sunset (or as my Dad calls them, a flying banana).
A yellow billed hornbill perched at sunset (or as my Dad calls them, a flying banana).
A pair of white backed vulture perched in the fading light. 1/200sec, f5.6, ISO 1100
A pair of white backed vulture perched in the fading light.
1/200sec, f5.6, ISO 1100

Have a great day everyone!

Today Was a Good Day

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Travel Theme: Mellow

I did a quick scan through my last batch of travel photos to find a few mellow shots to share.

I hope you enjoy!

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A leopard rests peacefully in a tree top near Baines Camp in the Okavango Delta. 1/800sec, f9.0 ISO 640
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A lion cub chills out as dusk descends on Phinda Private Game Reserve. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 1600
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A group of cheetah cubs take a rest on the road after a hard days play. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 1100
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Sunrise over the Sabi Sands. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO320
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Sunset on the Timbavati, and the first star of the evening. 1/60sec, f4.5, ISO 500

Travel Theme: Mellow

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Chitwa Chitwa Highlights

I was originally planning to combine the two areas of the Sabi Sands I stayed at into one highlights post, but I’ve been having such difficulty finding the time to work on my photos the last few weeks that it just wasn’t feasible.  Fingers crossed I’ll be able to get to the final highlights post this weekend, so I can move on to the other editing projects that I want to do – and get out and do some more shooting too!

This guy only had eyes for one thing (the female that is out of shot). More about that in another post.
This guy only had eyes for one thing (the female that is out of shot). More about that in another post.
We turned the corner, and there he was!
We turned the corner, and there he was!
A huge group of vultures gathering near a kudu carcass. They were waiting for a female lion to clear off before heading in fight for scraps.
A huge group of vultures gathering near a kudu carcass. They were waiting for a female lion to clear off before heading in fight for scraps.
A wild dog peers at us from between two small tree trunks.
A wild dog peers at us from between two small tree trunks.
A lion take a pause from his kudu breakfast.
A lion take a pause from his kudu breakfast.
A dagga boy. One of the old buffalo bulls cooling off in the watering hole.
A dagga boy. One of the old buffalo bulls cooling off in the watering hole.
A yellow billed hornbill, or as my Dad likes to say
A yellow billed hornbill, or as my Dad likes to say “the flying banana”.
A wildebeest enjoying the cool air of early morning.
A wildebeest enjoying the cool air of early morning.
Not who you would expect to see in a wallow.
Not who you would expect to see in a wallow.
One of my favourite birds, the beautiful lilac blasted roller.
One of my favourite birds, the beautiful lilac breasted roller.

This time-lapse was one of my first attempts, and shows a mid afternoon at the dam in front of Chitwa lodge.  Lots of waterbuck around that afternoon!

I hope you enjoy, and have a lovely day!

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