Chad’s Year in Photos

This is always one of my favorite blogs to write – my year in pictures. It allows me a chance to go back in time and relive the magical moments I shared with our guests – from honeymooners to multigenerational families; first-time safari-goers to those who return time and time again – at Tanda Tula over the past 12 months.

An elephant walks through shallow water beside a waterhole while a buffalo drinks at the edge. Trees and lodge structures frame the scene in the background.

As usual, it feels like 2024 has whizzed by until I glance through some of the images and have to double-check that they were actually taken this year! We spent our first full year in our new camp, and it was incredible to see our highest levels of occupancy since pre-COVID. We welcomed so many guests, and the best part was that they all loved it! Which, if I may be a little biased, is not hard to do. A glamorous camp, smiling staff, delectable food, fine wines – all nestled in the heart of the timeless Timbavati. The area’s wildlife also more than played its part in creating lifelong memories. Best of all, we didn’t even have to travel far to enjoy it!

Throughout the year – particularly in the middle of the dry season (the driest in eight years) – we had constant activity at the camp’s waterhole. From a resident hippo to parades of elephants, bathing buffalo, nyala, bushbuck, wildebeest, zebras, and even visits from lions and wild dogs, it was always a hive of activity. The highlight? Likely when the Sark Breakaway Pride brought down three buffalo opposite camp after breakfast one day and feasted on them for days!

Despite all the excitement at camp, the most memorable moments were encountered while traversing our magical slice of this landscape. So, sit back, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy some highlights from the year that was 2024.

A Year of Lion Cubs

One thing is for sure: 2024 was the year of lions, particularly lion cubs. We were spoiled with two of our resident prides raising several litters in our traversing area – with varying degrees of success – leaving us with tough choices about which lions to visit on many occasions. The Sark Breakaway Pride briefly grew to 18 members (excluding pride males) when six little bundles of joy joined the pride early in the year.

A lion cub nuzzles close to its mother while the pair rests in dry grass. The adult lioness lies with her head lowered toward the cub in a tender moment.

The River Pride – Mixed Fortunes

The River Pride experienced a year of mixed fortunes. They successfully raised all three cubs born in June last year and added five more cubs mid-year. While they raised four of these cubs to year-end, challenges arose as the year closed. The pride vacated their territorial core after five months in the same area but returned battered and bruised, with one lioness suffering a broken leg. Her fate remains uncertain, setting up 2025 as a challenging year for the pride.

Coming of Age

Last year, we spoke about Nyeleti’s daughters as the future of our leopard population in central Timbavati. Dzindza has stepped up, aggressively chasing Nyeleti from her territory and taking over as queen of the central Timbavati. She has grown in size, strength, and confidence, becoming completely at ease with vehicles and offering us regular sightings of her beauty. Her sister, Rihati, is still a work in progress but has settled in an area adjacent to Dzindza.

An upside-down leopard cub lies on sandy ground, staring directly at the camera with bright eyes and whiskers spread wide. Another leopard is partially visible in the background.

A Distant Memory

After one of the driest winters in years, the lush greens and abundance of life from last summer feel like a distant memory. Fortunately, despite the dry winter, decent rains fell toward the end of 2024, with hopes for even more in early 2025.

Playful Dogs

It was an up-and-down year for wild dogs. A few smaller packs moved through the area, and our big pack denned in the eastern Timbavati for a change, leading to regular sightings during the denning season as they hunted around Tanda Tula. Once the pups were old enough, they moved north, only returning at the end of the year with nine youngsters in tow. We look forward to a great summer of wild dog viewing.

A Summer of Cheetahs

The start of the year was exceptional for cheetah sightings – eight different individuals traversed our eastern sections! Among them were two males, a mother and her young daughter, and a second female (all the way from Mozambique!) with her two cubs. As summer ended, only the two males remained as regular visitors, but cheetah sightings every few weeks were far better than usual. Toward year-end, the female and her now almost-adult daughter returned. We hope they spend the upcoming summer with us too!

A cheetah stands in tall grass and looks toward the camera. The scene is a natural open savanna with soft, blurred grass in the background.

Wondrous Waterholes

As we anticipated a dry year, we knew the waterholes would be hotspots – and they didn’t disappoint! Throughout winter and early summer, the best viewing spots were around the few remaining water sources. Elephants, rhinos, buffalo, lions, impalas, zebras, giraffes – they were all there, most days, offering fantastic viewing opportunities, as you’ll see in the pictures.

A herd of zebras gathers at the edge of a waterhole in the bush. The scene shows open woodland, sandy banks, and reflections in the water under a bright blue sky.

Timeless Timbavati

This year, I was fortunate to join one of our guests on a Timbavati Anti-Poaching Patrol Flight. Not only did it contribute to valuable conservation work, but it also offered a stunning view of this ancient landscape from the air. It was a wonderful reminder of just how vast this wilderness we call home truly is.

An elevated view over the Timbavati landscape shows a winding sandy riverbed cutting through dense green woodland and open grassy plains. The horizon stretches beneath a soft blue sky with layered clouds.

Vuyela Dominance

The Vuyela males, our five dominant lions, continued to grow in both size and dominance this year. Despite their apparent dislike for each other – as they are rarely seen together – their strategy of splitting up has allowed them to control multiple prides. They stabilized the River Pride and strengthened the Sark Breakaways into a powerhouse. Not stopping there, the Vuyelas ousted the Birmingham Breakaway Males from the Mayambula Pride and spent the latter half of 2024 mating with its adult females. They also mated with the “River” pride from Klaserie, with new cubs seen just last week – likely sired by them.

Two lions stand in a grassy clearing, with one lion in sharp focus facing the camera and another lion blurred in the background. The scene captures a dominant wildlife moment in the bush at Tanda Tula.

Happy Hyenas

Our local hyena den had a fantastic year, with eight cubs growing up around a series of mounds near Tanda Tula. Sadly, the lion activity toward year-end reduced this number to seven, but the remaining cubs are thriving.

Gentle Giant

No year in review would be complete without mentioning Apollo, the magnificent elephant. He spent another winter around Tanda Tula, and as always, we marvel at his presence. Each time he disappears, we wonder if he’ll return the next year. I have a good feeling we’ll see him again!

An elephant walks toward the camera along a muddy water channel in open bushveld. The animal fills the frame against a clear blue sky and sparse trees.

The Rise and Fall of Xiwumbane

For years, Xiwumbane male was the largest leopard I had ever seen and one of the most impressive. After beginning to relax around vehicles, we enjoyed remarkable sightings of him, including a few encounters when he was mating with Nyeleti. Tragically, by late spring, he had become a skinny, emaciated shadow of his former self. Finding Ntsongwaan male feeding on his remains days later brought bittersweet closure – at least he was no longer suffering.

A leopard sits in tall grass with one foreleg raised and its tail curled upward. The scene is softly blurred in the foreground, with warm golden tones surrounding the animal.

The Decline of Ntsongwaan – and a New Contender

Ntsongwaan male followed a similar decline to Xiwumbane this year. While he is still alive, he has become nomadic and is visibly struggling, avoiding stronger, younger rivals. One such rival is his younger brother, Mondzweni, who reappeared after years of absence. Initially mistaken for Ntsongwaan due to his size and demeanor, Mondzweni soon made his presence clear, showing up in the Nhlaralumi area near Tanda Tula. Time will tell if Mondzweni becomes the new dominant male of the region. He’ll face competition from Ndzuti, Marula’s first son, who also returned this year.

Feathered Fights

The Timbavati wouldn’t be the same without its smaller inhabitants, like these two crested francolins engaging in a feisty duel – a fascinating reminder of nature’s diversity.

Two birds face off in midair with wings spread wide, as if in a brief territorial clash. They are hovering just above the sandy ground with a blurred natural background behind them.

Misty Mornings

Although misty mornings were rare this winter, they created a magical atmosphere when they appeared, especially when wildlife, like ostriches, emerged from the dense clouds. This year, we enjoyed excellent ostrich viewing, with several males and females staying in the area. Unfortunately, the clutch of 18 eggs we were monitoring didn’t make it, as the River Pride found the nest just before the chicks hatched.

An ostrich stands alone in a foggy landscape at dawn, with the sun glowing through the mist. The scene is soft and hazy, creating a quiet early-morning mood.

Nkaya Dam Female – A Rising Star

The Nkaya Dam female leopard has been around for years but remained elusive and nervous. That changed when she had a cub, earning her a name and a reputation as the “go-to” leopard in the west. Over the year, she provided many special moments, and her cub is growing up fast. We hope she continues to populate the region with her beauty.

Mayambula Uncertainty

With the Mayambula Pride undergoing its second takeover in just over a year, the future of its subadults remains uncertain. This year, we occasionally saw the pride – sometimes the adults, sometimes the subadults, and sometimes a mix. Reports suggest that ten subadults have formed a breakaway pride, seeking safety in the southwest. Meanwhile, the adult females seem to be stabilizing under the Vuyela males in their old territory.

Nova

Our beloved African wild cat, Nova, has grown up and begun expanding his territory. Despite wandering far and wide, he always returns home to Tanda Tula. Nova remains as picture-perfect as ever, and it’s a privilege to share our space with this stunning little predator.

A Year of Little Ones

Baby animals never fail to steal the show, whether it’s confident elephant calves or adorable lion cubs like the Sark Breakaway Pride’s youngsters. One surprise this year was the late arrival of baby impalas, far later than we’ve ever seen before.

A young elephant calf walks forward through dry grass with its trunk hanging down and ears spread wide. Another elephant is blurred in the background.

Osteophagia

Yes, that’s a giraffe eating a bone! During this dry year, food – and its associated nutrients – became scarce. Giraffes turned to chewing bones to supplement their diets with much-needed phosphorus.

Dazzling Zebras

One of my favorite moments was watching zebra herds parade to the nearest water source on crisp late winter mornings. The sight is quintessentially African and never fails to amaze.

Spring

Despite the harsh winter, spring eventually arrived, bringing new life and delighting the birds. The black-headed oriole, in particular, added a splash of colour and melody to the bush.

A Muddy Mess

One Birmingham Breakaway male found himself covered in mud after catching and killing a desperate young hippo trapped in a drying dam. This coalition of five males was ousted by the Vuyela males but now seems to have settled in the west. They are currently challenging the Giraffe Pride, ensuring a period of uncertainty before a new chapter begins with the arrival of cubs.

Marabou Madness

The drying dams didn’t just attract predators like lions. Marabou storks flocked to the area in droves, feasting on stranded catfish in the shrinking mud puddles. Nature’s resourcefulness was on full display.

Golden Mornings

Winter provided some incredible game viewing, especially during the golden light of early mornings. One standout subject was a magnificent kudu bull, bathed in warm sunlight, embodying the beauty of the bush.

Shake It Off

Dusty winter scenes might make it hard to remember the rains of a few months earlier, but the sight of wet lions shaking off rainwater reminded us of nature’s ever-changing cycles. Soon, the rains will return, and we’ll be back to watching drenched lions!

Aerial Acrobat

Rain or shine, lilac-breasted rollers never fail to amaze with their vibrant colors and aerial acrobatics. They’re a true joy to watch and photograph.

A colorful lilac-breasted roller is captured mid-flight against a pale sky, with its wings spread wide and long tail feathers trailing below.

Killing Machine

The Sark Breakaway Pride truly lived up to their reputation as efficient hunters. With fifteen mouths to feed, they developed an uncanny skill for preying on buffalo herds, many of which were weakened by the harsh end-of-winter conditions.

Dreamy Days

Dzindza ended the year with a delightful new habit – climbing into a large tree at the end of each morning safari and lounging in the branches. Finding her in this dreamy pose became a cherished way to close our drives.

Perfect Endings

There’s no such thing as a bad day in Africa, especially not at Tanda Tula. When the days end with sunsets like this, who could argue?

Racing Into 2025

And with that, we close our chapter on 2024 – a year filled with incredible moments, wildlife encounters, and memories to last a lifetime. As we race into 2025, we want to thank every one of you for being part of this journey, whether you joined us in person or followed along virtually.

We wish you a blessed festive season, a joyful end to the year, and a prosperous 2025.

Until next year!

Cheers,

Chad