Week in Pictures: Winter Wildlife

Temperatures are at an annual low at this time of year, as winter fastens its grip in Southern Africa. The Kruger Lowveld has taken a knock with the drought that has left many dams prematurely dry, and inhibited the growth of grasses needed to feed the grazing wildlife community. Still, nature always has a way. The sunsets in winter are more magical than at any other time of year; the bare branches reveal more birds, insects, and snakes than the lush greenery of summer would reveal; the few remaining sources of water become popular drinking holes and offer better chances of those sought after animal sightings. This week, we’ve wrapped up warmly and embraced the iciness of the mornings – knowing full well the stifling heat that summer will bring – and we have been richly rewarded. Our guides and photographers have compiled a selection of favourite moments captured on camera, and as per Friday tradition, here we are to share them with you. Enjoy the Week in Pictures: Winter Wildlife!

nThambo Tree Camp, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger Park

Highlights this week in the Klaserie:

Hercules Pride Seen in the Rain

The Case of the Stolen Leopard Kill 

Honey Badger Conducts a Quick Kill

Marula, female leopard in the nThambo Tree Camp territory, marches off with the remains of her steenbok kill in her mouth. A phenomenal sighting for her adoring audience

Full moon rises into the heavens and finds a gap between the branches to be photographed

Africa's largest eagle - the martial - showed its true colours lately when it swooped down on a wild dog den and preyed on one of the pups

One of the attitude-full Hercules lions playing hard to get by hiding out in the thicket, while nThambo guests try and capture a photograph

Africa on Foot, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger Park

Without a doubt one of our favourites this week: wild dog pups gallivanting in the dusty dusk. How spoilt are we?

A red-crested korhaan offers a brief display of its plumage in the early morning light. These are known as 'suicide birds' and their behaviour of tumbling through the sky, as if falling, has given them their rather morbid nickname.

One of the Hercules Pride youngsters stays true to her pride's reputation and remains hidden behind the winter leaves, blending in beautifully to the bush

A giraffe ducks to avoid the menacing grip of a thorn tree under uncharacteristically stormy Klaserie skies

Umkumbe Safari Lodge, Sabi Sand Wildtuin, Greater Kruger Park

A white-backed vulture closes in on an abandoned kill

We have lift off... A white-backed vulture abandons its perch as the sunset begins to fade and the dusk skies darken into indigo

A boomslang balances comfortably on a smooth branch out in the Sabi Sand bushveld, characteristically keeping its distance from people

A herd of Africa's meanest mammal - the buffaloes know how to intimidate its enemies

Ezulwini Game Lodges, Balule Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger Park

A magpie shrike pauses to sing its melodious song - one of the most recognisable bird calls of the Lowveld

One of the colourful creatures of the Kruger, sunning itself on an interesting succulent plant. Sometimes, the most beautiful elements of nature are a little harder to spot!

A lioness bears the scars of what appears to be a fighting injury - her left eye and ear are damaged, giving her an appropriately eerie look

A spotted eagle owl has become a regular sighting outside Ezulwini River Lodge, and is often on its perch to welcome guests back from game drive!

Tuskers Bush Camp, Private Concession NG43, Botswana

The endangered African wild dogs spotted on Tuskers Bush Camp territory this week gave the keen photographers on board the game viewer an opportunity of a lifetime

African wild dogs make a welcome appearance in the Tuskers concession in Botswana, offering breath-taking sighting of these endangered animals to guests on game drive

A buffalo bull eyes out guests on a game drive in the Tuskers Bush Camp private concession in Botswana

A female kudu pauses in the open and allows her camouflage to do the trick