Most rangers will have a list of sightings that they would like bear witness to. The longer one spends out here, the more chance of some of those taking place. Personally, whenever I drive along the Sand River, I always tell guests to scan along the tops of the large, flat granite boulders in case a leopard has chosen to lie on top of one. This would be a dream for me. Having driven along the river and said this many times, until one particular day recently day I had never actually seen a leopard on these boulders that I was promoting to the guests.
From time to time, the bush is quiet. Don’t come out here and expect to see Sir David Attenborough narrating a scene in which ten different animals are congregating at a waterhole in perfect evening light. It only happens once a week… (Don’t come out here if you didn’t get the joke either).
We were having one of those quiet afternoons, hoping for an elephant to step out into the road, or better, a leopard to appear in a tree. Neither of those happened. However, camp manager Graeme Gullacksen happened to be on his way out into the bush and called in a sighting on the radio close to the Causeway that crosses the Sand River. We weren’t too far away so headed straight there. Here’s what we saw…
Our first view of the leopards. The Nkoveni female and her cub walking along the road just above the river (out of picture to the left). What a sight to be greeted with.
As they walked along, the mother would stop every few steps, looking around and listening for any potential danger that could threaten her young cub. Here the cub looks back and calls for its mother, wondering why she is taking so long!
We followed the two leopards along the road for a little distance before they veered off toward the river. We thought they may return back towards the road but they headed deeper into the river across this large boulder. It was a beautiful scene, backlit by the sun that was dropping down behind. However, we thought this may be the last we would see of them…
Having sat for about half an hour with little to no view of the leopards, the unexpected happened. The mother walked back out from behind a thick bush and lay right out in the open, in the middle of the boulder… We were treated to a dream sighting of mother and cub grooming and playing with each other, with the backdrop of the picturesque Sand River.
The cub wraps its tail affectionately around its mother’s neck.
We were lucky enough to view the mother and cub from a distance that did not disturb them at all. The cub was aware of us though, and at one point was relaxed enough to venture closer to us, about 10 metres away from its mother, peering at us over the boulder!
As the sun was setting, we left the mother and her cub alone, so as not to attract any unwanted attention from other predators to the pair. The Nkoveni female took the opportunity to rest while her cub suckled, knowing that another night was ahead of her.
Each time I drive past this area I still tell everyone to look for leopards lying on the rocks; at least now I know sometimes it really does happen. How lucky we were to witness such an incredible scene between mother and cub, that are seldom viewed due to the fact that the Nkoveni female frequently hides her cub away in the thickets of the river where it is difficult for even the Land Rovers to access.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
Indeed a lucky sighting Pete. I scan the rocks aswell when we are out on drive and only saw a leopard once on the rocks. To see a mother and a cub is amazing.
What a sweet sighting, Pete! Am so jealous! Lucky you!
Dreams come true at Londolozi!!! Fabulous sighting and photographs!
Lucky you – it’s my dream to see a leopard cub and now you and your guests have observed the ultimate experience- interaction between mom and cub. Wonderful sequence of photos!!
How sweet! If you dream it, it will come! We saw this leopard when we were there in early April and suspected she was pregnant or had just given birth. I’m so happy to see pictures of her cub.
It always lifts the heart to see a young leopard cub and it’s watchful mother when so many young ones are challenged to make it to independence. Very sweet images today. Wishing you more rare rock sightings!
Nkoveni is one of my favorites to photograph. I saw her last April with two cubs-I guess they didn’t make it. Great photos on the rocks.
Brilliant sighting Pete! Thank you!
Ask David Dampier about his sighting (it might have been the then Nyaleti Young Female/Nanga Female) on the rocks in front of Granite Camp circa 2012! He took predictive guiding to a new level!
Tutlwa female, Hobbo. I’d stake good money on it…
David Dampier set the guiding bar so high, we may never see his equal again!