The Tamboti female has special place in my life. This female leopard is often found in the south of the reserve, in an area that we call the ‘Tamboti donga territory.’ The area is thick with plenty of available food sources (an ideal leopard hangout). Impala congregate under the shade of trees and there are many drainage areas for cover.
Tamboti was named after the Tamboti tree that she often frequents. See this picture below that gives a good idea of what her territory looks like and below that of the young female in a Tamboti tree.
The Tamboti Female and her youngster in a thick forested area so typical of the area where she roams. Mike Sutherland.
The Tamboti young female in the branches of her favourite tree – the Tamboti – Trevor Ryan McCall-Peat
Tamboti stands out with a dark golden coat but is small in size compared to some of the other leopards that we find. It is believed that the late Sunset Bend Female once used to operate in exactly the same territory. A mother to two cubs, Tamboti sadly lost a cub to another predator. Her other cub, the Tamboti Young Female, is over a year old and we believe that she may be ready to become independent.
During tracking, I look out for any signs of the female and I am usually successful at finding her because we are familiar with her territory. The ranging team were fortunate to get video footage of mother and daughter along with the Camp Pan male interacting with one another earlier this year.
Tamboti, Cub and Camp Pan Male Leopard – Lucien Beaumont.
The highlight for me was watching the Tu-Tones Male and the Camp Pan male both mate with the Tamboti Female at the same time in March. Read another blog that shows video footage of the mating three!
At the moment I believe that the Tamboti Female is trying to extend her territory further south to an area we call the Tugwaan Drive. I believe that the reason for this could possibly be because she wants to give a part of her territory to her cub.
Scroll down to see more images of this beautiful female.
Mother and child so often seen together. The youngster is now newly independent.
More than a mother, the Tamboti female drops her guard and plays with her growing cub – Simon Smit.
Standing out in the green grass.
The Tamboti female has always been renowned for her beautiful, dark eyes, something which can also be seen in her cub. – Simon Smit
Descending a tree at speed.
She is a skilful hunter and very fast as well.
Having a playful roll in the grass.
Tamboti stands out with a dark golden coat but is small in size compared to some of the other leopards that we find.
I love tracking and especially tracking leopards… I could never it get tired of a job like this. I learnt to track from my father. It is part of my soul.
More about Tamboti:
Spot pattern: 4:3 Female
Date of Birth: October 2007
Mother: Sunset Bend 2:2 Female
Father: Tugwaan 5:4 Male
Distinctive Features: Identifiable by 2 notches in her left ear.
Photographed and Written by: Bennet Mthonsi.
Additional Photo Credits: Simon Smit, Mike Sutherland, Trevor Ryan McCall-Peat and Lucien Beaumont.
Awesome blog Bennet. Beautiful images.
She is a beauty & so are your pictures. Thank you Bennet.
Bennet so impressed with your skill not only at tracking but also photography. We will return August 29 for a 5 night stay at Founders camp we hope to see you!
It is clear to see that your heart and soul are with the Leopards and in tracking Bennet. You are a lucky man to be able to do what you love. Your photographs are so beautiful and I look forward to seeing more of them soon, I hope!
Would someone please explain to me the method of spot-pattern recognition on leopards.
Thanks so much.
Hi SN, The spot pattern, such as 4:3, indicates the identity of the leopard through the number of spots on the left and right hand side of its snout. More about the individual leopards can be found at the following link: http://www.londolozi.com/leopards/ Thank you.
Bennet, your pictures are stunning & your love of leopards shows in them and of course you are working in a paradise that some of us can only dream about or “live” in your pictures & blogs, so thank you!
How sweet ! Good luck to her attempt to expand her domain
She is a beauty and so is her daughter. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the photos and info. Tamboti female is a favorite. It has been wonderful to see her raise a daughter the past year. I hope she has another litter soon.
Beautiful photographs Bennet, I can see why you have a soft spot for her!
Bennet – fantastic blog! I love learning about the specific leopards of Londolozi, and this story is a beautiful one, so happy you shared it with us. The last photo of the Tamboti female is amazing…love it!