After his introduction to the blog a couple of weeks back, I thought a brief follow up was in order. The Nanga male cub is still providing exceptional viewing when the team is able to follow the well known tracks of his mother the results are quite simply breathtaking.
The first time I saw the two together.
The comfort levels of the youngster are on the up and his confidence around a Land Rover is testament to the cautious approach the team adopted in the early stages of viewing the young leopard. The interactions with his mother are becoming more and more boisterous as the days pass. The playful jumping and climbing that takes place on the Nanga females head is something special to watch.
It is not only this play that enthrals us, but also that which takes place slightly further away. As the young cub grows, his muscles further develop and so does his confidence. He is now seen wandering, exploring the world around him. Every small rustle catches his full attention, with ears pricked and a focused gaze he makes his careful approach. Curiosity overwhelms and he can not resist investigating. Suddenly it all seems too much and he bounds back to the safety of his mother.
There is still much to be learnt by one of Londolozi’s newest inhabitants but we watch and learn along with him. The constant threats and opportunities of this new world will be made easier by the company of the Nanga female. Life in the northern reaches of Londolozi has been favorable to this young leopard up until now. What it holds in the future is for us to still discover and for him to dominate.
Full of life, the young male runs to greet his mother.
Captivating gaze.
Tree climbing is a crucial skill to survival.
The Nanga female was born to the Nyelethi 4:4 female in 2009 as part of a litter of three.
Written and photographed by Simon Smit- Londolozi Ranger
Stunning images of the cub Simon. Love the last one in the tree. Beautiful. Great video.
Who is the father and also how is the Nanga young male from 2013 is he ok and and if so how is he going?
OMG….She is so beautiful to me!! Love the pics, but especially the first one where she is looking straight at the camera….she is very calm & relaxed….confident and non-chalant?! 🙂 And he is really cool looking with those blue eyes! So fun to watch him play! Thanks for the update. Have a great day.
What a treat to share these outstanding photos of the interaction between Leopard Mother and Cub. They are quite delightful – thank you so much.
Stunning photos Simon, amongst the very best Leopard photos I have seen.
Thank you for the update. I had the pleasure of seeing him in early April and am happy to see him doing so well. He was the highlight of the trip! Please do keep blog’ing updates.
Wonderful photos. I hope to see Mom and Cub next month!
It’s so exciting to see Nanga….my favorite…. and her new little cub. Praying that he remains safe!
Oh he’s so beautiful Simon and your photos are really stunning! It must be such a fantastic experience to be able to spend time with beautiful Nanga and her cub. Thank you so much for the update.
The photos and video made me smile. Thank you Simon! BTW, for fans of the Nanga female, she has a facebook page (if you don’t know already) and there are photos and links from Londolozi and elsewhere. Nanga female is known as Moya north of Londo & the facebook page is under her “northern” name. If you look hard enough there is also some historic photo/video posted from Londolozi of the Nanga female as a cub with her mother, the late Nyeleti female: https://www.facebook.com/Moya.Female.Leopard
I’m not normally a big social media person, but I hope they link Simon’s amazing photos and video.
HI SIMON,
THANKS FOR THE UPDATE ON THE BLOG, CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THIS CUB AND TO SPENDING SOME QUALITY TIME WITH YOU ALL IN A FEW WEEKS (JULY)
KEEP WELL.
REGARDS,
TED.
Just gorgeous. Wonderful pictures.
Thanks Simon for these stunning images of this beautiful cub & proud mama!