The Nkoveni female has been featuring prominently in Londolozi’s sightings book of late, with the open bush conditions that still persist making tracking easier and leopards slightly more visible. Her localised movements close to the Londolozi Camps have resulted in a wide variety of sightings, with guests seeing her and her cub from the decks of their chalets, rangers bumping into her on their way to the airstrip, and the consistent call of monkeys during the day announcing that once again she is on the prowl.
A few weeks ago we ran a feel-good photographic post by Grant Rodewjik that showcased 5 of his favourite photos from a sighting of the mother leopard and her cub, and we thought we’d repeat that with some of ranger Guy Brunskill’s pictures. With the amount these two leopards have been seen recently, this may well develop into a weekly series…
Enjoy!
A gorgeous female who is found to the east of camp. Easily recognised by her 2:2 spot pattern she is often to be found in Marula trees.
From their expressions one might assume that this rough activity is more serious than it is. I suppose it is quite serious business, as it is essentially practice for the young leopard, and may go a long way towards determining how successful an adult she becomes.
A swipe by the mother necessitates a hasty evasive leap by the cub!
Although lethal claws are often out during fights like this, the leopards will always be careful not to inflict proper injuries on each other, even though it looks like one of them could lose an eye at any second.
The cub hides in a thicket, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on its mother. IN all likelihood the mother knew exactly where the cub was, but was simply playing along. Mother leopards and lions can be tremendously indulgent with their offspring.
A duck by the Nkoveni female sends the cub flying over her head.
And a 6th picture just for luck: a huge leap by the cub onto its mother. The cub is getting larger by the day, and play-fights are likely to start becoming more and more serious as the weeks go by, as the two leopards become more evenly matched in size and strength.
Happy Monday!
Beautiful, thank you. I was privileged to spend over an hour on 1 drive last month with these two, and much of that was playing. Alfie considered it one of his best sightings ever, which when you’ve been a ranger as long as he has, is quite saying something.
Wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing!
What a great way to start my Monday! Thanks Jim
One never tires of seeing leopards, and especially these playful two. Very nice balance to the other harsh realities of the bush. Very nice, James and also appreciated!
You’ve made my morning! A wonderful reminder that this is happening at Londolozi while we’re caught up in holiday preparations!
Always a pleasure to revisit Londolozi! Thank you!
You’ve made my Monday! It’s wonderful to know that this is going on at Londolozi while we’re in the midst of holiday preparations!
Wonderful sightings of Nkoveni and her cub, hope she will still looking for the cub.
Absolutely delightful pictures, guys! Thank you so much for sending them on to us. We have so often watched small cats at home often playing in the same way with their kittens. We could watch them for hours! Wendy M
great sightings and pictures !
Hi James,
Fantastic photos!! I have two questions. How is life going for The Ottawa Male Lion? Still lookig for females and living dangerouly… living on the edge! ?
And the Female Cheetah ho had an injury to her eye in september, how is she doing?
Thank you for a very interesting and wonderful blog!
Wonderful images of these two. The little one looks very frisky. I’m looking forward to a similar sighting later this week……
That may have been the same sighting Nick and I were on. It was non-stop action. May have to send in my favourite 5 photos!
The best leopard sightings are the cubs playing with their mothers. Love it.
Just beautiful!!