For close to a month we had had no sign of the cub of the Makomsava female.
Some had started losing hope that the cub was still alive, until Tayla Brown pulled off an incredible spot a few mornings back, of the cub hidden away in a rocky outcrop where we thought the mother was no longer keeping it. This was phenomenal news to all of us and since then we have been catching brief glimpses of the cub in that same cluster of rocks, until it was found feeding on a kill together with its mother.
The first time the cub was found again after over a month.
Andrea Sithole had found both mother and cub with an impala kill in the north-central parts of the reserve.
I had not seen the cub in well over a month so was excited to join Andrea.
It was wonderful to see this young cub now feeding on the meat.
We watched it bounding on top of its mother while she lay full-bellied, draped over a branch. We watched this display of agility and playfulness in the canopy of the tree for well over an hour. We left them and returned that afternoon to no sign of the cub anywhere to be seen. There were two hyenas at the base of the tree, while the mother was lying about 30 metres away from the kill in a different tree. Our minds started running through various scenarios as to what could have happened. We left the sighting optimistic that the cub was stashed away in a thicket nearby but were nevertheless anxious as we returned to camp.
First thing the next morning we set out and went back to the same place where our worries were laid to rest…
The cub and its mother share the space the next morning…
As we arrived we saw not one, not two, but three leopards up in the tree. The Flat Rock male had sniffed out the kill and appropriated it for himself. When we got there he was already finishing off what small bit remained.
Once he had had his fill, he growled a few times and then descended the tree.
The Makomsava female and the cub then rejoined in the fork and sniffed around where the kill was, but to no avail; nothing remained. They eventually came down once the hyenas had moved off and they disappeared into a thick drainage line where we could not follow.
Having the kill robbed by the Flat Rock male, negotiating the dangers of lurking hyenas… even just clambering around in the branches… all of this is simply part of the young cub’s learning…
Lovely video. Fantastic news that the cub is doing well.
Good reporting & photos of a multi-day series of events.
Wonderful, Guy – I’ll take that as an early Christmas present.
Very lucky to have 3 in a “bush”. Definitely outranks 2 in a bush. Is the male the father?
Most likely. Or at least he thinks he is…
James, On the technical side is it possible for the photos and videos to be made “castable” to a TV for an a better viewer experience and to interrupt some of the “not so excellent” programming that is on the “box” these days/months?
Is Flat Rock Male the cubs father?
Most likely…
Fantastic sighting and video! What a wonderful mother and cub moment!!!
Guy, I loved the video🤗
👌
Awwww what a Christmas present! Thank you Guy!
What a spectacular video … brought so much joy to my ❤️! I never miss a blog!!
Oh wow! Very amazing sighting of 3 Leopards in a tree – how very rare! That little cub is so cute as it negotiates its way around.
Great that the cub is alive and so well. What an exciting sighting.
Amazing how agile the cub is at such an early age. Great video and commentary.
An amazing sighting, especially when the leopards were so relaxed. In many places an incident like that would quickly disappear through unsympathetic viewing practices
What fantastic leopard sightings you all have been experiencing so far this summer. Enjoyed your video, and that cub of Makomsava is one of the cutest I’ve seen. I’m looking forward to late March, fingers crossed the borders are still open, and hoping for more new cubs!
Amazing to be able to see such a sighting! Everyday I wish was I was there again…and the balance…. wow… Thank you for sharing
what a wonderful experience!! so glad the cub is well and growing! Victoria
What a special day to find the cub thriving and even surviving sharing the tree with the flat rock male ..such a super video thanks Guy 🙏❤️👌
That is a lovely story, Guy, with the pics to match. Life in the Bush of a Leopard family. Thanks so much. Wendy M
Feel like mother and cub have eaten well. Fascinating story and rare occasion.
That was such a great video to watch, although I was a bit nervous for the cub, with the Flat Rock male up in the tree and all!!