One evening on our way back to camp, we came across the Ximungwe female leopard. She was making her way into an area that we knew she had been making use of not too long ago to den her cub. We hadn’t seen the cub for a while, and knowing that her tracks from the evening would be reasonably fresh, we figured it gave us a great starting point for the morning and we were excited to head straight there first thing the next day.
On our way out before sunrise, we came across a white rhino resting in a dry river bed. We sat for a few minutes and watched, appreciating the lovely stillness of the morning. Suddenly, Tracker Richard Mthabine turned to me and told me to drive off into the bush, pointing in the direction from which he had just heard the sounds of a pair of mating leopards – not too far from where we had stopped.
Shortly afterwards, and with an impressive spot by my guest we found a female leopard. It was the Ximungwe female! We quickly scanned around, expecting to find her with a male, but we had no luck. We soon realised that she was alone.
The Ximungwe female scanning through the bush ahead
Next thing, she started to make soft chuffing sounds, exactly the sound a mother leopard does when calling her cubs. Could this be the moment we had been waiting for? Before we knew it, the cub audibly responded! Our anticipation rose and we started searching high and low for any signs of her cub. After waiting for quite a while, Tracker Rich managed to spot a tiny figure staring right at us through the canopy of a thorn tree. At last!
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
She called her cub for a good few more minutes, urging it to climb down from the tree. Her patience wore thin and she eventually climbed up into the tree, grabbed the cub in her mouth and dragged it out and back down – something I honestly never thought I would ever get to see.
We sat there for a while longer and could hear the mating pair of leopards nearby that Rich had pointed out earlier, as well as a pack of wild dogs that were also not too far away (this place is unbelievable!). Both of these other sounds represented potential threats to the safety of the cub. This explained her eagerness in wanting to get the cub out of the tree so she could move it to a safer place.
We quickly looped around to the road, just in time to have her walk right in front of the vehicle carrying her cub in her mouth – something I have only ever dreamt of seeing.
Being a ranger provides me with so many opportunities to see the most amazing sightings. To be able to be out in the bush every day is something very special. There are so many times that I find myself seeing things that are so incredible that I am left speechless. Moments that will be treasured in my memory bank forever – this morning was one of them.
What a wonderful intimate moment you were witnesses of… nothing is more touching than a mother and her cub together! Thank you Tayla!
Yes Francesca it was an wondefully intimate moment and I am so greatful to have witnessed it.
what spectacular sighting what a spectacular mum. even though her cub is getting quite big she knew the safest place was in her mouth. As opposed to walking which the mating pair or dogs could have materialized at any moment. Thank you for sharing. hope for new updates soon.
Thank you Kimberly, I was lucky enough to have brief glimpse of the cub just the other day and it looks to still be doing well.
Tayla, I loved leopard
Me too Joan, they are incredible animals.
what an incredible moment!!! 💕I don’t think k we have ever seen that on any visit to Londolozi! good thing she was hiding the cub from other leopards and the wild dogs!!! Victoria
Yes it was an incredible moment, not something you get to see often at all.
Spectacular sighting!
Good morning Tayla! All I can say is,.. WHAT A HOOT! The Mama Leopard just paraded in front of you like you weren’t even there! Not to mention that she doddled past you with motherly pride out and about amidst her day doing what she has to do,..
It must be astonishing to see a wild feline act so “Tame” in the presence of human life. – From where I stand from a far, (in thought), .. if I was there, seeing a Leopard for the first time like that, I would be stunned! My heart would be racing while my jaw would be dithering with my breath in the midst of being in awe!
You have truly been blessed with a gift upon this day!
Yes is it quite astonishing to see a wild animal so colse like that, although it may seem that they are “tame” they are far from it. I hope that one day you will get to experience the breath-taking moment of seeing a leopard for the first time.
Hi Tayla, Thank you for responding to my comment. It is so fun hearing from you all! – A little added note,.. I adopted a “kitty” from our city shelter here in New Mexico a week before the Pandemic outbreak. – What’s ironic about the “kitty,” is that when looking at her “baby picture,” I SWEAR she looked part Cheetah and part Leopard cub! – Come to find out she’s 5/8’s Savaanah! I knew first off, by her markings. Next came her “behavior.” The only thing that’s “Off” about her is that she was kept “incarcerated” in a cage for over 9 MONTHS! (due to being adopted and surrendered twice) so she strangely doesn’t know how to purr or GROWL. – The main give-away about her being a Savaanah is that she HISSES IDENTICAL to what is stated within the context of behaviors relative to a Savaanah and it’s relative the Serval.
It goes without saying that I am so wanting to see the “real deal.” (being a Leopard and a Cheetah.) Everyday, My heart is calling for me to see South Africa and Londolozi.
Wonderful sighting! We have seen a lioness carry her cub and a hyena carry her cub, but not a leopard! I keep hoping!!!
So wonderful that you have seen both lioness and hyena carrying, holding thumbs that one day you get to see leopard too.
How absolutely wonderful! This was a special and memorable moment indeed.
This is so exciting to see the Ximungwe female and her cub. What a sighting that must of been to see her drag her cub out of the tree and then still to see her carring the cub right in ftont of the Land Rover. You were certainly lucky to see all of that Tayla.
Hi Valmai, yes very lucky indeed.
thank you for sharing this amazing siting, so so special.
All I can say is, WOW!! That was one incredible sighting. Love the video.
Incredible to witness! Still one thing i would love to see sometime
Tayla, talk about hitting the jackpot! I know from the blogs that to see a leopard carrying her cub is an incredibly rare event, even for you guys who are there all the time. And to see her take it out of the tree like that – you certainly were blessed that day.
Oh my goodness – a viewing to be treasured. Thank you.
Sightings like this is exactly the reason why I want to become a field guide. This is awesome so see you are really lucky.
The unexpected surprises in the bush!
What truely magical day that must have been Tayla ! I held my breath through the whole replay of mother and cub strolling past the landi, as if I was there. What an amazing sight 🙏🏻👌🏻💕💕💕
She is moving very fast…..obviously anxious to get out of that immediate area! How wonderful to see a small cubbie being carried by her mama!
WOW!!!! Incredible sighting, photo and video captures, and blog post Tayla!! Thanks so much for sharing this very beautiful and intimate moment in the Bush!!!