We set out from Tree Camp just before the sun had started to appear. It was a beautiful, cool morning. We could hear the birds starting to wake, distant alarm calls of baboons and the flowing water over the rocks of the Sand River. I just had the feeling it was going to be a great start to the day.
Getting out into the bush nice and early contributes to specials views of the rising sun. It creates a beautiful setting and a perfect temperature for predator viewing.
Tracker Freddy Ngobeni and I had had a quick chat in the car park before our guests arrived, and decided that this morning we were going to try find a leopard. We will never lose the excitement and enthusiasm when that’s our goal. There’s something extraordinary about searching for these elusive predators.
We drove out of camp with our four guests in an easterly direction, towards the soon-to-be-rising sun. The Sand river to our north which we meandered along was filled with a layer of mist enhancing, the beauty of its surroundings. Driving into this part of the reserve, we knew of a couple of leopards that we thought we could potentially find.
The Nkoveni Female, one of Londolozi’s dominant female Leopards. In this image she began marching along the road, stopping every now and then to spray her urine and mark territory.
Whilst taking in the beauty and slowly moving along the banks of the river, around the upcoming corner was exactly what we had hoped for. A female Leopard drinking from a puddle in the road ahead of us. All six of us bloomed with excitement. To add to this, this female is one of Londolozi’s specials and a leopard I hadn’t seen in a while; the Nkoveni female. Her very obvious milk pouch and clearly suckled teats clearly explained why she had been a little scarce of late: she’d given birth.
Along with marking her territory the Nkoveni female would often stop to view her surroundings. In this case she spotted a herd of Impala feeding in the distance.
We sat with her for about three minutes while she carried on quenching her thirst. The still morning was just getting better. She then stood back up and carried on moving. For just over an hour we followed her moving majestically along the upper banks of the Sand River.
Spraying her urine, scratching her paws in the earth and rubbing against prominent trees and shrubs along the way were all signs that she was protecting her territory. The striking morning light from the now risen sun and the mist expelling from her mouth after each breath she took, was a sight that didn’t need much explaining. Every animal that alarmed at her (birds, vervet monkeys and impalas) made her lift her striking white tail to present herself as not being a threat. This sighting of magnificent Leopard ended with her moving off into an inaccessible part of the river. Most probably towards her waiting cubs. The really exciting thing for me is that hopefully in the upcoming months we’ll be viewing her with another set of offspring, further enhancing to the already spectacular leopard game viewing at Londolozi.
The Nkoveni female with her previously raised cub who has now made it to independence. We hope to have similar viewing of her with her next litter of cubs in the near future.
Super sighting for the lucky guests
Lovely Knoveni female! She’s gorgeous and how interesting the details about animal silent communication. How they understand each other so well! Do you have any recent news on the Mashaba female?
Hi Francesca. The Mashaba female is well and healthy as of late. She has recently been seen mating with the Senegal Bush male.
Lovely leopard portrait!
Dan, I loved leopards🤗
Beautiful pictures. Following a leopard is always the cherry on the icing on the cake. I hope that one day we will see her cubs as well and grown up as the one in the picture.
Hi Christa. Yes, we all holding thumbs!!
What an essay! A++!! – Every detail of your travels for the day amidst the Londolozi environment and the ways of the Nkoveni Leopard can be digested and absorbed and experienced without even being there! The Nkoveni Leopard sounds like a maternal “Cutie!”
Hi. Thank you for your comment. Yes, you’re right about her!
Great morning!! Always so great to see even one of the gorgeous leopards ! Victoria
I look forward to seeing a future blog post about her new cubs! We saw Plaque Rock in Aug 2019 but never met her mama.
The Nkoveni female is a beautiful leopardess. It will be exciting to see and follow her with the cubs in the future.
It’s a very exciting future coming up, Linda!
What a fantastic morning you shared with your guests. Hopefully Nkoveni will return from her den in Mala Mala to present her cubs to all of you.
Sounds like a beautiful morning!
She is my favourite.
The daughter she had with the Flat Rock male is awesome! I often watch the videos with her from various sources. Now I wish these two small cubbies to make it to adulthood. Nice story.
Hi Kirill, thanks for your comment.
Dan the Nkoveni female is Mashaba’s daughter if I remember correctly. She is beautiful just like het mother. Hopefully soon we will be seeing her cubs.
Hi Valmai. Yes you are correct!
Thanks, Dan. Very interesting article after the “lion” escapade previously. Do hope the babies will be seen soon! Wendy M
The perfect way to start a day Dan, very special indeed for you and your guests. I’m sure it won’t be long before you get a glimpse of the cub/s 🙏🏻💕
Hi Cally. Thanks for the comment. I’m sure it’s coming soon…
Great to hear all her news and lovely photos too.
❤️❤️❤️