When looking for a leopard on one of our morning or afternoon game drives, many guests simply ask “Do we just look in the trees?”. While we are lucky to have the opportunity to look for many different leopards at Londolozi, it is not always as simple as drive out and spot one draped over a tree branch.
In searching for a leopard we often incorporate the help of everyone on the vehicle, telling the guests that the best places to look are on top of termite mounds, in the shade of a bush, sometimes in a marula tree. Look for the black rosettes, contrasting black behind the ears, or the bright white tail tip flicking around to chase flies.
Often we find leopards by using the sounds of the bush, the trill of a squirrel, or the snort of an impala alarm calling…letting us know that the leopard is nearby. All of these signs point us in the right direction when searching for a leopard.
There is one leopard in particular that has become a rarity and it’s a lot of being in the right place at the right time scenario. Her territory ranges from the dense riparian forest along the Sand River down our eastern boundary. But what’s special about this leopard is not only that she is elusive, creating a sense of mystery but that she is also a successful mother of two cubs. A set of guests I recently drove were thrilled to see her cubs so we headed out in search for this female, the Nkoveni Female.
The Nkoveni Female with a new scar on her nose.
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.
Little did we know that it was not going to be that easy. It took us three days of tracking to eventually find her. Having heard that the Nkoveni Female was found one afternoon, we made it our mission to find her the next morning.
We found tracks of only her cubs in a drainage line, where the trackers decided to follow on foot and managed to find the two cubs, but without the Nkoveni Female being there we decided to leave them and rather search for the mother, as to not put any unnecessary pressure on the cubs without the protection and alertness of the mother being around. Driving every road in the area hoping to find more tracks of the mother, eventually, Andrea found her on the hunt. Getting there just in time to watch her cross over the boundary, we still had hope because her cubs were still on our side. That afternoon we tried again, driving the boundary, and found no tracks of her returning. Just as we were about to give up the search for her and move on to look for something else, we had reports of her crossing back our side from our neighbours. It was getting dark and the chances were slim, but we were so excited and tried again the next morning. Nothing. With determination and frustration, we tried again that afternoon, still nothing!
One last chance in the morning and with Barry lending us a hand, we found tracks and began to follow. This time determined to find her with her cubs. We were rewarded with an amazing scene of the mother and two cubs with a kill, with the Maxim’s Male.
The Nkoveni Female lying on a termite mound below the tree that the cubs with the impala kill were in. If you look closely, you can see the legs of the impala hanging in the background.
She had chosen a tree right next to a termite mound and allowing us to photograph her and her cubs, grooming, jumping up and down the tree, and feeding right next to us.
We were all smiling and so happy we never gave up! The adventure and challenges made every minute of that sighting so magical. What a fantastic job I have, I thought to myself…
Fairly skittish male that is presumed to have come from the Kruger National Park.
What an exciting time and how fabulous all that persistence paid off! The photos were wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing ! Victoria
Lovely blog, thank you! It is so nice to see cubs developing and growing up. Their faces, their expressions, I love it!
I guess it is, the most fantastic job, combining the joy of the sight and conservation. The Nkoveni female is a lady with class and the cubs must be the most rewarding sight! Are they males or females?
Hi Francesca, it was very rewarding! The cubs are both females.
Gorgeous pictures of the cubs and their mother. It’s so great that they are in such good shape.
Finding Nkoveni with her cubs is a real treat, especially after such persistent looking – and the cub pics are fun! But you mentioned that the Maxim’s male was with them: isn’t this unusual behavior? Does it suggest that he is the father of the cubs?
Hi Mary, it is not unusual behaviour for a male leopard to steal kills from female leopards but yes he could possibly be the father of the cubs as he showed no aggression towards the cubs and because the Nkoveni Female and the Maxims Male’s territories overlap so she would of mated with him.
Ps I can’t see her identity card- is it my mobile screen or is it missing? She’s lovely
Hi Francesca, I have refreshed it and the Leopard card is in the post under the first big photo of the Nkoveni Female.
Lovely photos, Jess. Nkoveni really made you work for that sighting, but as you say, it then makes it even more special.
You have the best job in the world Jess! Your photos are fabulous. I love your determination in tracking while still being respectful of the cubs and mom needing their space. I hope they all stay safe.
Jess you have the best job ever, I would love to do what you are doing. The leopards are my favorite cat and especially Londolozi cats. Those two cubs of the Nkoveni female are so beautiful and inquisitive. So glad they have been safe up until now and hope they will both make it into adulthood. Wonder what happened to Nkoveni’s nose, how she got that markings .
So so sweet! And the reward is even sweeter for the time involved to find them! Great job!
Boy, Londolozi is certainly providing some remarkable viewing in preparation for Christmas !!! Well worth the days of tracking. Well done to the team..just fabulous photos and recount of the Nkoveni female and her gorgeous cubs and of course Maxim 🙏🏻💕
You captured some beautiful photos of those cubs. Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic sighting and images Jess. Experience and teamwork are keys to success in tracking the leopards. I agree-great job!!
Your persistence paid off Jess. So glad you got to see Mum and the two kids – they are cuteness personified. Thanks for sharing with us – enjoyed it.