I know most of the stories that we write about start with, “we came a round a corner and then bang there was a Leopard” but this is not how this story is going to start…
We came around the corner and then bang there was an impala. While we viewed the impala, the eagle-eye tracker Advice, put his hand up to tell me to wait, raising his binoculars which automatically made me do the same. Then bang… a Leopard sitting in the shade of a Guarrie bush a few hundred meters away.
It was late in the morning and the sun was starting to warm everything up, making us all put on our sunblock. We did not expect too much action from this leopard, as they prefer to move around when it’s cooler.
We decided to get a little closer, and upon this, we noticed it was the Nhlanguleni Female. Shortly after our arrival she got up and headed straight in a direction that got my heart pumping, I’ll tell you why…
The Nhlanguleni Female walks past the vehicle. Photo was taken by guest- Austin Chen
Initially skittish female who transformed into a regular presence. Made history by raising first intact litter since her own generation.
It had been a few weeks since the Nhlanguleni Female’s cubs had been seen and we were unable to find her new den. This was why I got excited as she was leading us straight towards her old den. I told my guests that this could be it. We could potentially be about to see two tiny cubs. Well, I did tell them I need to relax. I also needed to try to breathe because I was out of words with excitement and it still was not guaranteed that this could be the den.
One of the Nhlanguleni Female’s cubs at the old rocky den.
A few minutes later we arrived at the old den, which is a rocky area with lots of cracks and crevices, perfect for the leopard cubs to hide safely in. The Nhlanguleni Female softly grunted to call her cubs out. This is when we all knew to get our cameras ready and to get ready to experience something really special. My camera battery, unfortunately, died (which I know a rule in photography is to always have a spare) but luckily for me, my guests I was driving have kindly sent me their photos from this sighting.
Enjoy the series of events that took place as the Nhlanguleni Female moved her cubs towards the Sand River…
Taken by guest Austin Chen. This is when she first called out the cubs to the road, they ran out from the rocky area.
The Nhlanguleni Female then lead the two cubs away from the den. They are still very playful while she is more alert as she knows how vulnerable they are when they are on the move like this. This photo was taken by Austin Chen
They stopped halfway towards the Sand River in a Tamboti thicket and the two cubs managed to safely suckle hidden in this grove.
After the two cubs suckled the mother lead them into the Sand River where they leapt from rock to rock and climbed on the fallen over trees in the southern channel of the river. This photo was taken by Austin Chen.
This photo was taken by Austin Chen.
The Nhlanguleni Female then needed them to try and cross the flowing river which made the two cubs very hesitant about the dangers of drowning and crocodiles. This photo was taken by Hauchen Chen.
The Nhlanguleni Female managed to elegantly leap across the flowing water onto the fallen over the log but the cub was not as graceful (or in its defence big enough to leap across) so it belly-flopped into the water and managed to grip onto the rock and join its mother. This photo was taken by Hauchen Chen.
The Nhlanguleni Female watches her cub while it tries to swim toward her in the Sand River. This photo was taken by Austin Chen.
The sighting ended as the three leopards disappeared into the thick riparian forest in the middle channel of the Sand River.
Although I did not manage to get any photos I tried my best to capture them with my iPhone video.
Awesome footage,thanks for sharing.
What a fabulous sighting, how lucky you were! – great photos.
Any idea as to why she returned to the old den?
Hi Suzanne, often mother leopards will rotate their dens. The Nhlanguleni Female often moves her cubs from this rocky area into the river to avoid them being detected.
What a wonderful sighting! Thanks a lot, Austin for sharing the fantastic photos and Jess, for the great video.
I would never have assumed that such tiny cubs can cross a river. Luckily the little one did not drown. What do you think: Would she have rescued it from the water if there had been a danger of drowning?
Hi Christa, leopard cubs do know how to swim although they might not be strong enough to swim against a strong flowing river but I am sure she would of tried to save it if she thought it was in danger.
Great pictures Jess, thanks for sharing today.
Oh, these little ones always capture our hearts……………. thank you very much Jill!
It must have been nerve wracking to watch those little cubs cross the river! Glad they’re still safe and sound.
Great video, Jess, and beautiful stills by the Chens! I’m so happy that both cubs are alive and thriving.
Thank you to the Chen’s for sharing their fantastic photos! What a memorable trip for them!
Jess the cubs are so small still and yet they are able to go where Mommy wants them to go, even through the water. So very precious to see them. Thank you to your guests for sharing the foto’s with us, it is very special to see leopard cubs.
Amazing gift today! There’s nothing as beautiful and irresistible as baby leopards. I was totally smitten by the suckling one but all the pictures and the video are memorable! Great mama.
What a riveting sighting Jess! Glad she is doing so well with this litter thus far! Any idea of the sexes of the cubs and would the Senegal Bush Male be the potential father? This is the history of litters I have for her and I know I am missing some but am having trouble with details since the last one I have recorded.
First Litter: Believed to have been fathered by the Robson’s 4:4 Male
Born: November 2015
Cubs born: 3
Cubs died: 3; 1 disappeared early, 2 others killed at a year old by the Flat Rock Male
Second Litter: Seen mating with the Anderson Male and Flat Rock Male
Born: October 2017
Cubs born: 1 known
Cubs died: 1
Third Litter: Suspected to be fathered by the Flat Rock Male, possibly the Anderson Male
Born: March 2018
Cubs born: 2 females; named the Nkuwa Female and Finfoot Female
Cubs died: None
Fourth Litter: Seen mating with the Flat Rock Male
Born: Late December 2019
Cubs born: 2 cubs, sexes unknown
Cubs died: Both;
Fifth Litter: Seen mating with the Flat Rock Male, possibly Kunyuma/Senegal Bush Male
Born: Approx. Late June 2020
Cubs born: ?
Hi Michael, we did see her mate with the Senegal Bush male before and now that he has shifted his territory further west into her territory, it is possible that he is the father of these cubs. I know that at least one 0f the cubs is a female but I am not sure on the other cub as I have not had a good look.
What a fantastic sighting! Luckily you had guests with cameras that were able to capture these moments with Nhlanguleni and her cubs on the move. Your video was a great way to end your story. It’s a shame that your battery died, but you’d have had the memories that is just as special.
Tiny sweet little cubbies! The river crossing must have been a bit tense. Yikes! They are so little to be doing water crossings. But thankfully alls well that ends well!
Fabulous photos by Austin Chen! And your iPhone video was great too Jess! So beautiful, all of it.
Loved this story of your day and the photos by your guests! Leopards are my favorite and how can you not adore those cubs???
That must have been incredible to witness!!!