Leopards have perfected the art of being elusive but here at Londolozi, we are afforded the luxury of almost daily encounters. Some leopards we see more often than others. Due, in part, to the vicinity of their respective territory to camp and their unique behaviour around vehicles. Some are shyer than others and some continue with their day as if we are not even there. The latter is the perfect way to describe the Ximungwe Female. However, for the past two months, we have simply been chasing shadows.
The Ximungwe Female gazes in our direction whilst sitting on a termite mound as the sun sets behind her.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
The Ximungwe Female’s Territory
Both male and female leopards will establish a territory and will, as a general rule, only be found in their territory. The Ximungwe Female was ceded a large part of her territory by her mother, the Mashaba Female, when she became an independent leopard a number of years ago. Her territory is situated south of our camps and sits in the central south of Londolozi. Naturally, due to this being quite close to camp, she has been one of the most viewed leopards on our reserve for the last number of years. She has recently raised her second male cub to independence, the Ntomi Male, and over the past two years we have been treated to tremendous sightings of them. Sightings of the young male have been quite frequent over the past two months but we have had only one sighting of the Ximungwe Female over the same period. Having not been at Londolozi for all of her independent life I decided to ask some of the rangers and trackers that have been if this was usual behaviour for her or not.
Shortly after we set off one morning we found the Ximungwe Female huddled up on a termite mound with the sun rising directly behind her.
Has this happened before?
It turns out that this is not too unusual for the Ximungwe Female. There have been two occasions over the past few years when she has also seemingly vanished. On both occasions when she did turn up again it was quite far from her usual territory. Female leopards will leave their territories to seek out males on the periphery of their territory to mate. The reason is that they will try to mate with these males so that when they have cubs, and any of these males happen to encounter their cubs, they are not sure if they are in fact the father or not. A female leopard will exert a lot of time and energy to raise their cubs and any new males that come into contact with cubs that they know for sure are not their own will be attacked aggressively often leading to their demise. So perhaps this is what the Ximungwe Female has been up to, looking for males.
The Mahlahla Male was the first cub that the Ximungwe Female raised to independence.
An inquisitive young male that has been pushed further north by the Senegal Bush Male.
When last did we see her mating?
She was last seen mating with the Senegal Bush Male at the beginning of 2023. We have not seen her mating with any other males since then, however, the only time she has been seen in the last two months was much further south of her usual territory. So there is a chance that she has been mating with other males outside of her normal territory. Perhaps history is repeating itself. What followed the previous bouts of her disappearing for several weeks were very exciting times for the ranger and tracker teams.
The Ximungwe Female and Senegal Bush Male began their mating affair on the airstrip apron.
Initially seen as a young male in 2016, this leopard only properly established territory on Londolozi in mid-2019
Could she have a new litter of cubs?
What followed in both 2019 as well as 2021 was the arrival of a new litter of cubs. Both of which produced a cub that she raised to independence. The Ximungwe Female at the age of eight years old this year has done incredibly well to have already raised two to independence, could we be fortunate enough to watch her raise a third? Hopefully over the course of the next few weeks chasing her shadow results in us seeing not only her shadow but that of a few small shadows too.
A view that we are hoping to come around the corner and see over the next few weeks. This is the Ximungwe Female with her litter of two in 2020.
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Thank you for the update Barry. It will be interesting to keep up0 with the Ximungwe Female as she crosses Londolozi.
Hey Barry, lovely blog, thank you – we are holding thumbs that when Ximungwe female emerges from the shadows again it is for the same reason as before and there may again be young Ximungwe’s. Exciting times to look forward to.
We’ll be there in 6 weeks – hope to see her and new cubs!!
Any sign of her Mother, Mashaba female? She used to be very visible in your stories but now nothing. She is a good Mama.
Fascinating, this leopard. I hope that she will turn up again soon, maybe with a new litter of cubs.
What about her son, the Ntomi male? Could he be a danger to new cubs of hers?
Oh Barry that will be the best news ever to hear that she has had cubs. I love the Ximungwe female and her son the Itomi male is my favorite male leopard with his spek in his eye. Let’s hope she is pregnant and will have cubs very soon.
The Mashaba legacy… she is so beautiful with her unique marking on her face, and surely a good mum! Keep my fingers crossed for the cubs!
She certainly breeds some handsome cats!
Terrific update Barry on Ximungwe female. I’ve enjoyed following her story and have been so impressed by her raising two males to adulthood in her last two litters. My timing to see her with cubs has been off, save for a peek of her male and female in November 2019, as they were playing in their rocky den. I wasn’t sure I’d see her during my last visit as no one had spotted her for a few weeks, but in my next to last day I was rewarded with a perfect sighting. She didn’t look pregnant nor had suckle marks but….. anyway, I look forward to her next chapter. Cheers!!
Female leopards moving and shifting all over the place! Since many new females were born over past 2-3 years, the cats seem to be shifting around and giving up parts of their territories for their daughters.
such a lovely leopard, nice update