A lot of attention has recently been on both the Nkoveni Female and Ximungwe Female and their cubs, and rightfully so! They have been providing some amazing game viewing and both leopards hold territories relatively close to the Londolozi camps. It’s easy to forget that there are many other female leopards on Londolozi, and other cubs too. The Kigelia Female Leopard is a lesser-known individual, rarely seen due to her territory lying in the deep southwestern parts of Londolozi. This area tends to be a focus for seeking other predators such as cheetahs and lions due to its relatively open terrain, which is sparsely populated with riverbeds and trees suitable for a leopard’s habitat. However, Kigelia has made this her home and recently gave birth to a litter of two cubs.
The Kigelia Female carries the blood of the Little Bush lineage, she was born in October of 2015, making her nine years old and in her prime. She has successfully raised two cubs to independence, the Tsatsuma Female establishing a territory south of Londolozi and a bit further east of the Kigelia Female. The other is the Jacana Female, occupying the deep southwestern grasslands to the north of her mother. When we discovered she was raising a new litter of cubs, we were thrilled!
This young leopard is not often seen on Londolozi soil, spending much of her time around the fringes of her mother’s territory to the south.
The brother of the Tu-Tones male from the same litter, the Makhotini male has had a far more successful life.
The Kigelia Female was sired by the Makhotini Male, named after the prominent drainage line and waterhole at the heart of his original territory. This area is now the heart of her territory as well. It was at this very waterhole that we discovered the newest addition to this mysterious lineage. Typically, a mother leopard keeps her cubs in a secluded, densely vegetated area since they are extremely vulnerable while she hunts and marks her territory. This drainage line and surrounding thickets provided the perfect hideout in an otherwise open area, devoid of suitable den sites.
A tracker’s dream! Tracks of a male leopard on a road. Male’s tracks are bigger and generally more rounded in appearance
After finding tracks of a female leopard and two cubs on a nearby road that morning but having no success in locating them, we set out that afternoon with the goal of finding where this leopard was keeping her cubs. After scouring the vicinity of the earlier tracks and coming up empty, Trevor had the bright idea of driving alongside a nearby drainage line in the hope of locating a new den site.
We scoured around some boulders extensively but initially came up with nothing. Feeling defeated, we started heading back to the road when Trevor, from the tracker’s seat, made a remarkable spot! There they were—two little cubs playing in a small jackalberry tree. The overwhelming feeling in the vehicle upon seeing leopard cubs was nothing but pure delight. I can’t quite describe the elation we felt at finding these two cubs for the first time, especially given that I had only seen their mother, the Kigelia female, twice before.
![Kigelia Female Leopard Cubs In Jackalberry (5)[rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12140124/Kigelia-female-Leopard-cubs-in-Jackalberry-5RCB-scaled.jpg)
The Kigelia female’s two cubs, nothing but cuteness!
![Kigelia Female Leopard Cubs In Jackalberry (7) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12140029/Kigelia-female-Leopard-cubs-in-Jackalberry-7-RCB-scaled.jpg)
I was grateful that I, as well as the guests in my vehicle, had lenses with large focal lengths that allowed us close-up shots of the two cubs playing in the tree without us needing to get close
![Kigelia Female Leopard Cubs In Jackalberry (10) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12135832/Kigelia-female-Leopard-cubs-in-Jackalberry-10-RCB-scaled.jpg)
One last photograph, just because!
I’m grateful to have seen the photos and videos of these adorable cubs and parents to. I can’t imagine how I’d feel to see them live, overwhelmed I’m sure. Thank you
These cubs are so beautiful, as is their mother. How great that you have cubs in the far south of Londolozi as well. I am looking forward to hearing more about them.
Great photos, Robbie
Robbie, What a great find and beautiful images! We continue to be amazed at how many leopards live in or near Londolozi!
Beautiful sighting Rob and Trevor! Thanks for sharing it
I have to say, Robbie and Trevor, that this blog made my entire week. Kudos to Eagle-eyed Trevor! I first saw Kigelia walking a drainage line with her mother, Little Bush, in Sabi Sabi. It was only my second leopard sighting ever, the first being my all time favorite Little Bush, drinking water during a night drive. Since then, I’ve followed Kigelia with special interest, and was so lucky to see her with Jacana and Tsatsumi as cubs, again in Sabi Sabi, in 2022. I am elated that, given how are far you and Trevor traveled. you found her newest litter. The images are pure magic!!
Absolutely gorgeous, thank you Robbie. How old do you think they are? – 2-3 months maybe as their eyes are still blue?
I remember Kigelia’s father well, but have never heard of the Little Bush female before – whereabouts is she from?
Robert, what a fantastic video of the cubs, thank you for sharing.
Precious!!!
How fantastic! A diverse blood line with a delightful name, not to mention the mother ‘s name, a very important tree with nutritious fruits and beautiful flowers! The pictures and the video are a real treat! One cub looks dominant on the other, but maybe the other one just wanted to rest…
What an exciting, fun sighting!! I’m jealous from afar! Those young blue eyes are captivating!
This was a magical sighting indeed! It’s exciting to learn Kigelia has cubs once again and hopefully she can raise them to independence like her other two daughters. These cubs are adorable, actually too cute for words, but then all leopard cubs are. Hopefully you and the team will continue to have many more sightings of all of the cubs residing on Londolozi.
I have not heard of the Kigelia female before, but am very excited to see her know with her two beautiful cubs. They are so gorgeous and I really do hope she can raise them to adulthood. I’m still upset about the Ximungwe female having her cubs killed, so I am really hoping she will be able to raise them. Thanks Robbie for this surprise of this female leopard and the gorgeous cubs. Please keep us in to date with her and the cubs. Video is fantastic, seeing them playing in the tree is exceptional.
How fortunate that the two cubs were so relaxed around the vehicle already–especially without mom present. Perhaps they just felt especially safe up in the tree? Here’s hoping this little family thrives.
This was truly a magical experience .. spending a short time with these cubs! Robbie and Trevor you both are the best! Thank you so much!!
Absolutely perfect small spotty babies….and to see them in such a beautiful tree is such a Win!