The morning began with plans to explore the southern reaches of the reserve, but nature had other exciting plans for us. As the sun cast its golden light across the crest, I glanced to our side while driving and exclaimed leopard! leopard! leopard! and Tracker Rich threw a fist pump into the air as the Ximungwe Female was walking straight through the middle of a clearing. Thrilled, we followed her as she moved with purpose, her demeanour noticeably different. She walked straight passed a duiker without paying any interest to it, her belly looking full, she had no interest in hunting. But she was not on a territorial patrol either, skipping any scent-marking opportunities on large trees or shrubs in her path— it was only in hindsight that we realised that these were all clear signs she had something significant in mind.
Heavily pregnant and walking with purpose. At this point, we were thrilled to see the Ximungwe Female walking into the morning golden light – little did we know where she was taking us.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
We followed her for a while until she eventually arrived at a cluster of boulders. Anticipating she might rest here or investigate them a bit further as a possible future den. Instead, she walked straight up to the boulders, without hesitation climbed over a small rock and vanished into a gap between two bigger rocks. At first, we couldn’t believe she just disappeared into the rocks. We circled the area, double-checking that she hadn’t slipped away. But as far as we could tell she was still inside the boulders—a potential den site she had clearly scouted before.
We watched and waited for six hours, catching only what we thought were faint grunts from the hidden depths. With the company of skinks sunning themselves, every rustling leaf made us wonder if she was reemerging. Leopards are known for their secrecy during birthing, so we weren’t expecting to see cubs, but we were curious about how long the birthing process might take. As we do, we consulted with our friend Google and weren’t surprised when a Londolozi blog from a few years back popped up. The blog, titled ‘How do the big cats give birth?‘ provided insights from Ranger James Tyrrells experience with the Ximungwe Female herself as well as the Tamboti Female. In a nutshell, the birthing process is likely to take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours, accounting for contractions which may or may not have already begun. In this case, the Ximungwe Female had likely investigated all potential den sites, had this selected one in mind, and when she felt the labour induced, she simply walked there.
The Ximungwe Female and Maxims Male were seen mating at the beginning of July, so the timing of her heavily pregnant belly already showing at the beginning of October aligns with the approximately 90-105 day gestation period for leopards.
After consulting with Sean Zeederberg, we placed a camera trap in a strategic spot to document her eventual departure. Six hours after she disappeared, the camera was in place, but the Ximungwe Female remained hidden. As things go, we couldn’t place the camera too close to the den and a few branches waving in the wind triggered the camera trap several times, so we unfortunately never managed to capture her exact exit time, but we have a strong suspicion that she remained in there the entire day and throughout that night. However, two days later, she was spotted nearby with an empty belly and fresh suckle marks – a clear sign her cubs had arrived.
It’s been three weeks now, and while she has been seen more often in the surrounding area, we’ve maintained a respectful distance. Minimising vehicle movement around the den site is crucial during this formative stage to ensure the cubs feel safe and secure in their new environment. With time, as they grow and adapt, we hope they will develop trust in the presence of vehicles, setting the stage for incredible sightings. For now, we remain patient, eagerly anticipating the day when these young leopards step into the open and become part of the Londolozi story. Nature’s surprises, like this one, make every day in the bush unforgettable.
Hi Kelsey, she’s an expert mother and has previously been successful in raising her offspring, so hopefully now that she chose her right den, the most dangerous months for her cubs are ahead..
I’m looking forward to seeing the first images of the newborn! Thank you for sharing the beautiful videos and news on her
Hi Kelsey, how lucky were you and Rich to see her on her way to her den site. Do you know if it’s one she used before?
Wonderful that the Ximungwe Female now has cubs. I hope for her that she will be able to raise them and she won’t lose them like so many mothers did in the last few months. As hyenas take every opportunity to sneak up on the little ones, it’s certainly a very wise decision that you don’t have any cars there in the near future.
Thanks for the update Kelsey, can’t wait to see the new cubs.
Such happy news! She did look suspiciously like she was pregnant in early October when we saw her. Exciting to welcome new cubs!
Congratulations new mama! I can’t wait to see the cubs’ sweet faces and bright blue eyes. Here’s hoping they stay safe for the time being.
Hi Kelsey, this is such exciting news of the Ximungwe female giving birth. Know we just have to wait patiently to see when she will bring them out in the open. You were so lucky to observe her going in between the rocks to give birth. Thanks for the update on her and I know you will keep us updated about her cubs.
That is fantastic news. I saw her mating with Maxims in July so this is a splendid result!
This is fantastic news Kelsey! I’ve been waiting for the news that she had given birth, since seeing her in early October looking Very pregnant. Knowing there are suckle marks is a good sign that her cubs are alive and eating. I know how respectful all of you are of staying away from the big cats after they have given birth, in order not to attract attention to the den site. I have seen her rocky dens in the past, the first six years ago when we spotted two little fluff balls peeking out from under the rocks. They were a few weeks old at that point. Unfortunately the female was killed by Tortoise Pan but the male grew up to be Mahlahla. She hasn’t successfully raised cubs since Ntomi became independent, so here’s hoping this year will bring magic to her.
Kelsey, Great news and well done finding the new den! We will look forward to more updates. Also, what a great idea to leave a camera to see the future cubs!
So cool Kelsey, and great thinking to set up a camera trap! Looking forward to updates as she and the newbies emerge from the den!