I often think about what a great privilege it is for us rangers and trackers to be able to set off into the African bush at dawn each day, searching for the wild’s rarest animals, documenting their life stories, and observing the many trials and tribulations they endure throughout their lives. I enjoy how each of these stories continues, whether we’re there to witness them or not.
The Nkoveni Young Male pictured in the middle, about to join his two late sisters for a drink.
Almost a year ago, the Nkoveni Female leopard gave birth to a litter of three tiny cubs. Two females and one male. As we have mentioned in past blog posts, both of the female cubs had fallen victim to the Kambula Pride on separate occasions. Considering their most recent encounter with the Kambula pride, and also the fact that the young male is now almost a year old, I wanted to put out a quick update on the remaining Nkoveni duo.
He has grown significantly throughout the past year. Here he and his mother wander about close to the Maxabene Riverbed.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
In short, the Nkoveni Female has fully healed back to 100% since her clash with the Kambula Lioness, and both she and the cub are doing very well. This is the first time the Nkoveni Female has raised a male cub to this age, so even for her at over 12 years old it is a new accomplishment to her lineage.
We have noticed that the Nkoveni Young Male has started to spend more and more time alone now. He is often found quite far from where the Nkoveni Female has left him while she’s off hunting and marking out her territory. This is usually a sign that he is starting to gain a little more confidence.
While walking through an open area the Nkoveni Female and cub flushed out a small scrub hare from the cover of a guarri bush. Suddenly, the two of them ran after it. The young male managed to capture it (briefly) before dropping it and the scrub hare scampered off to safety.
He will still be quite dependent on his mother for about another year. Around the two-year mark, he will begin to do a lot more exploring, venturing beyond the realm of his mother’s territory – the safe haven he’s gotten to know so well. Currently, he is starting to spend most of his time around Shingilana Dam. During the summer, this becomes a very large waterhole that attracts many different animals. The hive of general activity around this area keeps him entertained while his mother is away.
Confident young leopards will readily wander about, practising hunting and stalking, whilst satisfying their curiosity.
His father, the Maxims Male, has an enormous territory. This will afford the Nkoveni Young Male the opportunity to have access to a vast area where he can gain confidence and come into his own as a young adult. Without him having to come into contact with other male leopards.
The Maxims Male, a dominant and prominent force south of the Sand River, across the majority of Sparta.
Fairly skittish male that is presumed to have come from the Kruger National Park.
Out of the three cubs of his litter, the Nkoveni Young Male has always been slightly less confident than his sisters were. So it really has been wonderful to see that he is becoming a little more adventurous and certainly far more confident than he was a few months ago.
Hi Matt, thanks for the update. I had several wonderful encounters with Nkoveni and the two siblings prior to the sad demise of the young female. It is good to see how the young male has grown and becoming more confident. On my last morning with them in September, the two cubs were playing so beautifully. Imoften look at my photos and marvel at the spectacular sightings. Hope the male fares well and looking forward to see him and his mum again in April.
I didn’t know the first cub that was killed by lions was also a female… how unlucky the Nkoveni Female has been. They were all so alike her, one more beautiful and playful than the others. What a bad luck. At last this young guy is absolutely handsome, gorgeous, healthy, alive. Hopefully traces of him won’t be lost in the future. He’s too much of a superb specimen and we got all so fond of him and his brave mum! Nkoveni is able to raise a full litter of 3, I’m sure of that. But lions are lions and leopards are competitors… the fact that they killed the Plaque Rock female and her cub as well shows how uncertain the progeny of a very fit leopardess ,born to widen and strengthen the dna , is uncertain. Lions and hyenas are definitely a heavy cause of reduction of leopards population and ability to feed… I ask to myself how possible is that the cheetah mum and her three cubs are still alive…
We enjoyed seeing them in September in 2 long sightings and I have loads of photos. What is interesting is that he is always very close to his mama even when his late sister was wandering about. I will be posting more photos along the way of this (former) trio! So terribly sad that he lost his remaining sister.
Matt, happy New Year to all our friends at Londolozi and thank you very much for the update on the Nkoveni mom and her son. The time we spent with the Nkoveni female and her two cubs was such a memorable experience. Really one of the highlights of our last trip. We were very sad when we learned of the cub’s fate. So it is nice to know, especially at this time of year, that the male cub is doing well.
Wishing all at Londolozi…….peace, joy and days of adventure in the bush in 2025.
Thanks for this update und the young Nkoveni male, Matt.
It’ s so good to know that at least he has made it so far after the tragic deaths of his two sisters. It was so nice to watch him and the little girl in September.
I hope that he will become fully independent and I may meet him again one day.
The Nkoveni female is such a great leopard and the maxim’s male as well, so maybe his mother will become pregnant once more in a year or so when he will be fully grown up.
Hi Matt, this is good news hearing that there Nkoveni young male is getting more confident each day. He still has a year to be with his mom and learn everything he needs to learn to look after himself and learn how to catch his own food. Thanks for the update. He reminds me so much of the Ntomi male.
I’m glad the two of them are thriving. After having raised so many daughters, it will be nice for the Nkoveni female’s genes to disperse from the area as he (hopefully) matures to independence and sires his own cubs someday.
Thanks for letting us know Matt how Nkoveni and her male cub are doing after their disastrous encounter with the Kambula Pride. Her cub has grown so much since I last saw the trio in October, and looking more like his father. I miss seeing him with his sister but am grateful for the drives spent with them, watching Nkoveni’s “mini me” stalking and attacking her brother! Now that Nkoveni’s injuries have healed, I hope that the two of them continue to thrive and he will continue to explore and hone his hunting skills. I’m looking forward to seeing the two of them when I return in March.
Happy New Year Matt and thank you for the splendid update on this gorgeous young leopard. We too remember with love our sightings of the trio before the young female’s very, very sad demise and it is wonderful to see him growing up so beautifully and to hear that the Nkoveni’s wounds have healed well.
Thanks for the update, Matt. When I came in November it wasn’t long after his sister had been killed. We were lucky enough to spend time with him and his mother, and he was in a very playful mood. Let’s hope he can dodge the lions and make it to full independence.
Great pictures of the Nkoveni female and her male cub. Thanks Matt.