This week’s Virtual Safari revolves around an increasingly independent and all-too-familiar character—the Nkoveni Young Male. We began the afternoon with him wandering through a sea of golden grass, the sun casting a warm backlight across the landscape. While he didn’t stray far from a stashed impala lamb carcass tucked beneath a bush, his movements were slow and exploratory, soaking in the fading light.
Eventually, he settled atop a mound, some distance from the carcass. It felt like one of those peaceful evenings where nothing more would unfold… until everything changed. A soft leopard call rang out from behind us. He immediately responded with a low-contact call of his own. Then another. This time, he leapt up and dashed off—heading straight toward the source.
Moments later, the Nkoveni Female appeared on a mound, and the reunion between mother and son was touching and intimate. Like a child excited to show off an accomplishment, he proudly led her to the carcass, dragging it around with enthusiasm before settling under the shade to feed.
By the next morning, the story had evolved further. The pair had hoisted the kill into a marula tree. As we arrived, the Nkoveni Female was already up the trunk, and we were treated to breathtaking views of her feeding with a swirling backdrop of wildebeest, impala, and zebra kicking up dust in the distance.
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
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Dear Sean, thats an amazing story, the young male learned a lot. Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much, Jutta. This young male is learning so much and he is doing very well for a youngster.
A beautiful reunion and excellent footage! Thank you Sean
Thank you so much, Jennifer.
Oh that was delightful Sean, thank you. I think he’s about 15 months old now? We were lucky enough to see him in November when he alternated between feeding in a tree and playing with the carcass. His enthusiasm for both was wonderful to watch!
Yes, he is about 15 months old at the moment. I must say that I do love young leopards at this age. They are so full of life zest and enthusiasm for everything they do.
I love how you can see the pride just radiating off of him. The Nkoveni female is such a wonderful mother. She’s done such a great job of teaching him and allowing him to practice his skills at every opportunity.
You could indeed, he was so excited to show his mother his prize. He is looking very well on the right track for independence, although I am sure he will still be with his mother for a while longer.
Phenomenal virtual safari Sean. So good to know that Nkoveni’s son is on his way to independence, taking down a small impala, and sharing with his mother. It was fascinating to watch him drag that carcass closer to his mother on the termite mound, only to begin feeding. I wonder who actually carried it up the Marula tree? She’s done a fantastic job of raising him to this point and hopefully he will continue to learn inasmuch as his mother will set him free, to make his own way. I loved watching the two of them during my last visit!!
Thank you so much, Denise. I also wonder who took it into the tree. At this stage it very likely could have been him. We sat there at a distance for another 20 minutes or so after wrapping up the video, at that point it was too dark to film and we didn’t want to use a spotlight and it was the young male that dragged the carcass to the base of this marula tree.
Fabulous Virtual Safari Sean – simply awesome to watch the interplay between Nkoveni and her nearly grown up young male. We saw him when he was much smaller (when his female sibling was still around )and they remain very special memories.
Thank you so much, Jane. It has been incredible to follow him on his journey through life so far. He has done so well.
Hi Sean, the Nkoveni is a myth in herself, a story of endurance, intelligence, strength, grief, and love… her son is equally handsome, such a spectacular duo, I’m so glad he’s so alike her… she has always been a winner, after all, who would ever escape a full pride of lions? As her mother, the Mashaba female, she looks as a creep without an end…. I hope that her son will be successful and we can receive updates on him. As I would have liked with the Ntomi male, it is difficult but it’s important that they thrive. Leopards are always on the edge… the marula tree is a wonder and I always stay in awe I front of such spectacular trees. Absolutely great video.
I agree, the story of the Nkoveni Female has been an incredible one. She has certainly lived an eventful life so far. I have high hopes for this young male and we will continue to give updates on him for as long as we can.
Creature sorry!
Hi Sean, such a wonderful video of the Nkoveni female and her young son. He really is getting so big and boisterous. He was so proud of his lamb that he had, showing it to mom. She is a magnificent mother and I suppose he still has a lot to learn. I know the male cubs stay about 2 years with mother, where the female cubs leave earlier to seek their own territory, which mom gives some of her territory to the female cub. I wonder what his name is going to be.
Thank you so much, Valmai. He is growing so fast and turning into such a stunning young male. Yes, he is likely to be with his mother for a while longer and he will probably only be given a name when he is completely independent from his mother. So we still have a while to go before we start thinking about a name for him.
It’s always great to get news about the Nkoveni Duo. They are such a nice pair and always up to something exciting. Another beautiful Sunday video, Sean.
When will the young male get his own name? When he leaves his mother in a year or so?
They are such an awesome duo of leopards to spend time with and they do provide such incredible sightings and insights into a mother and son relationship. He is about 15 months old now and normally, young male leopards become independent from their mothers at roughly two years old. It is only after that point that he will be given a name. So we have a little while longer before we start thinking about a name.
Such beautiful animals. I saw mother & son a few times when I was there in January. I love being able to continue to watch there journey.