As the cooler months approach and winter begins to settle in here at Londolozi, the bush comes alive with the unmistakable sounds of rutting impalas. Deep snorts, loud grunts, and the frantic chasing of rivals echo across the landscape. It’s a time of high energy, aggression, and intense distraction, as male impalas compete for dominance and mating rights.
While the rams focus on fighting off challengers and trying to impress the females, predators are never far away, watching, listening, and waiting for their moment to strike.
The impala rut takes place once a year, typically from late April through mid-June in the Lowveld, and is triggered by the shortening of daylight hours. During this season, male impalas become highly competitive and territorial, concentrating all their energy on fending off rivals and herding together their group of females, known as a harem.
This intense behavioural shift often leads to a loss of awareness, making them more vulnerable to lurking predators.
And the predators know it.
Nkoveni Female dragging an impala ram
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
An Open Window for Predators
Lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, and wild dogs are all opportunistic hunters, and this is a golden time for them. The chaos of the rut means distracted rams are less alert than usual. While their attention is locked on rivals or the chase for females, predators use stealth and patience to their advantage.
Two impala rams lock horns in a particularly violent contest.
Leopards, in particular, thrive during this time. Their solitary, silent movements allow them to move closer without being noticed. If the rams are too busy fighting or chasing, and the females are momentarily looking elsewhere, it can take just seconds for a leopard to ambush and secure a meal.
The Three Rivers Female capitalised on a distracted impala ewe thanks to the chaos of the rutting males.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
In recent weeks, we’ve witnessed leopards around Londolozi respond almost immediately to the sound of rutting rams. At the first grunt, they shift direction, knowing full well there may be a chance to hunt.
One memorable sighting involved the Nkoveni Female, who had clearly heard the commotion of a nearby contest and moved in swiftly. Minutes later, she was seen dragging a full-grown ram through the long grass—an opportunistic kill if ever there was one.
Still Not Easy
Despite the distraction of the rams, it’s still no easy task for predators to get close. While the males may be reckless, the females remain highly alert, often spotting danger before it’s too late. That’s where safety in numbers comes in; the herd dynamic is often the only thing that prevents more casualties during this time.
Hearing the soundtrack of the rut—the constant grunting and clashing horns—as the sun sets is one of my favourite things about this time of year. Not only are the impalas incredibly entertaining, but you know predators are out there, actively seeking out the noisiest, most distracted individuals.
It makes for incredible viewing. Things can change in an instant.
High Risk, High Reward
For the impala, the rut is a critical time to pass on their genes. But that drive to reproduce comes at a cost. Their focus on dominance and mating opens a brief window of vulnerability, and predators don’t hesitate to exploit it.
The Flat Rock Male makes an attempt at a rutting impala ram. It was a narrow miss that may have played out in favour of the leopard if he had merely waited another half-second. He had been waiting hidden flat in some long grass along a path that the impala had repeatedly been using.
Born 2013 Kruger, seized prime territory at young age. Strategic dominance led to successful lineage before current eastward shift.
Nature’s balance is on full display: while one species fights for legacy, another waits for opportunity.
And in the middle of it all, the bush comes alive.
Both impala and leopards are exquisitely dancing through the notes of life and death with their slender, elegant and strong features, modelled by evolution. Fantastic pictures. It’s like deer calling and fighting in Europe, many people come to listen to them and look at those wonderful animals. Predators wait for their opportunities… I watched videos where a single impala ram was fighting under a tree against a wild dogs pack… I can’t believe their resilience… of course they can’t resist for long. At the end of the season, the survivors are very tired. And predators wait… spectacular animals. If when seen foraging they maybe don’t impress like zebra and giraffe, here they give their best show. Thank you for this beautiful blog edition. I had no doubt about the Nkoveni and Three Rivers female ‘s success (have you got any news on her daughter?) , surprised about the mistake made by a prime hunter as the Flat Rock male is. Even the best one may make a bad move.
Hi Patrick, the sounds of the impala rams rutting and the chasing of the ewes here on the reserve is very active as well. You here them from far and then can just imagine there on Londolozi where the leopards are hiding, to kill an impala. Nkoveni is a formidable hunter and she has to share her kill with her son. Three Rivers female is also a favorite of mine.
Great article, Patrick. By the way, is the Flatrock Male still alive? He hasn’t been mentioned for quite some time. Do you still see him sometimes at Londolozi?
To be in Africa during the annual rutting by the male Impalas is as exciting to watch as it is to listen to the guttural snorts and crashing horns. I’ve also seen the Kudu rams fight for dominance where it didn’t end well for the loser who limped away after being gored. Your blog whilst very informative, also provides a view into what you might see if planning a trip to South Africa during this time of year.
I hope the rut is proving helpful to the Ximungwe female as she continues her quest to survive despite her injury.