There are moments in the bush that remind us why we should never underestimate the power of patience, and why speculation—no matter how informed—can never truly replace what only time reveals.
Just when our hope had begun to fade, and we’d started to quietly accept the possibility that the Ngungwe Female’s young female cub might be lost, Ranger Nic Glassock caught a brief but unmistakable glimpse of her about three weeks ago. There she was, alive, alert, and right on the edge of the Sand River, and likely, the terrain that had kept her hidden from us all along.
Ranger Nic Glassock’s fleeting glimpse of the Ngungwe Female’s cub, proof that she was never lost, only hidden. The inaccessible reaches of the Sand River, with its dense thickets and remote rocky outcrops, must have served as her safe haven all along.
Born 2020 during lockdown to Piccadilly Female. Once skittish, now confident mother denning her first litter in Marthly's rocky terrain.
The relief was profound. What we’d interpreted as absence had simply been the bush doing what it does so well: concealing, protecting, keeping its secrets tucked away in inaccessible pockets of wilderness that our vehicles can never reach.
Now, with days passing by and no further sight of the cub, we began to wonder if Nic had misidentified it. But our doubts were put to rest. While out on a game drive with Sean, we spent some time with the Gijima Males, who are now being seen north of the river. During the afternoon, while waiting for some activity, we heard impala alarm calling nearby. By the time we got there, the Ngungwe Female was already up in a jackalberry with a very fresh impala kill. A substantial meal that would certainly last her the night, and if her cub was still alive, she would most likely go and fetch it.
The following morning, a few rangers arrived to discover the cub up in the jackalberry feeding. However, their view was incredibly brief as the cub bolted down the tree and scuttled away into the riverine thickets of the Sand River. Unable to capture the fleeting moment, but undeniably, the Ngungwe Female’s cub is still alive.
She remains skittish, as young leopards in their first year so often are. But there is something encouraging in knowing that her mother is still providing for her, still guiding her through this dangerous and delicate stage of her life. And while she may dart away at the sight of a Land Rover now, we’ve learned that habituation is not a destination but a slow, patient journey.
Due to her skittish temperament, photos of the young female are few and far between; however, we remain hopeful that in the coming months, she will be seen more regularly and provide the opportunity to capture this beautiful young female.
We’ve seen this with the Ngungwe Female herself. In her younger years, she was nervous around vehicles, quick to disappear into the densest cover at the first sound of an engine. But over time, with consistent, respectful viewing, she has begun to relax. She’s learned that we pose no threat. She’s grown comfortable enough to rest in view, to move naturally through her territory without the constant urgency to slip away.
The Ngungwe Female has really come into her own and has seemingly completely relaxed around the vehicles. Sightings of her are becoming increasingly more frequent, and it is a testament to the habituation process being a journey and not just a destination.
If her cub follows the same path, and there’s every reason to believe she will, then this skittish young female may one day offer the same privilege her mother now extends to us. It’s simply a matter of time and patience. And perhaps that’s the lesson the bush continues to teach us: that hope is never truly lost, only waiting to be rediscovered in its own time.
As her confidence continues to grow, the Ngungwe Female continues to etch her legacy into the history of the Leopards of Londolozi.
We’ll continue to follow their story, grateful for every fleeting glimpse, every distant flash of spots that reminds us they’re both out there: surviving, learning, and slowly becoming part of the landscape we’re so fortunate to witness.
I knew it!
Good news, hopefully the cub will become accustomed to vehicles and reach maturity
Hi, she’s a dream of leopard, really fascinating and elegant, clearly her mother the Piccadilly female passed on her moves and experiences… not to mention that her father is the Flat Rock male. I’m over the moon that the little girl is still fine and thriving! Her mother is very wise in hiding her so well… there are clearly a lot of green refugees for her. Let’s hope to have more glimpses!
So very very glad!!!
As I’ve said in previous posts, one can’t underestimate the power and mysteries of nature, or in this case, the bush. May her cub continue to thrive …..
Such great news!!!
Dear Reece, what a good start in the week with that news. Happy about that.
It is wonderful to know that the Ngungwe Female’s cub is still out there, hidden in the bush. So mother and cub are safe. They are taking their time and asking for our patience. The main thing is: they are out there able to care for themselves.
Hi Reece, I am so thrilled to hear the Ngungwe females cub is alive and well. Thank you Reece for spotting here and reporting it. Just like Mom being skittish as a young leopard, so the cub is skittish. But with time and lots of patience she will relax around the Land Rovers. The Gijima males are really huge and very impressive. But I still like the Plain Camps males as well. Hope they don’t come to blows against each other. That would be devastating.
And another good example is the Nhlanguleni Female, raised in the Sand River with her brother by the Tutlwa Female and not becoming habituated until she began to establish herself. So fascinating to see a leopard cub growing up like a leopard in a place with so many habituated cats like the Sabi Sand!