The Maxims Male does not need any introduction. It has been over six years since he first set foot on Londolozi, and he has never looked back. Arriving here in 2019 as a very skittish, shy, but big and bold leopard, he decided to make this his home. Over the years, he has slowly relaxed and become accustomed to the vehicles, allowing our sightings of him to be incredible.
The Maxims male posed up in a tree.
Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.
Over the past 3 weeks, the Maxims Male has delivered a remarkable run of sightings, three that left us speechless on numerous occasions. The first of which was an impala ram kill in the central parts of Londolozi. Not only was this a show of pure strength, but this sighting allowed us to view what historically is an unrelaxed leopard beautifully. Often relaxing on a termite mound nearby, and if you were lucky, you might catch him up in the small russet bushwillow feeding on the kill. ]
The sightings did not end there… two days after making the kill, the Shingi Male, one of Maxim’s Male’s offspring, joined the party. Not only did Maxim’s accept him being around the kill, but he remarkably let his son feed on the carcass when he wasn’t. A behaviour not often witnessed out in the bush.
Maxim’s Male rests on the termite mound between feeds on his Impala ram kill
The second kill that took our breath away was a zebra foal. A species of animal that isn’t often targeted by leopards, but the Maxim’s Male had little trouble not only bringing down the zebra foal but also hoisting it up in a tree right on the road. A kill of this stature lasts several days for a single predator feeding on it, and one afternoon, he produced something special.
As we approached the scene, we noticed the kill had not been fed on much, and the Maxim’s Male was fast asleep in the drainage line. All of a sudden, he sprang up, ears forward and muscles poised; he had heard something, the alarm of a bushbuck. Off he went, with my guests and me in hot pursuit. As quickly as the chaos began, it dissipated. The bushbuck was long gone, and Maxim’s had no leads. Just as we thought he was going to return to the kill, he climbed into the most beautiful River Thorn tree and decided to rest. Seeing him draped across those branches, broad-shouldered, calm, and completely in his element, it felt like we were watching a king survey the lands he was only just starting to reclaim.
After responding to the bushbuck alarm kill, he decided to take a rest in a big river thorn tree. Scanning the bush, he poses elegantly as if he wanted his photo taken for once.
The third kill, and yes, in the third week of having this elusive leopard around, was nothing short of special too. And consisted of him killing yet another impala ram. After ranger Kirst and tracker Lucky had found his tracks, we joined the search party. It didn’t take long for the trackers to find the kill, which led us to Maxim’s himself. Watching him pant at the base of the tree, stomach full and eyes ajar, two wild dogs surprised him from behind, and it was almost as if an eruption had occurred in front of us.
Dust flew everywhere, growls echoed through the drainage, and the typical chitter from the wild dog surprised us all. Instead of sticking around to stand and fight, the Maxim’s Male bolted up the tree to protect the kill from being lost. The wild dog circled him like sharks before disappearing into the thicket to carry on their afternoon hunt. Exhilarating would be an understatement.
After feeding on his impala ram kill, the Maxim’s Male ascends a nearby tree to clean his whiskers before taking a nap.
As incredible as these three sightings were, and to say we were lucky to spend so much time with a leopard that is typically shy, was special. But it got me thinking, was it actually luck or has the Maxim’s Male taken a turn and decided the vehicles and guests aren’t that bad? Over the years, he has relaxed, but the last three weeks have shown that all our efforts to habituate him have not gone to waste. I wish the raw beauty and pure presence of a male leopard of his size could be shown to everybody. To feel the intimidation, that power, and the quiet realisation that you are sitting in front of something truly wild. May Maxim’s legacy last a lifetime, and I hope in your next visit to Londolz,i you have the privilege to see him.
I sure hope I get the chance to see Maxim! I have seen Shingi and Taxiya. I find it so fascinating that he recognizes his offspring. It is understandable that lions who grew up together as siblings stay together and form a coalition. But the leopards live solitary lives. So to recognize their genetic offspring is so cool!!! I love that Maxim accepts Shingi not only in his territory, but allows him to share his food!!! Awesome story, thanks so much!!
He is indeed impressive! I’m looking forward to seeing more of him during my next visit!
Oh yes Bryce, indeed! What a sight! I am sorry for the animals especially the zebra foals so young, but that’s life and he’s the ultimate hunter, without losing a prey that’s large and quickly killed (,the choice for impala rams). So nice he shared the kill with his absolutely gorgeous son, he evidently favours his dna and maybe, we can’t know, he even enjoys his company for a while, surely more than his mother now. Fantastic how he became trusty to you! Such a spectacular male. Surely he’s better staying in Londolozi, where none is looking for a large male leopards head. Coincidentally yesterday it was his lovely daughter to take the accolade! Thank you for sharing such privileged moments.
Hi Bryce, Maxim’s male is a stunning girl
Hi Bryce, the Maxim’s male is a stunning specimen. Very glad to hear that he allows his son to eat of the carcass the he caught. He is getting used to the Land Rovers and allowing people to view him more often. For such a big boy he has to eat quite a lot.
Last September, Veatance and Megan found him in the drainage line not doing very much. But as he moved closer to the vehicle we saw how truly massive he is. He was not interested in us while we remained very interested in him. And, then we let him wander. Off to another adventure.
He is one powerful leopard who is obviously a magnificent killing machine he will live a strong and healthy life and hopefully produce some baby leopards to carry his name on it is good to hear of these big cats surviving so well as so many are dying out because of poachers and other reasons
Great blog, Bryce, on this very special leopard. What a wonderful character he is! I saw him first in 2021, but only briefly right after my arrival at Londolozi. And later I saw him on a regular basis, mating with the Ximungwe or climbing a tree after having patrolled the rocks in the Sand River a.s.o. Always fantastic. So I hope that he will be around next time I will be around.
Wow! There is no way you could look at that boytjie and mistake him for being a female. Is he the largest known leopard around the Sabi Sands area?
Just wow! What an amazing three weeks of sightings of Maxims male you experienced along with his three kills. Yet even more remarkable was the fact he allowed his newly independent son to share his meal. I doubt this generosity will last beyond a few months but what a fantastic opportunity for you and your guests to view them.
Perhaps it took longer for Maxims to become
habituated inasmuch Londolozi was not his natal territory. As I recall he was born in the Kruger NP where leopards do not have as much interaction with vehicles and people. Great update Bryce.
I had the privilege of observing Maxims, following him and spending a bit of time observing him on my first visit to Londolozi in Sept. 2024. He is a stately specimen and I truly enjoy blog posts that chronicle him such as this one.
We didn’t see a male leopard when we visited the first time, so whenever I decide to return I would love to see one. He is certainly at the top of my list, although at 12, I’m not sure I’ll make it back to see him in his prime. He really has made a name for himself.
I’ve been lucky enough to see him several times, and he really is magnificent.