The summer heat at Londolozi is as comforting as it is irresistible, and by December, the temperatures are u,p and everything is humming. The insects, the birds, the air itself all come alive. The warmer weather changes the behaviour of certain animal species, especially the movement of leopards across the landscape. And it’s around this time that I find myself looking up more than usual, scanning the branches of marula trees for a dangling tail or a flash of rosette-patterned fur.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
There’s something predictable about the way leopards respond to the heat. While we humans reach for cold water and air-conditioned rooms, leopards simply head upward. And if you’re a leopard living at Londolozi, the marula tree is your summer sanctuary of choice.
Below are some of my favourite photographs from recent years, capturing moments that show just how deeply linked these iconic cats and marula trees are during the hottest time of the year.
Glancing at every marula tree in search of tails hanging from branches has become the ritual on game drives recently. This is the scene if you are lucky enough to spot a leopard in the Tree!
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
Marula trees aren’t just convenient climbing frames; they’re practically designed with leopards in mind. Their smooth, pale trunks flare into wide, spreading crowns, and the horizontal branches offer perfect resting places.
From an ecological point of view, the marula’s open structure allows cooling air to move through the canopy, creating a natural breeze that leopards take full advantage of. The leaves are also relatively sparse, allowing for excellent airflow while still providing ample shade – creating a perfect combination for a leopard trying to escape 35-degree Celsius heat and persistent flies.
The Ngungwe Female climbs a large marula tree to inspect the remnants of a hoisted kill.
Born 2020 during lockdown to Piccadilly Female. Once skittish, now confident mother denning her first litter in Marthly's rocky terrain.
Those biting flies, coupled with irritable ants, tend to harass animals on the ground where humidity builds. Higher up in a marula tree, leopards simply have fewer of them to deal with. This alone is often enough to tempt a leopard to ascend a tree for hours at a time, creating some incredible photographic opportunities.
The Shingi Male finds the perfect resting spot away from the irritating flies and ants on the ground.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
This symbiotic relationship between the marula tree and leopard is a great example of commensalism in the wild:
An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.
The leopard gains height, coolness, comfort, and a vantage point, whereas the marula tree loses nothing in the exchange.
An iconic moment on safari is capturing a leopard glaring back at you from the prominent fork of a marula tree.
Born 2020 during lockdown to Piccadilly Female. Once skittish, now confident mother denning her first litter in Marthly's rocky terrain.
Ecologically, these trees also play a role in hunting dynamics. Marulas tend to grow in more open areas, giving leopards a clear view of approaching threats or potential prey. I’ve often seen leopards choose marulas near drainage lines or game paths leading to the crests, which are areas that impala and nyala frequently move. Even while resting, they’re never entirely switched off. A quick descent and a short sprint can turn a lazy afternoon into a successful hunt.
The Xinzele Female secures an impala up into a marula tree away from the pursuing clan of hyenas.
A stunning female found in the north. Successfully raised the Thumbela Female while establishing dominance in NW Marthly.
There are specific marula trees at Londolozi that have, over the years, become woven into the life stories of certain leopards. Old males return to the same branches summer after summer, almost like clockwork. Cubs have their first wobbly, claw-first lessons on their trunks. Mothers hoist kills high into the forks, where hyenas can only glare upwards in frustration. These trees quietly witness it all.
An image of the Ntomi Male, son of the Ximungwe Female, taken in August 2022 in a marula tree on central Londolozi.
Born 2021, son of Ximungwe Female. Distinguished by eye freckle, grown into formidable male dominant in the west.
One of my favourite stories lies in two photographs taken three years apart. Both images show young male leopards, at remarkably similar ages, perched in the very same marula tree here at Londolozi. Different individuals, different years, yet almost identical scenes.
At that nearly independent stage of a male leopard’s life, these trees become especially important. Still learning the landscape and refining their confidence, young males often favour elevated resting spots that offer both security and perspective. That this same marula has served successive generations speaks volumes about its value within the territory.
Moments like these are a powerful reminder that while individual leopards come and go, certain features of the landscape remain constant, and to witness two young males, years apart, resting in the same branches was iconic for me.
An image taken of the Shingi Male, son of the Nkoveni Female, at the beginning of December 2025 in the exact same marula tree over three years later!
What I love most is the quiet intimacy of these sightings. Sitting with a leopard resting in a marula is a reminder of how wildlife adapts instinctively to the rhythms of the seasons. And it’s these simple scenes that stay with you long after the summer storms have blown in.
The Nkoveni Female and the Shingi Male descend a Marula tree after spending over an hour resting in the canopy on a hot summers day.
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on My Images of A Summer Companionship: The Leopard and the Marula Tree