The morning after I watched the Xinkhova Female carry her cub to a new den, Shaun D’Araujo rounded a corner and found a leopard in a tree. Nothing unusual there. It was only when he heard a faint whining that he realised something else was going on. He assumed the sound was coming from the ground — it wasn’t. A tiny movement between the mother’s legs gave it away. The cub was up there with her, high off the ground, and what followed was one of the most extraordinary things any of us has witnessed out here — a five-week-old leopard cub nursing from its mother in the branches of a tree. Eventually, the two came down, and the Xinkhova Female carried her cub, in a slightly unorthodox grip that had everyone holding their breath, right past the vehicle and all the way along the same route I had watched her take the previous day. A second cub. That confirmed it.
I thought my sighting the day before was as good as it gets. Turns out I hadn’t seen anything yet. There is something genuinely wonderful about that, knowing that the bush doesn’t keep its best moments for one person, and that somewhere out there another vehicle is having the sighting of a lifetime while you’re back at camp eating breakfast, or at your desk.
Ximpalapala Koppie, however, had a different kind of energy waiting for us.
We found the Xinzele Female on the boulders, and initially, that felt like good news. But her behaviour that morning gave us pause. Rasping. Scent marking. Odd things to be doing at a den site, the kind of behaviour that makes you tilt your head and reconsider what you think you know. She moved off and left us with more questions than answers.
We went back the following morning, hoping to find her settled, maybe catch a glimpse of cubs. There was a leopard on the boulders when we arrived, resting in the exact spot she’d been before. For a moment, everything felt right. Then something nagged, but I brushed past it. And then the leopard began stalking a herd of impala moving through the bush at the base of the koppie. After failing, it returned to the top of the koppie and settled back onto the boulder. That’s when it became clear. It wasn’t the Xinzele Female at all.
It was the Hlambela Male. Sitting right where the den was supposed to be.
The second time he’d been up there. The Xinzele Female rasping and scent marking the evening before. The pieces were falling into place, and none of them was pointing anywhere good. Sometimes in this job, you arrive at a conclusion before you’re ready to say it out loud. This was one of those mornings.
Sit back and enjoy this one — it’s a tense one. And stay tuned for next Sunday’s episode, where we catch up with the enormous Gijima Males, get thoroughly soaked searching for a lion den, and then encounter the rarest animal on the reserve. That last one you won’t want to skip.
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Born 2021, daughter of Nkoveni. Young dynamo actively claiming territory near camps, showing promise as next generation's dominant female.
A stunning female found in the north. Successfully raised the Thumbela Female while establishing dominance in NW Marthly.
An impressive male, appearing as a rising force in the north. Making a name for himself by pushing other males out.
There is ni video?
Thanks, Fransje. Everything should be resolved.
Hi Sean, I can’t see anything, just blank no written text or link to the video…
All should be in order now. Thank you.
Sean. Nothing is coming thru except for the header and your profile!
Thanks, Camille. All should be resolved now.
Hi, know it’s visible and audible, incredibly, never saw such a young cub on the branch of a tree! But he looks as he got it right ( looks to be a male), suckling and then moving naively downwards… the Xinkova female is surprising, been the daughter of the Nkoveni Female she obviously shows odd genial ideas… the Xinzele female… was the Hlambela male the father? Maybe he was and something else killed the cubs? Or for any reason known the cubs aren’t there…. maybe he’s waiting to mate with her? Odd things happening in the leopard world, always mothers in trouble somewhat… I hope the best future for both… I can’t give up thinking of the cub trotting full of life and intent, he does make me smile… thank you Sean, what a video, and wonderful places and colours, all a frame for great emotions…
There really are some odd things happening out here. We would have thought the Hlambela Male was the father but maybe not.
Thank you Sean and Shaun, that is truly epic. Has such a young cub ever been seen in a tree before at Londolozi?
You are most welcome, Suzanne. It was such a great sighting. I don’t recall ever hearing of a sighting like this with a cub this young in the tree. Maybe there has been but we certainly don’t have much footage of anything like this.
Amazing week . Tragic if cubs were killed. But. Thats the way it goes . Unfortunately. But. The footage was spectacular. Will wait in anticipation for more news.
Like you say, it is the way it goes. It doesn’t make it easier but it is natural.
We saw the Xinkhova Female with her cub up on that tree. What an incredible sighting! And later she passed the cars as close as a leopard can get. Amazing. I would never have believed such a thing possible. I hope that this cub is well and still alive after such an adventure.
It would be a pity if the Xinzele had lost her cubs. Such a hard life for leopard and cheetah mothers out there in the bush. I was told that only 10% really make it to adulthood. So sad. But I guess that’s the way nature regulates the density of leopards in any given area.
I am looking forward to hearing about the next chapters of those cubs’ lives and the other leopard mums who are having cubs right now at Londolozi.
It was such a phenomenal sighting. I am so happy for everyone that got to see it.
Hi Sean, this behavior of the Xinkhova female is bazaar as you mentioned yourself. I felt so sorry for the little cub and I was sitting on the edge of my chair when the cub started going down the tree. My word but this is dangerous for the cub. But as you say Sean she is a first time Mommy. Hope to goodness she keeps both cubs safe from predators and away from harm. About the Xinzele female it looks as if her cubs have been killed by the male lurking around the boulders. My goodness it is just about impossible for the cubs to get to adulthood with all these atrocities going on there. Thanks for the video Sean, nobody would of believed you without seeing the video of the cub in the tree.
It was really bizarre behaviour, but as a first time mother, she is still learning. Its, sad to accept it, but I think those cubs of the Xinzele Female are sadly no longer around.
OMG . this is without words. So cute
Thanks so much, Jutta.
There were many surprises in this week’s video, especially seeing Xinkhova carry that cub by its neck, causing it to swing from side to side and not in a gentle fashion. Looks like more practice is needed for her next time as a mother.
If in fact the Hlambela male killed Xinzele’s cubs, then it is correct to assume he wasn’t the father? Leopards are so precious that it’s heartbreaking when they are killed for no reason save for paternity. The good news is they are resilient and she will fall pregnant again and perhaps raise another cub to independence. Terrific footage of both leopard stories, especially that tiny cub up in the tree with its mum.
Thank you so much, Denise. It was such great footage all round of her moving her cub to the den.
Hello Sean ! I am puzzled by the way Xinkhova is carrying her cub ??? I never saw a leopard cub hanging down/swinging from his mother’s mouth like shown on the video… Usually they curl up , more or less in a foetal position. I hope I am worrying for nothing but I am afraid he didn’t look in good condition. Please keep us informed!
It did look a little awkward. We will certainly keep you informed.
Sean,
This is a quintessential Londolozi blog! All leopards, all realms of life …
Thank you for capturing it so well.
And of course, my hope is up that the little guys are hiding somewhere … Here’s keeping fingers crossed! 🤞
Thank you so much, Alina. I am glad you enjoyed it.