We found them.
After six weeks of following this story, the search, the suckle marks, the morning I left her at 150 metres knowing exactly what I was walking away from, the hours sitting outside the den listening for movement. This week the Nkoveni Female finally let us in.
But it didn’t unfold the way I expected. It rarely does out here. The morning the den was found started with a surprise at a carcass that I want to take you through first, because it changed the shape of everything that followed.
She has two cubs. They had been moved to a new den and thankfully emerged from the grass, called back to their mother, and walked out into the open.
This is just the beginning of their story, and we cannot wait to watch them grow up.
Press play. Come along for the ride.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel if you haven’t already.
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
A stunning female found in the north. Successfully raised the Thumbela Female while establishing dominance in NW Marthly.
Awesome sighting of the wee cubs Sean. Thank you for all your hard work in finding them. Well done!
Thank you so much, Carol. It took us a while but at least we found them and had a great sighting.
Finally Sean!!!
Thank You for your persistence
Let the Story begin…
Soooo looking forward to see how this all unfolds .
Yippeee you must have been so thrilled. I hope these little uns will remain safe. If so, I am so excited to contemplate that we may see them in late October when I will next be at Londolozi… Thanks for sharing
Over the moon to watch the Nkoveni Female and her cubs!! The one that looks straight into your camera has got it’s mums fabulous eyes. A male and a female? This is the gift of the week! Good news about the Xinzele female as well. In comparison to the Nkoveni Female she looks so bit older, even of she is actually younger. Top video! I bumped into a foreign translation, it sounded horrible, thanks to your blog sent to my email I can listen to the original version…
I was so excited to see the title of your virtual safari today, Sean! You were stalking cubs, I was stalking you to find the cubs – you did and they are adorable. Thank you for taking us along on the hunt for them over the past few weeks, along with the other animal stories and updates. I can’t wait to continue to see them as they grow and play. So awessome. <3
Hi Sean, what an incredible mom the Nkoveni female is. Probably waited this long to show the cubs off until she was absolutely sure of their safety.
Have you any estimation, seeing the size of the Xinzele female, as to how many more weeks before she should be full term?
Sean, your patience was finally rewarded! What a wonderful virtual safari – thank you.
Sean: As you say, the bush is on its own time (not our time) and it’s magical. There is always something around the corner. I’m in countdown mode and will see you all in three weeks. Looking forward to the ‘in person’ magic.
As your title says, Sean, it was really worth the wait.
Now that the cubs are already a tiny little bit older, it’s great that you have found them and she allowed us to watch them via your video.
Fantastic that the Xinzele Female is going to have her own litter of tiny cubs in the near future. I wish her good luck, as well. And no big male who might kill them.
The Shingi Male still benefits from his mother’s kills. It’s interesting to follow his next steps as well.
Great video, thank you!
Wonderful VS Sean…thanks for sharing “ just another Tuesday”! Can’t wait for more updates.
Hi Sean, I am absolutely elated that you found the cubs after six weeks of hard working looking for them. At last Nkoveni allowed you to follow her and see where her den is and see the those tiny fur balls. So so precious. I am sure you where thrilled at he sight of these two tiny cubs. Thanks for keeping us up to date and your hard work looking for the cubs, which has know paid off. Hopefully Xinzele female will allow you to see her cubs once she has given birth, sooner than Nkoveni did. Just look at Shingi male eating his mother’s kill, which she needs know that she is feeding the new cubs. Naughty boytjie that Shingi male.
Finally, your patience has been rewarded with a joyful sighting of Nkoveni and her two cubs Sean – adorable little fluff balls! My only concern at this point is Shingi, wh0 just can’t seem to leave his mother’s territory, and her meals! I know what will happen if he comes across them… seems it is time for Maxim to push him away from the area.
Xinzele has always been one of my favorites and a beauty like her mother, Ingrid Dam. I haven’t seen her during my past couple of visits but thrilled to learn that she is ready to give birth once more. Any idea where Thumbela may have a territory?
So worth all the effort, Sean! They are darling and it will be fun to watch them grow. Nkoveni is such a good mother that I expect they’ll do very well!
Sean, You are such a wonderful story-teller and we are so happy that you finally have this story to tell! Bravo for Nkoveni out-smarting everyone for so long. It’s wonderful to know that this special lineage will hopefully continue! And to see Zinzele at Ximpalapala (our most special place) is amazing. It would be so great to see her den there. Ximpapala was the place where first saw Mashaba when she was still Vomba Young Female!
Little brat, stealing his mum’s carcass!! What a stunning looking leopard though.
Sean, what time did you leave to find the Nkoveni Female? The moon was still quite high.
Exceptional work, Sean, and an amazing sighting, so cute . Wish them the best- but with that mother it will hopefully came good.
Thank you Sean she is a good mum protecting her cubs from the world including humans so they had their little eyes open and are able to follow mum and only then did she allow you to see her cubs thats called mother protection and good on her and i will add it is well worth the wait thanks lyn