There are drives where you climb into the Land Rover without a strict plan—just the desire to explore a corner of this incredible reserve you haven’t yet shared with your guests. And then there are mornings like this one, where the plan is clear the moment your foot touches the pedal.
Leopards in Trees
There’s a certain thrill when you hear that a leopard has a kill hoisted in a tree. It’s a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and just a pinch of nervous energy. That’s exactly what I felt the night before, when reports came in of the Ngungwe Female with a kill north of the Sand River. Instantly, my photographic mind raced: a marula tree, the rising sun, and a leopard draped across a branch—ingredients for something unforgettable.
The Ngungwe Female poised as the sun rises over the crest.
Born 2020 during lockdown to Piccadilly Female. Once skittish, now confident mother denning her first litter in Marthly's rocky terrain.
Setting Off
Naturally, we set off at first light with every intention of finding her. Despite the cold wind slicing through our blankets and jackets, the vehicle hummed with quiet excitement. Winter game drives require a bit of finesse; you want to get there quickly, but not so quickly that you freeze your guests with the extra wind chill. Bundled in gloves and beanies, we eased through the cold, hoping we’d made the right call.
Ngungwe Female sits perfectly in the ‘V’ of a marula
A Lineage Steeped in History
The Ngungwe Female is a stunning leopardess, elegant, and unmistakably the daughter of the iconic Piccadilly Female, who we sadly don’t see very much anymore. Born in 2020, the Ngungwe Female now has a young cub of her own. This cub hasn’t had much exposure to vehicles yet, making any encounter both delicate and significant.
The Find
As we approached the area, our hearts beat a little faster. We scanned the trees and there she was! Draped over a marula branch in classic leopard fashion, she looked regal, well-fed, and completely at ease. Below her, a few hyenas squabbled over the last scraps of her kill, which she had likely just dropped down moments before our arrival.
Photographic Gold
After watching the commotion below for a breathtaking 30 minutes, the Ngungwe Female descended with quiet confidence and padded toward the Sand River, pausing every so often to let out a soft contact call. Then, from the thickets nearby, her cub emerged. Still cautious, still unsure. We watched from a respectful distance as the two reunited.
These are the moments that really matter as a guide, not just for the guests, but for the cub. With each calm, unintrusive sighting, we help it learn that vehicles pose no threat. This slow, careful process of habituation is vital to ensuring future encounters are as relaxed and respectful as this one.
The Story Continues
In a landscape where survival is never guaranteed, seeing the Ngungwe Female thriving, raising a cub of her own, and embodying so many of the traits that make her mother legendary is something truly special. It’s a privilege to witness such continuity, a bloodline woven into the very heart of Londolozi.
Ngungwe blessed us with two fabulous long sightings last September and she is every bit the regal elegant young queen. Hoping for her great success as a mama!
Completely agree Lisa!
Lovely account, for any guest to have an encounter like that is a once in a lifetime occurrence.
Thanks Ian! Naturally I completely agree.
Well done, Nic. Brings it all back. Many thanks.
Thanks Mike
Hi Nic, we were all looking forward to reading news on the Ngungwe female and her delightful cub! Her mother has been raising two cubs meanwhile. Can you tell if the cub is a male or a female? It seems it it the year of male cubs, if we consider the Ximungwe and the Nkoveni (still sad about his copycat sister!) Young males, the exception being the Three Rivers young female. The Ntomi male has grown up but he’s still young and roaming around… males require large territories, it’s so interesting to see all these young guys facing new challenges ahead. Anyway, male or female, it is absolutely gorgeous!
Thanks Francesca! We aren’t entirely sure on its sex as of yet.
What a wonderful safari morning! I would like to have shared it with you and your guests. I’ve seldom seen Ngungwe as she’s been elusive and somewhat skittish in her youth. So nice to see her and her cub now!
It was a fantastic morning! Thanks Mary
First of all, great news that you were able to spend some early morning time with Ngungwe, giving you the opportunity to capture that beautiful image of her silhouetted in the Marula tree as the sky was brightening behind her. Your second photo was equally as stunning with her posed in the V of the branches. In fact, the other photos taken by your fellow rangers and Sean are wonderful as well, especially the adorable photo of her cub. She looks so much like her mother, the beautiful Piccadilly, with whom I spent a morning with when Ngungwe was a cub – still one of my favorite sightings! Let’s hope that she will be successful in raising this cub, adding to her family’s lineage.
Thanks Denise. Fingers crossed!
Every time I hear the word “leopard” on a drive, my heart jumps. There is no other animal that make me feel like this. And a female leopard with a cub is like the cherry on the icing on the cake. So fantastic.
I wish this beautiful leopard and her cub good luck so that both might thrive, in the same way as the Ngungwe Female was raised by her mother .I have beautiful photo of her as a ten months old cub lying on a rock in the evening sun waiting for her mother.
Great pics
Thanks Jutta
Hi Nic, this is such a beautiful leopardess, so excited to see her cub as well. She is only 5 years old so she has plenty of time to raise cubs. Her mother the Picadilly female is such an icon herself.
She’s stunning!