Sometimes the bush delivers stories that test even the most seasoned safari-goers’ ability to maintain composure. The recent disappearance of the Ximungwe Female’s young male cub is one such tale. A stark reminder that in the African bush, triumph and tragedy often walk hand in hand, separated by the thinnest of margins.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
Just months ago, we were celebrating what seemed like an impossible recovery. The Ximungwe Female, once hobbling through the bush with a severely injured front leg, had not only healed but was thriving alongside her devoted young male cub. By August, she was successfully hunting, hoisting kills with ease, and providing abundantly for her young male, a testament to the extraordinary resilience that defines life in the wild. But as our most recent virtual safari touched upon, the unthinkable appears to have unfolded. The young male has now been missing for three weeks, and with each passing day, hope dims further into the harsh reality of what likely transpired.
Defying all odds. The Ximungwe Female has almost completely healed from her broken leg (front left). Here you can see her applying weight to her injured leg, where it appears the bones have fused back together.
The Last Sighting
The final confirmed sighting paints a haunting picture. The Mawelawela Male was observed stealing a kill directly from the mother-cub duo. It was a brazen display of dominance and opportunism that tragically marked the last time we would see the young male alive. Two days following this confrontation, tracks of both the Ximungwe Female and her cub were discovered, offering a glimmer of hope that both had survived. Yet despite extensive tracking efforts, no visual confirmation ever came. The tracks told a story, but the leopards themselves had seemingly vanished into the vastness of the Ximungwe Female’s territory.
The Mawelwela Male pictured here with the kill he managed to steal from the Ximungwe Female and her young male cub. It appears that he has been spending increasing time in and around her territory, which suggests he is one of the main prospective culprits responsible for the disappearance of the young male cub.
Born 2013, initially a fairly aggressive elusive male that has somewhat relaxed. Found in unconventional leopard territory of the grasslands
A Territory Under Pressure
In the days that followed, the four lionesses of the Kambula Pride and their six cubs found themselves firmly within the same area. For a young leopard still learning survival, the sustained presence of this pride would have created an almost impossible situation. Lions show little tolerance for potential competitors, regardless of size.
The six newest cubs of the Kambula Pride are led through an open clearing by two of the Kambula lionesses. The protective instincts of these mothers would stop at nothing to eliminate any potential threats and/or competition to the success of the youngest members of the pride.
The territorial pressure didn’t end there. Hyenas, being opportunistic scavengers, are always quick to capitalise on vulnerability, would have been constantly patrolling throughout the same area the leopards had been spending time in.
An age-old rivalry, hyenas will forever be a threat to leopards and their vulnerable offspring.
Perhaps most concerning is the possibility of a nomadic male leopard moving through during this critical period. These wandering individuals view young males not as innocent cubs but as future competition to be eliminated. This is a harsh reality that most of the female leopards that spend time within the Maxim’s Male’s (The presumed father) territory will face, given the immense size of his territory. As the Maxim’s Male needs to patrol much further distances than most other dominant males, it can sometimes leave the door open to unwanted intruders in the form of young nomadic males. With more frequent sightings of the 3:2 Male around central Londolozi, there is a big possibility that he could have been roaming around the last seen area of the Ximungwe Female’s Cub.
The 3:2 Male has striking amber eyes and a prominent knick in his right ear. He also has some old scarring around his right eye, which is hairless. An imminent threat to the offspring of any rival males.
An elusive and intriguing newcomer with an unknown past. Likely originating from the Kruger National Park, he is currently unnamed.
The Evidence of Loss
What makes the presumed loss even more heartbreaking is observing the Ximungwe Female’s current behaviour. Recent sightings show her with multiple successful kills; her hunting prowess continues following her recovery. Yet there’s an emptiness to these scenes. No sign of her eager cub materialising to share in the prized meal, and no playful interactions between the mother-son duo. The abundance of food, coupled with the complete absence of her offspring, creates a narrative that we all recognise all too well. A mother successfully providing for a family that no longer exists.
The Ximungwe mother-son duo engage in a playful embrace as they solidify one of nature’s most incredible bonds.
A Mother’s Resilience Tested
For those who followed the Ximungwe Female’s journey through injury and recovery, this latest chapter feels particularly cruel. Here was a leopard who defied the odds, healing from a potentially ”career-ending” leg injury while caring for a dependent cub. She demonstrated the kind of maternal devotion and resilience that makes these cats such remarkable survivors. To witness her overcome such adversity, only to potentially lose her cub to the very wilderness she had conquered, serves as a humbling reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in the bush. Yet even facing such loss, she continues to patrol her territory with deadly efficiency, embodying the indomitable spirit that defines leopards as a species.
The Ximungwe Female strolls towards the vehicle with her head held close to the ground. After the unfortunate news that her cub is no longer, we’ve been on the receiving end of plenty of territorial movements, perhaps in search of the Maxim’s Male to begin the next bout of mating.
The Circle Continues
While it’s impossible not to feel deeply moved by this presumed loss, there’s something profoundly important about acknowledging that this, too, is part of the wilderness experience we’ve committed ourselves to protecting. The bush doesn’t operate according to our emotional timelines; it follows ancient rhythms that have shaped life in Africa for millions of years. The Ximungwe Female remains a leopardess in her prime. Her remarkable recovery has proven her genetic resilience and maternal capabilities, qualities that will serve her well in future breeding attempts. The hard-won lessons from raising her lost cub will not have been in vain. Experience is the greatest teacher in the bush, and she has now added invaluable knowledge regarding the future care of offspring.
As the sun sets on this chapter of the Ximungwe Female’s life, it will rise again with new beginnings.
The cycle of life in the African bush is relentless in its continuation. Somewhere in the Ximungwe Female’s future lies another mating season, another opportunity to pass on her remarkable genes and survival instincts. The young male who captured our hearts will live on through the genetic legacy his mother will carry forward. This is what separates truly wild places from sanitised nature experiences. Here, real lives unfold according to ancient rules, sometimes resulting in triumph, sometimes in heartbreak, but always authentic in their raw honesty about what it means to be wild.
The Ximungwe Female’s story continues, and we’ll be there to document whatever chapter unfolds next, knowing that in the bush, endings are simply new beginnings in disguise.
Anymore of this heartbreaking death I don’t think I’ll be able to continue following the leopards and lions I’ve grown to love. Each time takes a bigger piece of my ❤️. So very sad
I relate! I follow from a distance now- and admire the guides’ ability to help us navigate the emotional, albeit distant trauma…it’s hard to do and one of the reasons I love reading these articles and appreciate greatly this “blog” – I no longer can follow videos because of this.
I’m going to try that also, thank you 😊
Beautifully reported on a devastating loss, Reece. Jess and I witnessed the incessant playfulness between them in April, which is the time they embraced in the one image.
Beautiful little cub, it was entirely my privilege to spend a tiny bit of time with you during your short life.
Thank you, Fransje. These sorts of things are always so much more difficult to comprehend after sharing a special moment with these magnificent animals.
Very sad 😢 the young male has disappeared especially after his mother went through such trauma with her leg to keep him alive I hope she mates again and the cub grows into a great strength
Another leopard cub bites the dust. Those Kambula pride are cub killers. They killed 2 of the 3 Nkoveni cubs and looks like they killed this one. I doubt he was killed by the Male because he mated with the mother.
This was such sad news, but none of us get out alive. It somehow seems much less tragic than if she had fallen to her injury or had to abandon it while she was healing. She did the best she could, and brought us so much joy while her cub was alive.
We have followed and personally experienced the many challenges of the Ximungwe Female over the years, always amazed by her remarkable resilience. We are saddened by this chapter in her life but look forward to the next. We hope we can meet up with her once again during our next visit in July.
Hi Reece, I would tend to exclude the Mawelawela male, as they were in his territory ans he mated with the Ximungwe female. And, most of all, she didn’t look alarmed at all in his presence. We’ve already seen the tragic end of the wonderful Nkoveni young female to lionesses, as they were around…. not to exclude nomadic males or hyenas of course. But lions have the advantage to beat mother and son in speed and size… and they are an army. This boy was particularly striking, with his funny, sweet expression and the relationship he had with his mother. Whereas the Ntomi male was fierce, and so the Nkoveni young male, this little guy was perceived more like a funny, playful little creature. Yes, I had him at heart, like the Nkoveni young female and the Three Rivers young female. Hopefully she’ll have cubs again soon, she’s a fantastic mother and supercreature. I can imagine how you feel… it must be hard.
Hi Reece, your story on the Ximungwe female is so beautiful and yet so heartbreaking at the same time. She is such an incredible mother and leopardess. Resilience and the will to keep going on is a ongoing challenge for her which she is doing well. I feel so very sorry for her losing her big cub at this time, they went through so much together and yet she kept going on and hunting to keep herself and her cub alive. Ximungwe female is a formidable leopardess.
You are so right, Valmai! Life can be cruel in the bush but at the end of the day it can only help aid these single mother’s resilience.
Reece, has Ximungwe been calling for her cub? I would guess if she had been heard calling for him previously but isn’t any more it would indicate she is aware of his death?
She definitely would have been calling if she did not witness the moment he passed. However, given the time passed, there is no doubt that she will be aware.
Thanks for this wonderful narrative Reece, referencing the loss of Ximungwe’s cub. There is no denying that we become invested in watching the relationships between leopard moms and cubs whether we are there with you or observing/reading about them through the blog, so any loss is met with a heavy heart. One of my favorite mornings during my March visit, was following Ximungwe after she quenched her thirst, through the verdant tangle of trees and bush, whilst contact calling. Jumping out of the greenery was this little bundle of energy and that only play on his mind. My video of him playing tag with her and then embracing is one I will treasure. Fortunately she is in her prime, mating once more so come the new year……..
You are so welcome, Denise. It certainly is very sad but that is life out here in the bush I suppose. It’s just a privilege that we get to witness it.
Bad and good I guess the not knowing how 🙁 I feel like he is the oldest cub lost in most recent years?? So sad for her.
Hi Anita, he certainly was since the last cub she raised successfully was the Ntomi Male.
Heartbreaking to realize her cub is probably gone, but as you state that is nature’s way.
Exactly right, Karen. Unfortunately, he was not the first and most likely will not be the last. It’s just a reminder of the fragility of nature.
It is always so heartbreakingly sad to hear of the loss of a leopard cub, especially like in this case after the mother had fought so many odds so successfully. But, of course, or sadly, that is the harsh way of the bush- there re so many dangers out there for cubs and their mothers. I hope for the Ximungwe that she might raise another litter, at least one cub successfully to independence. Would be fantastic!
Hi Christa, you are so right! However, we look forward with hope and optimism that it won’t be long before we get to welcome a new addition to the Londolozi Family!
A wonderful tribute, Reece. My heart breaks each time this happens; I can only imagine how hard it is for you and all the other rangers who experience it all so closely. I like your thought that Ximungwe “has now added invaluable knowledge regarding the future care of offspring,” looking ahead with hope.
Hi Mary Beth. Thank you, it certainly is tough but that’s how it’s been since the beginning of time and the way it will continue and it’s something that we get to make peace with. It’s a privilege to witness and that’s all that matters.