Leopards of Sabi Sands

[Ngala]

All photo and information credits: Londolozi Game Reserve

The Mashaba young female uses her tail for balance as she ascends this Tamboti tree.

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The Mashaba female and her most recent litter of two cubs.

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Two of the Mashaba female’s young cubs suckle in the early morning light. Countless years spent viewing this leopard has resulted in a trust relationship so strong that she allows us to view her young, vulnerable cubs.

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The Mashaba female laps up water from one of the few remaining pans.

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The Ndzanzeni female snarls as a hyena strolls past.

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The Ndzanzeni female, one of Londolozi’s most difficult leopards to find, evades a brief rain shower in the branches of a Weeping Wattle.

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The Tutlwa female sits high up in the tops of an Apple Leaf tree. She had been chased up there by lions and looks down disdainfully at these bigger cats who don’t stand a chance of catching her in the high, flimsy branches.

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One of Tamboti female’s cubs, from an unsuccessful litter, takes a drink from a waterhole. It is always hard to see these female leopards attempting and failing at raising cubs but there is also huge privilege in being allowed to witness this struggle.

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The Tamboti female reclines on a fallen marula.

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The Marthly male stalks an unsuspecting warthog as it leaves its burrow. This leopard was renowned for hunting warthogs and perfected the art of patience, waiting for the perfect moment before leaping on his prey.

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The Piva male drinking just before the sun set. 

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The Nkoveni female resting in a Marula the morning after our first substantial rain. The sun broke through the clouds for just a couple minutes before being covered by a blanket of grey clouds.

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The Nhlanguleni female watches a distant herd of nyala from an imposing Jackalberry tree.

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