Leopards of Sabi Sands

[Ngala]

From Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve:
"We were lucky enough to locate Kashane down in his home in the South as he rambled along the road and off into some thick bush before resting in the shade to get some reprieve from the now baking sun."

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Sabi Sabi.

Tracks this morning for Maxabeni were seen all over the property, however, he was not to be seen. After a lengthy period of tracking, he was finally found and was moving during a heavy down pour of rain.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Anthony Goldman.

Piva male.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Rob the Ranger.


Dewane male, with his happy face (set on OFF, of course).

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Ngala]

Photo and information credits: WanderingThru
"Anderson male leopard scent marking his vast territory. If you'd like to see this impressive male leopard feel free to contact us!"

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Tristan Dicks.

Anderson male.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Hugo Breed - Leopard Hills.

Dayone resting on the base of the tree in which he hoisted his Impala kill.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Nyeleti was found patrolling in the West, quite close to where Dayone was also found.

*This image is copyright of its original author

With a gaze like Dayone's upon him, Nyeleti should be thinking twice on where he walks... Reply

[Ngala]

From Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve:
"We had a lovely sighting of White Dam’s young male cub as he rested on a fallen tree."

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Craig Parsons.

Dayone male.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Tshokwane]

Credits to ‎Karina Robin.

Piva male.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Tshokwane]

Umkumbe Leopard News : Dashing and Daring, Courageous and Caring…

Kids of the nineties were enamoured with the mythical fluffy cartoon creatures called the “Gummi Bears”. Their theme song became synonymous with adventure and exploration. The opening lyrics detail their constant quest for the thrill-seeking life. The theme song begins with “Dashing and daring, courageous and caring, faithful and friendly with stories to share” and these are just a few of the attributes we can also assign to our aloof cat species. I understand it’s quite a leap, but the song certainly represents the qualities of the leopards of the Sabi Sand.


Dashing after their quarry, daring for being opportunistic hunters, courageous for fighting off hyenas from kills, the caring love between leopardess and cub, faithful to their territory, friendly (tolerant) towards new cubs exploring the periphery of a female’s territory and of course, there are plenty of stories to share! 

These qualities owned by both the fictional Gummi Bears and one of Africa’s most elusive cat species were exhibited this week during Umkumbe’s leopard sightings, hence the correlation between the two.

The most recent sightings have included our resident stocky males, Bicycle Crossing and Mxabene. Slender leopardesses White Dam, the youthful Tatowa and Kigelia were also present for our game drives.

The Boys : Mxabene, Bicycle Crossing and Inyathini

Mxabene is often spotted on the confines of our traverse and having a history deeply entrenched in the Sabi Sand, he has quite the dominant presence. Not one to shy away from game viewers, we often enjoy close-up encounters with this lightly amber colour cat. In 2008, Mxabene was born as one of two twin males to the Mxabene female – a well known and revered leopardess in the area.  She was incredibly relaxed around the presence of game viewers, which Max naturally and quickly became accustomed to the presence of vehicles.

Our dear Max oozes confidence and courage!

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Bicycle Crossing occupies a different territory to Max and sightings of this broad male are somewhat more elusive. It’s always rewarding spotting this powerful machine of muscle swaggering through the drainage lines.

Male leopards are highly territorial and “homes” don’t often overlap. Males home range can overlap with that of several females – after all they select their turf based on availability of females and abundance of food sources.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Inyathini was spotted over the past few days and ranger Marius Zeilinga says that he has been spotted in close proximity to the lodge almost on a daily basis. He has been aggressively staking claim on new turf and scent marking excessively. Leopards mark territory by scent marking and emitting a series of low growls.

The Girls: White Dam, Tatowa and Kigelia 

Our slender female leopards are slightly different from their male counterparts when it comes to territory and will seek out turf based on availability of prey and potential den sites. The territory they occupy is a lot smaller than the male. When their cubs come of age and are ready to leave their side, they will occupy the peripheries of their mother’s territory.

Females will even tolerate sub-adults coming over to their territory when they begin their solitary lifestyle. Because a female’s territory is smaller, we often see plenty of females on our traverse. This past week we’ve managed to observe Tatowa, Kigelia and White Dam. All in a day’s work really !

White Dam managed to take down an impala in front Marius’s guests but a fast-paced, sneaky hyena stole the kill within a few seconds of the kill being made.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Kigelia female

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Tatowa female

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Ngala]

From Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve:
"Maxabeni put on a show for us yesterday afternoon as he marked his territory and stalked some impala as soon as the sun had set."

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Ngala]

From Nkorho Bush Lodge, credits to Karin van der Merwe:
"Great to have Quarantine back in our area. We had Vutomi on our open area 2 mornings ago. About 10 minutes after Vutomi moved off, I heard Impalas alarm calling around our waterhole. Thinking that it might be Vutomi that came back, I was surprised to find that it was Quarantine who came from the eastern side of our open area. I followed him for a while as he was moving along our drive way. During afternoon drive he was found with an Impala kill west of the lodge."

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Ngala]

From Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, credits to Hugo Breed:
"Dayone walking straight towards us while on a territorial patrol."

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Ngala]

From Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve:
"Kashane and Kigelia have been seen mating in the Southern parts of Sabi Sabi. What great news this is for the young Kigelia female this will be her first litter if she is successful."

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply