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Leopards of Sabi Sands

Italy Ngala Offline
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From Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve:
"The Kigelia female leopard was found with a fresh bushbuck kill late in the afternoon yesterday." 29 July 2016

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"Hlarulini was on patrol yesterday afternoon marking her territory. While moving over an open area she spotted on of the Southern Pride females and made a run for it into thick bush." 30 July 2016

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"We spotted Little Bush from the deck of Selati Camp as she moved through some very thick vegetation along the banks of the Msuthlu River looking for a snack!" 30 July 2016

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"The Little Bush female was found yesterday in spectacular fashion due to an unbelievable spot from Bush Lodge Tracker, Jack Chiburre. She had managed to capture a young bushbuck which she proceeded to finish off in the early hours of the evening." 31 July 2016

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"Last night the Flat Rock male was seen pacing up and down near Little Bush Camp. He was testing for scents along the way, possibly territorial markings of Kigelia who was in the area a few nights ago." 30 July 2016

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"We were fortunate to watch the Tatowa female leopard kill an impala and hoist it up a tree, but after hanging on to it for over half an hour, she became tired and it fell to the hungry hyenas waiting at the base of the tree." 30 July 2016

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( This post was last modified: 08-02-2016, 12:59 AM by Tshokwane )

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve:
Last night Maxabeni walked into the Mahlathini male leopard and a fight ensued. Mahlathini got a beating and while trying to clean his wounds, he got chased up a tree by a lioness! This morning Mahlathini was still treed with Maxabeni growling below him.

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Just seen on safari!

Resident male leopard, Maxabeni, chases rival Mahlathini up a Leadwood Tree. They look to have fought last night with Maxabeni coming out on top! Video by guest, Rob Jarrell




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( This post was last modified: 08-03-2016, 02:04 AM by Tshokwane )

West Street male patrolling, credits to Matthew Poole @photowildsa.

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Kruger Park leopards spotted mating:

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Guests to Lion Sands Kruger National Park recently spotted two of the most frequently sighted resident leopards mating. Field Guide Joe van Zyl tells of how they found the Postman’s female very far from her usual territory. She was with the Mbavala male, along the Sabie River.

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This behaviour could be very dangerous for the Postman’s female, as she crossed into the territory of two other females. Thankfully she remained out of harm’s way, and was able to mate in peace.

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Now the countdown begins to see if she successfully conceived, and our Field Guides will be keeping a very close eye. They should know in roughly 60 days, with the full gestation period being anything between 90 and 110 days.

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Watch this space! We’ll keep you updated and are keeping our digits crossed in the hope that we may well hear the padding of tiny paws…
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Italy Ngala Offline
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Photo and information credits: Dawie Jacobs from E.p. Rangers
"Salayexe having a good snarl at a nearby hyena"

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"Tiyani, the young female leopard having a proper stretch against a tree"

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"Salayexe and Tiyani showing some affection"

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"Moya, the beautiful female leopard"

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Italy Ngala Offline
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Photo and information credits: PJD Photography and Guiding
"Qurentine male leopard, late afternoon moving about looking for a meal. He went upmthis big termite mount tomget a clear look of his surroundings"

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Photo and information credits: JRD Photography
"They call her the queen of Djuma -Karula on her lookout point"

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[i]"Quarantine is a very relaxed young male leopard"[/i]

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"Down she goes -This was Xiluva female busy mating with Mvula, one of the dominant males in our area - great sighting, great memories"

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Italy Ngala Offline
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From Londolozi Game Reserve, The Week in Pictures #242:
"The Tutlwa female heads down to the Sand River, a far more productive hunting area owing to the sparseness of vegetation elsewhere."

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"The 4:4 male yawns and stretches before getting active from Plaque Rock, an iconic spot to see a leopard on Londolozi."

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Italy Ngala Offline
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( This post was last modified: 08-04-2016, 01:48 PM by Ngala )

From Inyati Game Lodge:
"Hukumuri a beauty not often seen as she frequents the north east."

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"Xikhavi with yet another kill close to camp."

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From At Close Quarters - Photographic Safaris:
"This week is female leopard (Shadow) leading her male cub (Sindile) to a kill. We found them on the road between Djuma and Arathusa in the Sabi Sands, June 2015."

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From Idube Game Reserve:
"Hlaba Nkunzi and Nyeleti were found mating."

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Nyeleti male

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Dewane male and Basile female

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Dewane male

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Ravenscourt male and Boulders female

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Scotia female

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Khokhovela female

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From Sabi Sabi, A WEEK IN THE BUSH VOL. 114:
We also witnessed an incredible saga with some of the leopards this week.  For those of you who may follow us on a daily basis, you may have noticed an increasing frequency of Mahlathini male leopard sightings and as such may have expected some trouble, I know I did.  Well, the day came.  We had sighted the Little Bush female very close to Bush Lodge one afternoon and she had successfully killed and treed a young bushbuck.  She finished off the kill and left by morning.

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Then Mahlathini entered the picture once again the following afternoon, sniffing around the area and looking for either the female or the kill.  He eventually found remnants of the latter and while there, was found by the resident male, Maxabeni.  Needless to say, a fight ensued and Maxabeni emerged victorious, but not without some minor scratch marks.  He was furious with the rogue male and eventually chased him up a large Leadwood tree.  He would keep him up there for almost two days before they both disappeared.  It’s an amazing thing to watch two cats vying for domination over the other, especially when they have a history.

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In other leopard news, we have been seeing the Flat Rock male fairly frequently as well within our area and if he doesn’t move on soon, he’ll also be having a problem on his hands from Maxabeni.


The Kigelia female has been quite active as well over the last week, pushing further east as her territorial has shifted alongside her mother’s.  It’s great to have seen this young leopard grow up and to see her doing so well now after such a rough start.  She is looking amazing!

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The Little Bush female’s cub is also growing in confidence and we were lucky enough to see her on her own one day as she waited for her mother to return after a hunting mission.  She was relaxed with us, but not so much so with some large male waterbucks that were grazing very close to the termite mound she was resting upon.  This naturally led to her ascending a tree, which we were not complaining about.

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Tusk Photo:
Elephant Plains Safari: Three Leopards and Hyenas Vie for The Kill


Brendon Reports:
(Photos from Brendon’s Camera Screen)
Our plan of action this morning as we left the Lodge was to start with the three leopards we saw together yesterday. (Salayexe and Tiyane with their kill that ended up with Anderson).
We arrived as the sun started to rise, and found Anderson lying under the tree where he had stashed the kill. We started to photograph the huge guy lying there, catching the first rays of the sun, when two more shapes appeared out of the dawn. Salayexe and Tiyane were lying close by on the side of the river bank.

We spent the whole morning with the three leopards as they moved around and engaged in a complicated set of manouvers to outwit each other re access to the tree and the kill.
Tiyane tried again and again curry favour and ‘schmoozed’ up to Anderson to try and convince him to let her go up. As soon as she felt that he was relaxed she jumped into the tree, with him right behind her as he chased to into the highest reaches of the branches where she had no access to the kill.

While this interaction continued again and again – and again, hyenas intermittently wandered hopefully onto the scene, sending Anderson back into the tree yet again to safeguard the kill. He growled ferociously at the hyenas from his lofty perch, causing the hyenas to retreat for a while. Some of the larger hyenas tried to stand their ground for a while, snarling menacingly back at Anderson, but he always won the intimidation encounter. The animals know who they can intimidate and who not to argue with and to rather seek safety.

We watched and photographed the ongoing action for more than three hours. There was just so much going on with the interaction between the leopards and between the leopards and the hyenas. It was an amazing morning and the three hours seemed to pass very quickly.

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Umkumbe Safari Lodge:
Mxabene, one of the dominant males of the area. He was being quite elusive, which goes against his normal behaviour. 


He often strolls past the vehicle, completely unfazed by the presence of game viewers. But this time, he wasn't having any of it! 

He remained a bit secretive and moved into very dense vegetation. We actually tracked him for about an hour!

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Mxabene basks in his glory! This male is king of his turf. A powerful and solid leopard - one of our favourites!

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The Bicycle Crossing male appears to have a small wound on close to his paw pad. Could it be an injury sustained during the take down of a kill?


Bicycle Crossing had actually just made a kill. His belly was full so he just lay down and dozed. The deep cut on his foot also made it difficult for him to move. 

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( This post was last modified: 08-13-2016, 07:29 AM by Tshokwane )

From Leopard Hills:

"I'm the Boss"

Dayone Male's expression tells a story of a rivalry and ongoing battle for territory between himself and males that occupy the territories on the border of his own.


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Dayone spent some time listening to nearby alarm calls on the banks of the Sand River during the last moments of daylight.

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Dayone has returned to the Sand River where he has stolen a kill from Xikavi. 

Basile and Dayone spent some time together yesterday, but have separated again after the brief interaction.


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From Leopard Hills:

Dayone taking a rest from a patrolling session.

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West Street male, credits to Eckson Sithole.

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From Sabi Sabi:
The Tatowa female and Maxabeni were found mating repetitively. Surely this is the first time this girl is mating so excitement is running high!

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