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Ngala · 09-06-2016, 05:32 PM

Photo and information credits: Gareth Poole Photography
"The West Street Male on patrol along the bank of the Sand River" 22 July '16

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Ngala · 09-07-2016, 12:28 AM

Many good shot about Anderson male.

Photo credits: Colleen Credie-Bekker

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Photo credits: Darrell West

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Photo Credits: Nkorho Rangers

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Ngala · 09-08-2016, 09:18 PM

From Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve:
"We followed the Little Bush female as she searched for a meal, but sadly for her, she was unsuccessful."

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"Little Bush and her cub visited the waterhole in front of Selati Camp for a much needed drink."

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"Little Bush’s cub was moving around quite a lot this morning, exploring her mom’s territory and giving us quite a time keeping up with her."

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Ngala · 09-09-2016, 12:21 AM

Maxabeni, credits to Sheldon Hooper from Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve.

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Tshokwane · 09-09-2016, 10:01 PM

Homelite male, credits to Matthew Brennan - Inyati Game Lodge.

He and Dewane were exchanging threats across the river. Inyati also says Homelite is a big bigger than Dewane.

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Ngala · 09-10-2016, 01:23 AM

From Londolozi Game Reserve: Xidulu Female Leopard: The Secret to her Success, by Amy Attenborough

"There is a leopard that we infrequently see on Londolozi, who we don’t often speak of but who in my opinion commands a great deal of respect. At 15 years old and living in an area with arguably the highest density of predators in the Sabi Sands, she is not only successfully fending for herself but raising young cubs too."

The Xidulu female leopard finishes up the remains of an impala kill. At 15 years old this could very possibly be her last litter of cubs. Photograph by Stoff Kane-Burman

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One of the Xidulu female’s cubs rests on the top of a termite mound. To its east elephants fed on a thicket, a hyena circled the base of the mound and lions roared to its west. At just five months old, these cubs are having to learn incredibly fast in order to stay safe. Photograph by James Tyrrell

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"The leopard I refer to is the Xidulu female who holds territory in the north and eastern portions of Londolozi and spends a majority of her time to the east of Londolozi’s borders. Recently though she killed a male impala on Londolozi and bought her cubs to feed on it, allowing us the opportunity to see her two young cubs for the very first time. As we sat watching her a few mornings ago a male lion began to bellow out his territorial call from about 300m to their west, two spotted hyenas skulked around the base of the tree where the kill was stashed, elephants fed on a Spikethorn thicket in view of the leopards and a ranger called in the location of the Tsalala Pride in the river no more than a kilometre away. Just a year ago I watched the Marthly and Camp Pan male leopards have near misses with the Tsalala Pride close to where these leopards frequent, a few hundred meters north of the sighting, the Tsalala Pride recently attacked and killed the Dudley Riverbank 5:5 male leopard and the Matimba coalition continuously patrol through this area. With the Tsalala Pride having split (sandwiching this leopard between their two territories) and the drought forcing more and more predators towards the river, it is completely astounding that this old leopard manages to keep herself alive let alone raise two young cubs where she does."

The Xidulu female leopard feeds on an impala kill with one of her two cubs. We estimate that these cubs are about five months old. Photograph by Stoff Kane-Burman

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The rough territory held by the Xidulu female leopard. As you can see, the majority of her territory extends to the east of Londolozi, meaning we see her rather infrequently.

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"In fact, a few of us returned at lunch time that same day to see if anything new had transpired and the startling thing we found only helped to prove how much competition there really is around the river at the moment. In the Jackalberry tree where the impala had been stashed earlier, the Nkoveni female leopard now sat, hissing and snarling from the very tops of its branches. The Xidulu female leopard was now at the base of the tree with the kill along with one of her cubs. She was much more aggressive towards the intruder, growling and snapping intermittently. No one was at the sighting to see what happened when the Nkoveni female leopard arrived but we can only assume that she, being young and reckless, had come in to investigate and possibly try to steal the kill. One of the leopards must have knocked the kill from the branches and now the young female leopard was up in the tree with no exit strategy. Remember that despite the Xidulu female defending both her kill and her cubs, she will do everything in her power to intimidate the Nkoveni female without actually launching up the tree and risking injury, whilst the Nkoveni female couldn’t descend the tree without putting herself in an incredibly vulnerable position. The result being about a 5 hour standoff."

One of the Xidulu female leopard’s cubs feeds on the impala carcass. It was this same cub that ascended the tree to investigate the intruding leopard. Photograph by Stoff Kane- Burman

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"Amazingly enough at one point, one of the inquisitive cubs actually ascended the tree to investigate the Nkoveni female, a brave and possibly quite stupid move but a few hisses and snaps from the older leopard sent the youngster scuttling for the protection of its mother. What eventually dissipated the tension was when a hyena rushed in and tried to grab the impala carcass stashed at the base of the tree. It managed to snap up a leg whilst the Xidulu female leopard grabbed the main portion and sprinted off with it to hide it elsewhere. This created enough of a distraction to give the Nkoveni female some time to descend the tree and vacate the area."

The Nkoveni female, hiding out at the tops of the Jackalberry. With the Xidulu female leopard guarding the kill at the base of the tree, she found herself trapped. Photograph by David Dampier

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Look closely and you will see the snarl on the face of the Nkoveni female leopard as the Xidulu female’s youngster tries to approach her. This snap and snarl from the older leopard was [i]enough to send it scampering back down the tree. Photograph by Talley Smith

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"Amazingly enough, just a couple of days later, these two females were once again seen together in the same sighting, this time squabbling over a bushbuck carcass. One would think that after their previous interaction, the Nkoveni female would have learnt her lesson. However it does seem that maybe she has gained a new respect for this older female and was seen yesterday morning leaving the family to finish the bushbuck kill, whilst she headed northwards into the river.

We cannot be one hundred percent sure but sadly since writing this, it seems possible that the Xidulu female leopard may have in fact lost one of her cubs. When rangers last saw her moving, she only had one cub in tow and was contact calling for the other. She was seen on the bushbuck carcass for two consecutive days and at all times there was only one cub seen with her. We believe that both cubs were with her just a few days prior to this when she was east of our boundary, so we can only surmise as to what happened. This does once again go to show just how tough it is being a leopard in these parts with the predator density being what it is and only gives me more reason to respect the survival skills of this particular leopard. We hope that she returns to Londolozi again soon and that by some small chance has both cubs with her. As always, we look forward to keeping you updated."

Ngala · 09-10-2016, 01:33 AM

From Londolozi Game Reserve, The Week in Pictures #248 by Callum Gowar
"The Anderson male leopard stares intently in the direction of some alarming bushbuck whilst protecting his hoisted warthog kill. Before we knew it, the beautiful Nanga female leopard had joined the sighting."

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"The Tamboti female leopard listens attentively to rasping calls in the distance, most likely coming from her daughter, the Tamboti young female."

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"The Mashaba female leopard descends from a sausage tree as the light began to fade. The dark backdrop she is framed against shows up how incredibly long a leopard’s vibrissae or whiskers are."

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"After robbing the Nkoveni female leopard of her bushbuck kill, the 4:4 male leopard descends from a leadwood tree and moves off to stash the carcass in the adjacent thick undergrowth."

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"On a separate occasion to the previous sighting, the Tamboti female leopard walks through an open clearing allowing us this beautiful unobstructed view of her."

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"Definitely one of the most exciting sightings from the week came when we heard reports of the Xidulu female and her young cubs on Londolozi. We hadn’t seen these cubs before and were treated to a spectacle and a memorable sighting."

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Tshokwane · 09-12-2016, 11:21 PM

Dewane male feeding on a kill he stole from the Dam female. Credits to Rob the Ranger.

Ngala · 09-13-2016, 12:27 AM

From Inyati Game Lodge:
"Xhikavi leads by example. She is taking her sub-adult cub to a kill she made in the river."

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Ngala · 09-13-2016, 12:36 AM

From Cheetah Plains Private Game Reserve:
"Quarantine male leopard is becoming so relaxed, not unlike his father, and giving us some wonderful game viewing. He is hunting extremely successfully, and often too! Image by Andrew Khosa"

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"Male leopard, Quarantine, is looking in fine form as we located him on Rhino Cutline recently. Images by Andrew Khosa"

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"We located female leopard, Thandi feeding on an impala in torchwood. She is definitely lactating, but with male leopard, Tingana in close proximity, we didnt see any sign of the cubs around. Images by Andrew Khosa"

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"Having the benefit of a point of elevation is vitally important. We often find leopards and Cheetahs using fallen trees (as well as climbing trees) to get a better perspective on whats happening and where a potential meal could be found. This male leopard was found scoping the surroundings (Any guesses who it is?) Image by Myke Glasson" Mvula male.

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"Male leopard, Xivambalana was located feeding on a buffalo kill to the east of Cheetah Plains open this morning. He is becoming a brute of a male, and although we dont know whether he pulled the buffalo down or stumbled onto it, it is an incredibly large meal for him. Images by Andrew Khosa"

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Ngala · 09-13-2016, 04:13 PM

From Idube Game Reserve:
Tasselberry female

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"The remains of one of Tasselberry's cubs, both killed by Mobeni and eaten by Ravenscourt"

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Dewane male

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Xikavi female

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Xikavi female and son

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Nyeleti male

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Scotia female

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"Scotia watching Nyeleti"

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"Nyeleti watching Scotia"

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Torchwood male

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"Hukumuri female leopard, her cub is feeding on a kill behind the rocks"

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Kelly Dam female

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Ravenscourt male and Mobeni female

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Ravenscourt male

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Mobeni female

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"Basile watching Dewane eat her kill"

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Ngala · 09-13-2016, 04:41 PM

From Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, credits to Hugo Breed Wildtography:
"Tasselberry relaxes in the shade close to her duiker kill she hoisted into a small tree."

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"Dayone intently watching Impala across the clearings as the sun sets behind him."

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"Yesterday while following Dayone on one of his regular patrols, he came across Scotia with a Bushbuck kill in a tree. He quickly seized the moment and took it from here. Scotia reluctantly left the area."

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"Xikavi and her cub got chased away from their Nyala kill by a troop of Baboons."

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"We watched Torchwood as he sneaked around a termite mound in the hope to catch a Warthog off guard."

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"We had a rare sighting of Homelite up in the north yesterday afternoon."

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"Thlangisa relaxing in the tree where she hoisted her bushbuck kill."

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"Xikavi's youngster is still showing a lot of affection towards his mother. It might not be long before she will send him off to become an independent young leopard himself."

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"Dayone moving away from his Impala kill."

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"Scotia ascending towards her Duiker kill."

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"Tasselberry hiding in a tree from a troop of Baboons."

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"It was good to see Hlaba Nkunzi marking territory in the West this morning."

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"Xikavi took her youngster back to some breakfast this morning."

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Ngala · 09-13-2016, 05:05 PM

Anderson male, credits to Morné Fouché from E.p. Rangers.

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Ngala · 09-14-2016, 07:24 PM

From Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve:
Kashane male.
"A large male leopard, who we suspect to be the Kashan male, gazes at a distant tree containing a bushbuck kill made by the Kigelia female. Is anyone able to confirm whether this is the Kashan male?"

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"We stumbled upon the Kigelia female who allowed us the privilege of watching her stalk some impala who were completely unaware of her presence. She tried and missed but it was amazing to watch her grace and determination."

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Ngala · 09-14-2016, 08:26 PM

Many interesting updates about Anderson male.

Photo credits: Chanan Weiss. Information credits: Anderson male leopard (FB Page)
"He was snarling at a heyna, who decided he didn't need the kill."

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Photo and information credits: Dawie Jacobs
"Anderson the male leopard has been amazing to us the past week, here he is on the search for one of our resident female leopards."

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Photo credits: Arnoud Quanjer

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Photo and information credits: Brendon Cremer Photography
"One of the largest male leopards I have ever seen and what a pleasure it was to photograph him resting on the branch of this tree after he finished feeding on a buffalo calf he killed."

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"Just love this huge make leopard when he gives us the opportunity to photograph him out in the open."

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Photo and information credits: Vision Photography by Villiers Steyn
"The first half of September's first Tusk Photo photographic safari at Elephant Plains Game Lodge has been very rewarding! The highlight was seeing Anderson and Salayexe mating right next to us!!"

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From Tusk Photo, 12 Sept. '16:
Elephant Plains Safari: Salayexe Honeymoon with Anderson …
News from Villiers:
This morning our first very early encounter was with six Spotted Hyenas. Two adults lounged around in a lovely open area with two biggish cubs drinking from them while another two adults sloped around. We used our spotlights as it was still dark. One of the youngsters came close to us and started pasting - walking again and again over grass stalks to leave his scent and thereby to mark the territory. It was fascinating to see how he did this over and over again with the same grass stalk.
Not far away we found two more Spotted Hyenas busy at a week old giraffe carcass. We stopped for shots of them as they chewed on the scraps of skin and bone left on the head.
We saw plenty of Kudu today, including some stately bulls with magnificent spiral horns, looking majestic as they fed on the last bits of green vegetation along a dry river bed.
We spotted a Martial Eagle nest close to a river bed and a young eagle was sitting on one of the branches below the nest. It was almost as though mom had instructed the youngster to sit tight if anything approached, and while we were there he bent his head down and froze. He didn't rustle a single feather as he tried his hardest to resemble a vulture. It was quite comical to see him sitting there like a statue, probably believing that we were unable to spot or to recognize him, but we had a great view and filled our memory cards with multiple images of the young one.
The highlight for us was when we found Tiyane - Salayexe's young leopard cub close to a river bed. She was clearly waiting for mom, and in no hurry to go anywhere. But there were so many distractions! Nyalas, Kudus, Baboons, Impalas, Squirrels and even Elephants were close by and kept coming into sight. She moved from one termite mound to the next with each distraction, and even stalked a herd of Impala at one stage, but basically just filled in her time as she waited for mom. Meanwhile we were able to get some wonderful shots of the lovely young lady!
This afternoon we returned to search for Tiyane but she wasn’t where we had left her, and when we heard that fresh tracks belonging to both Anderson and Salayexe had been spotted we headed that way – and found Salayexe - mating with Anderson! This was a very exciting first for some of our group. After the leopards had mated about three times, Anderson leaped into a tree to investigate a really old carcass that had been left there by another leopard. There was nothing left for him to scavenge, so maybe he just went up to investigate.
Meanwhile Salayexe went down to nearby Rhino Pan where she first lay down next to the water and then had a drink with the sun setting behind her, giving us many chances to collect some great images.
Then the two met up again and started mating again … every five to ten minutes, so everyone managed to get good photographs of the huge male with Salayexe. And listening to the deep guttural sounds as they mated was quite impressive.
We also saw two sub-adult hyenas chewing on the final scraps of an old buffalo carcass, and as we switched off the car we heard adult hyenas calling in the distance – that lovely whooping sound – and within moments they arrived on the scene. A noisy greeting ceremony with plenty of vocals followed the arrival of the adults.
After our amazing day we are back at the Lodge, tired and very happy, and so busy talking about everything we saw today that there is no time to even think about tomorrow …

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From Tusk Photo, 14 Sept. '16:
Elephant Plains Safari: Unlikely Bedfellows …?
News from Villiers:
The final drive of the first safari ended on a really high note. It all started as we left the Lodge this morning and almost immediately found 10 Spotted Hyenas in a wide open plain. A group of adults accompanied by an unruly bunch of youngsters were playing and enjoying themselves just as the sun was about to rise. We watched with glee as they scampered and chased one another around. They found some kind of rag which led to a strenuous tug-of-war game, while others ran up to give a mischievous nip before dashing away to pretend total innocence! Now and then they came up to us, almost as though to invite us to join the games ... hahaha!
From there we headed to Big Dam, but had not traveled 5 minutes from the hyenas when we came around a corner ... and who should we find? Right there! Slap bang, sprawled across the middle of the road? Yes, none other than Anderson with Salayexe - right there after all that searching yesterday!
So, you see - when you put in the effort, you are always rewarded in the bush!
The leopards were lying in the road, and soon after we arrived they started mating again. Then, to our amazement and a little amusement, because it is so cold, Salayexe went to snuggle onto a rhino midden. She wiggled herself in, and snuggled right into the dung to get some warmth - and Anderson cam to lie next to her.
But that is not the whole picture. Suddenly a hyena strolled up and came to lie down close to the two leopards ... maybe wanting some warmth, but probably hoping that they make a kill! So he hung out with them. Anderson growled and snarled at the hyena, but not enough to frighten it away.
Later the leopards got up and went down into the dry river bed to lie in the sand. The hyena followed and settled down a few meters away. They seemed to be quite settled when a herd of elephants pitched up, feeding on the Palm Trees along the edge of the river bed. At first the elephants didn't notice the leopard, but when they did they surrounded them and chased them away. Anderson slunk away, tail between his legs, followed soon by the hyena, while Salayexe just lay there and watched from a distance before she got up and went to join Anderson to continue their honeymoon activities.
So that was how the first of these safaris ended! Those who need to depart are very reluctant to leave this incredible place, but many have elected remain for more ...

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