In terms of leopards, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is home to many different individuals. Individuals that us as Guides on the reserve get to know intimately and of course, each will have their favorites. For me, it is a female affectionately known around these parts as the Nottins female or Young Nottins. She is currently pushing 16 years of age, which is quite old for a wild leopard, and to date has only managed to successfully raise 4 offspring to independence. This is a success rate of roughly 25%, which by anybody’s standards is extremely low, but life out here is tough and there are numerous challenges that she would need to overcome on a daily basis to keep her cubs alive.

All this being said, we are quite excited and confident about the future of her latest offspring sired by the Maxabeni male. Maxabeni has been doing well to secure his territory over the last year and a half, which means that there is one less obstacle for Nottins to worry about in terms of protecting her young cub. Rogue males are often the main cause of cub fatalities in predators. So far the cub is doing well and many of the Guides here have been fortunate enough to be able to spend a great deal of time with them over the last few months. A couple of weeks ago I finally got my chance...

One morning Nottins was found relatively close to Bush Lodge on the hunt, but by the time morning safari was over she was yet to make a kill. The fact that she has a cub though, ensures that she would be a lot more persistent than usual. In the afternoon my guests and I set out in search of a cheetah that was spotted earlier in the day, but on the way there we were pleasantly surprised when we bumped into Nottins and her cub a bit further north from where she had been hunting earlier.

From the moment I saw them I knew that Nottins had been successful earlier in the day and had come to fetch the cub in order to take it to the kill. (This is standard behavior once a cub reaches a certain age.) It wasn’t long before the two began moving southwards and we followed eagerly in the hopes that my assumptions were correct. Even if they weren’t, it was an incredible experience just to be able to spend time with the two of them. There are not many animals cuter than a leopard cub, especially one as relaxed as this one.

We followed them for only a short distance before we spotted the kill. An impala ram lay lifeless in an Ebony Jackalberry tree, partially eaten by the hungry female. The young cub wasted no time and instinctively made his way up to the kill to feed. He appeared to relish the gift from his mother while she, seemingly exhausted, lay on a lower branch to rest.

We sat there in the shade of the Jackalberry tree in awe of the spectacle happening before us. It’s moments like these that really make one appreciate the beauty and rawness of Africa. After both mother and cub had eaten their fill, they lay down in the riverbed together where Nottins affectionately groomed her little one. A rare moment shared with the typically elusive leopard and a brief insight into their behavior.

So far, Nottins has been able to keep her cub safely out of harm’s way and killing regularly in order to ensure both her and the youngster are well fed. Apart from this, as long as Maxabeni can maintain the territory defending it against rival males, the young cub should see it through to maturity. Only time will tell, but it is going to be amazing to watch the events unfold over the coming months. All I know is, I can’t wait to experience more moments like these with one of my favorite characters in our small piece of paradise.