Golonyi and Her New Beginnings
on Mar 11, 2025As rangers, we all develop personal favourites when it comes to the animals we encounter and the remarkable sightings we experience over the years. Spending so much time in the bush, we witness countless incredible moments, but some truly stand out.
When I started working at Sabi Sabi, leopards were high on the list to study and learn their behaviour as it is personally one of my favourite animals. Searching high and low, I saw multiple brief sightings of different individuals, but it wasn’t until I found Golonyi as a young female resting in a tree that I could confidently say I saw my first Sabi Sabi leopard. At this stage Golonyi was only about a year old and still meeting up with her mom, Ntsumi.
Over the months, we watched Golonyi transform into an incredibly skilled hunter, making kills so large that she struggled to hoist them into a tree. The journey wasn’t without its challenges - many of her hard-won kills were stolen by hyenas, and there were numerous failed hunting attempts. Yet, despite these setbacks, my admiration for Golonyi only deepened with each sighting. Her resilience and determination became something truly remarkable to witness.
Over the next two years she slowly started gaining more confidence and started establishing a territory, exploring areas further south-west of her original known area. She managed to mark it as her own and about a year ago we started seeing Golonyi with one of the territorial males from the area, Mawelawela. At first, we were worried, a dominant and large male like this could mean the end of a young leopardess like Golonyi looking to mate for the first time. Against all odds they mated several times before we could finally see that Golonyi was successfully fertilised.
Leopards have a short gestation period and roughly two and a half months later we saw Golonyi in the southern parts of our reserve where we could see she was close to giving birth. Shortly after this she disappeared and we didn’t see her for a few weeks, knowing she must’ve given birth somewhere, just not sure where.
A few weeks later, we had our first official sighting of Golonyi and her very first cub. Only one little cub emerged, and we were overjoyed to see that everything was going smoothly so far. The den site she had chosen was ideal - a rocky outcrop with numerous cavities that provided perfect shelter for the cub, offering safety and seclusion if needed. It was a moment of pure excitement and hope for the future.
This was also where my first sighting of the little one was - we were treated to see mom calling her cub to the rock face to groom it before retreating to safety.
Weeks passed once again, during which we made sure not to add any unnecessary pressure on this first-time mother. It wasn’t until at least two months later that I was fortunate enough to have my second sighting of the cub. As we approached, we were greeted by the sight of the energetic young cub, happily playing on a fallen tree, full of curiosity and life. It was a beautiful moment, watching the little one explore its world with such enthusiasm.
With Golonyi keeping a close eye on a nearby open area, we tried to see what the reason for Golonyi’s focus was and as we scanned the open area the sighting got even better… Four cheetahs in the open area!!!
Although both of these cats are predators and prefer different habitats, neither wants to risk a confrontation. The cheetah, a mother with three young cubs, and Golonyi, with her own cub, both share a deep instinct to protect their offspring. Sensing the potential danger, the cheetahs retreated further into the open area, while Golonyi and her cub stayed close to the treeline. She kept a watchful eye, ensuring the safety of a deep drainage line behind her, ready to whisk her cub to safety if needed. Both mothers were keenly aware of the risks, prioritising their cubs' safety above all else.
We watched as Golonyi settled comfortably on a termite mound, scanning the area, while her cub slowly crept up behind her, carefully stalking her tail. As the cub got closer, he suddenly pounced for her tail, prompting a playful interaction between mother and cub. They began to play and groom each other, a heartwarming sight that never fails to touch the heart, no matter how many times you witness it. Each leopard cub has its own unique personality and comfort zone, and this young one was particularly special, displaying such calmness in our presence at such a tender age. Cubs closely observe their mothers, learning from how they respond to us and the vehicle. If the mother remains calm and we respect her space, the cub typically follows suit, feeling secure in the knowledge that, as long as mom is unbothered, there is nothing to fear.
This was one of the most special sightings I have ever witnessed in my life, with the cub jumping all over mom and trying to catch the tail that keeps evading him. These playful antics aren’t just adorable; they serve an important purpose, teaching the cub crucial skills that will shape his future hunting techniques. While watching them play, this was also the first time we could see Golonyi’s first cub is indeed a little male and will hopefully carry her fearlessness one day.
After the heart-melting sighting of Golonyi and her cub, we quickly followed up on the cheetahs, and once again, we were treated to another unforgettable moment, especially considering that cheetahs are one of the most critically endangered predator species in South Africa. This female cheetah had already proven herself to be an exceptional mother, as all three of her cubs were still alive and thriving. Cheetah cubs face some of the highest mortality rates of any mammals, with only about 5% typically reaching adulthood. Given this sad statistic, this female cheetah seems determined to defy the odds. Her cubs are in remarkable condition, and they continue to survive and grow. While only time will tell what the future holds, she is doing an incredible job, staying constantly on the move and never letting her guard down.
For me, these two sightings – basically one sighting - are moments I will cherish forever. If ever someone asks me about the most incredible experience I’ve had, surpassing even the most thrilling kills or heart-pounding encounters, this will be the sighting I’ll remember and refer to.
Blog by Ruan Mey (Earth Lodge Ranger)
