A Bittersweet Morning with the Three Rivers Female and the Maxims Male – Londolozi Blog

Trying to maximize our time out in the bush on my guests’ last game drive, we set off into the wilderness at first light. We had planned to drive out into the southeastern parts of the reserve to see if we could come across the Ntsevu Pride again. The all-pervasive hum of nocturnal life still rippled through the cool, dense air. It’s a beautiful time to be out there.

The Ntsevu Pride had caught a zebra in the dense bushwillow thickets south of the Inyathini Riverbed, and we were eager to go and see them again. The previous day our time with them was cut slightly short after the heavens had opened up and conditions were becoming quite uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I do not suit the pink pouch as well as rangers Reece Biehler and Pat Grealy do, and therefore avoiding it was to be done at all costs. Everyone on my vehicle agreed and we decided to call it a day and try again in the morning.

We were about halfway along our route to the lions when something in the dense guarri bushes off to my right had just caught my eye. It was still relatively dark and not easy to be 100% sure of what I saw. I quickly reversed the vehicle so that Tracker Terrence could shine his spotlight on it. It was a leopard!

The Three Rivers Female. A few moments later, lying a little further afield, we spotted the noble Maxims Male! What an incredible find. This instantly became one of those moments that holds true to the classic unpredictability of the bush. Around each corner, you never know what you’re going to find.

The Three Rivers female.

Forced into early independence as her mother was killed by the Southern Avoca Males.

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The large Maxims Male.

Fairly skittish male that is presumed to have come from the Kruger National Park.

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We knew that the Three Rivers Female had given birth over a month ago as she had been seen with quite prominent suckle marks. We could still see that she had a milk pouch, but unfortunately, the suckle marks looked to be very faint. We had a strong feeling that she’d lost yet another litter of cubs before we could get a view of them. Definite closure on this fact was that we witnessed the two leopards mating multiple times shortly after we found them that morning. Female leopards will fall into oestrus fairly quickly after losing their cubs. They will then seek out a male in the area with whom they can mate, to start the process all over again.

Although we were incredibly fortunate to witness these leopards mating, it does bring to light how low the survival rate of leopard cubs is. It was definitely a bittersweet moment for all of us and certainly one we won’t forget. After the Nkoveni Female was victorious in taking over a large portion of the Three Rivers Female’s territory, she has most likely had to adapt to a new area and possibly still settle into a groove.

The Maxims Male has a very substantial territory and is in his prime. There’s no doubt he does a good job at driving off other males from the area, who will be the biggest threat to the Three Rivers Female’s cubs. Having a male in place like the Maxims Male is half the battle won for a female leopard. Let’s hope that the Three Rivers Female has a bit more luck early next year with what will be her fourth litter.