leopard Archives - Leopard Hills

Crazy eyes

Posted on 25 October 2018 by LH Focus Online

It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. It is said that eyes can tell a story. Some eyes you can gaze into for hours on end. However, some eyes are simply known as crazy eyes.

We are very fortunate to encounter leopards that are completely unfazed by the presence of our vehicles. Every so often, we do come across some leopards with a more skittish nature. We might get a quick glimpse of them and then they take cover.

Recently we were rewarded with a highly interactive sighting with a skittish male leopard called Homelite. When we found him he was in a tree feeding on his kill. Not only did we manage to see this elusive male, but he provided us with some great photos too.

To add to his elusive and mysterious nature, Homelite has some dark and deep-set eyes. Locking eyes with this spectacular beast can be quite a harrowing experience.

As it usually goes, some hyenas arrived on the scene. After completing most of the kill, Homelite started to shift around in the tree. He must have miscalculated his movements and knocked the kill out of the tree. The hyenas wasted no time and grabbed the carcass and took off.

One hyena stayed around and waited for Homelite to leave the tree. The leopard showed his displeasure and snarled at the hyenas and then at us. He quickly maneuvered down the tree and ran away as is common practice for this male.

Written by: Cal Butler

Torchwood is back

Posted on 7 October 2018 by LH Focus Online

It is always exciting seeing familiar faces. This saying could not be truer for leopards that cross our borders for whatever reason.

The Torchwood male leopard left our area over a year ago. He was born around 2011 and left us as a healthy, young, up and coming leopard. His chances for survival were high as he very easily adapted to his environment. He would catch a variety of animals including porcupine, warthogs and even muddy catfish during the 2015/2016 drought.

We got word over a month ago that he was slowly making his way back to our side. When he returned, he greeted us with a wonderful sighting.

Hoisted in a tree, just off the road, lay a slayed warthog with a very healthy looking leopard tucking in. It was confirmed that Torchwood is back. He is now in his prime years and looks better than ever.

We do hope that he reclaims some of his old territory and hangs around for a few more years to come.

Written by: Cal Butler

A bush full of colour

Posted on 21 August 2018 by LH Focus Online

As the bush reaches the end of the dry season, it can start to look rather drab and dreary. However, under certain conditions there are beautiful colours that can be seen during and after game drive.

During the winter months there is a lot of smoke hanging over the horizon caused by nearby villages burning their fields. This creates a beautiful filter through which sun must rise and set.

From time to time we experience an early morning mist. This adds a whole new dimension to the surrounding bush. One might also see numerous amounts of spider webs laden with water droplets.

Once the sun has set the sky softens with some spectacular pastel colours still present. This light often allows for great silhouette images.

Recently we experienced a beautiful full lunar eclipse which resulted in a blood moon which could be seen during dinner time in our outdoor boma area.

When the skies are clear and the moon has not yet risen, The Milky Way will stretch across the length of the sky.

Written by – Cal Butler

The Beautiful One

Posted on 11 July 2018 by LH Focus Online

Seeing the resident animals grow up successfully is always a great pleasure. We got word that the young female leopard, Sasekile, was on an impala kill nearby. She is no longer dependent on her mother, Thlangisa, and manages to take care of herself very well. Sasekile has only recently been named and means “The Beautiful One”.

As we arrived at the sighting, we found Sasekile stranded in a tree. She was surrounded by 11 hyenas who had stolen her kill.

Once the frenzy had finished, the hyenas left the area and the young leopard wasted no time and made her way out of the tree. She continued moving through the thick grass. Further on she found a beautiful Marula tree and climbed it to scout for more unsuspecting impala.

Sasekile pressed onwards and spotted some impala in the distance. The wind and sun’s position was in her favour. She sat patiently looking for the best way to stalk. The image below shows just how well she camouflages in the surrounding vegetation.

The impala had no idea that she was there. She crouched down low and stealthily made her way closer to the antelope. She made it to within a couple of meters of them until she was rudely interrupted by a tree squirrel that set off the alarm and spoiled the hunt.

Written by – Cal Butler

The Playful Ones

Posted on 26 May 2018 by LH Focus Online

Winter is quickly approaching and the bush is swiftly showing signs of the changing season. Yet there is still a hive of activity on the reserve.

Thlangisa, a wonderfully relaxed female leopard, has provided us with a gift of cubs yet again.

The mother has found a secure den site and she has finally revealed these bundles of joy to us. She has 2 tiny cubs and they take after their mother. Thlangisa, “The Playful One”, has passed her nature onto her cubs as these two little fur-balls constantly chase each other around or hop all over mom when she is around.

This is not her first litter and most of her cubs have survived to adulthood. We look forward to see these cubs grow up into strong, independent leopards in years to come.

Written by: Cal Butler

Kelly Dam and her kill

Posted on 19 May 2018 by LH Focus Online

Night time in the bush can be a daunting thing for some, but sometimes it yields wonderful surprises.

One of our rangers, Cal, headed down to the reserve’s airstrip to fetch some guests. As he passed through a wooded area something caught his eye. It was an impala in a tree, but no leopard in sight.

That evening after sunset, our game drive vehicles headed back to the area and guests were treated to a wonderful sighting as the leopard had returned to finish her kill.

As we arrived at the scene a female leopard called Kelly Dam sat casually in a tree feeding on her kill.

Sitting in silence and surrounded by darkness we all just marveled at the sights and sounds of the feline tucking into her meal.

There was some interesting interaction as 2 hyena came to visit hoping that Kelly Dam will drop her meal or at least parts thereof. She was not phased with their presence and just stared them down.

After she had her fill she moved over to another branch and took a nap for the evening.

Written by: Cal Butler

Thlangisa & her two cubs

Posted on 19 February 2016 by LH Focus Online

Thlangisa and her two remaining cubs are doing very well and she is certainly looking after them in every way, especially when it comes to meals. She had the remains of two kills in the same tree, as they spent a couple of days feeding on them. The Cubs were hidden close by as she was resting in a tree some distance from where her kills were left.

She hoisted the remains of a Kudu kill into another Marula tree and then went to collect the cubs, bringing them back to where she had the meal. The Cubs had a good look at the kill safely hoisted, but preferred the company of their Mother below.

At 11 weeks old, the Cubs are now growing quickly and doing what they do best, playing with each other and their Mother.

The previous two cubs which Thlangisa successfully raised to adulthood, named Basile & Khokhovela, are also doing very well and have occupied territories alongside their Mother’s territory.

They have been providing spectacular viewing and we will update you on Thlangisa and her two cubs as they continue on their path to adulthood.