Tribute to the leopards of Limpopo-Lipadi

As a longtime co-owner at Limpopo-Lipadi Anton has always had a special place in his heart (and camera) for our leopard population. At some point he even initiated a project to identify the individual leopards roaming around the Reserve. After so many years of perseverance in observing and photographing leopards, Anton decided to treat us to a tribute to the leopards of Limpopo-Lipadi. Read his story here and enjoy the beautiful photos (many more if you follow the link in bio to our website): “Leopards are known for their remarkable ability to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, making them incredibly challenging to spot. Their solitary and mysterious behaviour adds to the allure of a leopard sighting, as they often remain hidden and only reveal themselves briefly. Their stunning coat and captivating, piercing eyes also contribute to their iconic status. In addition, leopards are symbols of grace and power, embodying the essence of the untamed wilderness, which makes encountering one of these majestic creatures a truly unforgettable and awe-inspiring experience in the world of wildlife. Limpopo-Lipadi is blessed with a healthy population of leopards, and over the past 15 years we had very memorable and intimate moments with these incredible mammals on our beloved Limpopo-Lipadi. It was interesting to keep stats over the years. Before lions moved into the area, we used to have a leopard sighting once every second day, thus a “strike rate” of 0.5 leopards per night at Limpopo-Lipadi. Our best visit was in October 2016, when we enjoyed 9 leopard sightings in 7 nights, and 5 different individuals! With the arrival, and consequent expansion of the lion pride, our leopard sightings decreased considerably, going down to 1 in 8, a strike rate of 0.125 leopards per night. I believe the leopards were still around, just a lot more skittish and keeping to the thicker drainage lines of the reserve. For the last year or so, there were only 3 lions on Limpopo-Lipadi, and the interesting observation is that the leopard sightings are on the increase again! On our visit in September 2023, we had 5 wonderful leopard sightings in 13 nights! A strike rate of 0.38 leopard sightings per night! What make these stats more impressive (and satisfying) is the fact that on a busy day there are only about 5 game drive vehicles on the 20,000ha reserve, which means you must find the sightings yourself! For comparison, our average in Kruger NP (a leopard haven) is 1 leopard sighting for every three nights spent, 0.33 leopards per night. Obviously, my scientific research is seriously flawed because of the small sample size, being just my own stats, but I find it very enjoyable nonetheless, and I hope you enjoyed it too!” If you would like to be a part of our conservation efforts, do call on us (https://limpopo-lipadi.org/donate/). For discreet information on share sales, contact generalmanager@limpopo-lipadi.org. To book a safari, request our rates via reservations@limpopo-lipadi.org or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191.