A male leopard on his morning rounds

Some of the best wildlife encounters happen when you are not looking for them. At Limpopo-Lipadi this is no different.

These co-owners and their guide had just arrived at a waterhole one morning when a male leopard walked out of the bush and into the light. Through the filtered early sun, he made his way calmly to the water’s edge and drank deeply, unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world. Which, after a long night patrolling his territory, he probably did.

When he had quenched his thirst, he moved off along the road, and the co-owners followed at a respectful distance. What unfolded was a rare and unhurried glimpse into the private life of one of Africa’s most elusive cats.

Leopards are solitary and largely nocturnal, and a male’s territory can be vast, overlapping with the smaller ranges of several females. To maintain those boundaries, males scent-mark regularly, leaving messages for rivals and potential mates alike. The marking itself produces a surprisingly distinctive smell: many people describe it as warm and sweet, almost like popcorn.

Driving slowly behind a leopard as he goes about his morning routine is about as intimate as a wildlife encounter gets. Just a big cat doing what big cats do.

If you would like to support our conservation efforts, have a look on our website: 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.