Visiting from the USA on our 10th bush visit in the past 4 1/2 years, we really wanted to see leopards. Our leopard sightings had been sparse on previous visits to other lodges… so the expectation was there. Could Hannes and the Leopard Hills team live up to their name? Have a look at the pictures to find out… Bryan, Margaret and Siobhan Mulligan
Three days of wonderful observation of leopard behavior…
WOW – Leopard Hills have done it again!!! Well done guys – you could not ask for better!
A truly superb post Bryan, and your images are stunning. I am really happy that your wish came true and that Leopard Hills and Hannes were able to ?come to the party?… 😉
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us.
Wow these are great! Please put me out of my misery and advise who the Leopards are – Tekwaan, Nlaba Nkunzi?? Well done Hannes!!
Thank you for sharing your most incredible experience of these beautiful leopards and what a wonderful memory to have a little leopard look you in the eye… wonder if the person he was looking at was nervous? I also wonder if the male is Thekwane or Wallies?? Sabi Sands does it again
Hi all,
I am sure that is Hlaba Nkunzi in the first few pics, who then climbed up into the tree. If it is her, call me crazy but she looks just like Makwela..especially in pic 4, 8 & 9. Mia came to see how she had grown (if it is her?)…she said & I quote: ‘No it’s not her, that’s Makwela’..
Great pics in a great place…
Regards
Drew
Bryan – you have captured the essence of their lives, a wonderful collectiion of photos, thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Gorgeous photos, thank you for sharing. & boy! If you had lacked leopard sightings in the past, this trip obviously made up for lost time! Thanks again for sharing – these make me want to return to Leopard Hills even more now!
Gorgeous photos, thank you for sharing. & boy! If you had lacked leopard sightings in the past, this trip obviously made up for lost time! Thanks again for sharing – these make me want to return to Leopard Hills even more now!
Wonderful pictures Bryan! Thank you very much for posting them!
Here is a clarification wrt the identification of the leopards:
1-9 is all of Mambhiri. She is one of Makwela’s offspring (hence the resemblance!) Picture 8 shows her spot pattern very well; 2 spots on either cheeck; just above the whisker line (that is what her name means; the Shangaan word for ‘2’)
10 and 11. Mambhiri’s new youngster who is now almost 6 months old
12. Mambhiri and cub
13, 14, 16 and 17. Thekwane male and Hlaba Nkunzi female.
15, 18 and 19. Thekwane male.
18. Good spot pattern for Thekwane male; 3 spots on the right cheek and 2 spots followed by a line of black spots and another 2 spots under the line on the left cheek.
Thanks for the great pictures!
We had the pleasure of hearing and viewing a Leopard walk right in front of camp past the water hole yesterday afternoon. Definately living up to our name 😉