It was a normal day in the bush for us the first time we met Nsuku, we were winding our way down the S25 on the 19th of September 2023. She was resting on a rock looking just like the queen we would learn she was. We never could have imagined that this would be a leopardess who gave us not only a sighting but a memory and a story that touched our souls right to the very core. She gave us a lesson on the fragility and sheer resilience of not only nature but the iron will of a mother.
Three months passed before we saw her again, on the 16th of December 2023 we were making our way down the S25 into her territory and as we looked up onto that very same rocky outcrop there she was. Her back facing us this time. But there was something different about this meeting. We would not only be seeing Nsuku again, we would also meet her two tiny cubs, we aged them roughly at 6 weeks old, there eyes still blue and slightly murky as if they were seeing the world for the first time.
As she stood up these two beautiful cubs were in the open. There aren’t really words to describe a moment like this. I couldn’t imagine a greater privilege though than what we witnessed over the coming days.
We would return over the next three days, eager to catch even a small glimpse of these little ones and their mom. We had the absolute pleasure of watching the cubs learning and playing over the days that followed, soaking up any and all brief and fleeting visuals we could get of these beautiful cubs.
Nsuku proved to be an absolute master of disguise, she came and went without being seen or heard. After 2 days of sitting and waiting quietly, we finally saw her, she came out onto the rocks that evening and in that moment we felt as though she finally trusted us. As we sat in silence and watched, she brought her two precious cubs onto a rock and we watched in awe as they interacted and suckled. To say that this moment was breath taking would be the biggest understatement I have ever made.
We stayed as long as we could manage without being late for the gate, as the sun was sinking into the horizon, we said good night to this beautiful family. They had given us more than we could ever have imagined and we could not wait to get there the following morning.
We woke up early the next morning and left Berg en Dal Camp as the gate opened. We made our way down to the den and were not disappointed. Nsuku was there with the cubs, and they were full of energy on this particular morning, it was amazing to watch the growth of these 2 in just 4 days. On day 1 they were very uncoordinated and by this final morning they were actively climbing the large tree at their rock. It was incredible to see how they were growing almost in front of our eyes.
Then the unthinkable happened, a herd of Zebra had spotted Nsuku, their alarms rang through the bush and caught the attention of a troop of Monkeys who, in turn, began to send out their own alarms. The atmosphere shifted immediately. Nsuku got up abruptly and began picking up the cubs one at a time, almost as if she was weighing them. Suddenly, she jumped into action, picking up a cub and launching herself into the nearest tree. She attempted to get the cub to stay put, however the cub, not realising that danger may be on the way followed her down.
She did not hesitate, she picked up the second cub and made her way down to the drainage line putting the cub down. She then ran back to the remaining cub and appeared to put it into a crevice in the rocks. Quickly she ran back to the cub in the drainage picked it up and ran towards the river. Minutes later they arrived, 5 Hyenas walking towards the sounds of the alarms, we held our breath as they made their was over the den site hoping they would not detect the cub hidden in the rocks.
We breathed a sigh of relief as they picked up Nsuku’s scent and began to make their way across the road and down the drainage line. All we could do was wait. The tension was palpable as we waited for her. Finally we got sight of her crossing back over the road to come and collect the second cub. She picked the cub up and to our surprise she made her way in the opposite direction taking the cub inland. Once again all we could do was sit and hope for a happy ending to this nightmare.
Eventually, as the rain was coming down she crossed back towards the river to go and get the first cub. Our hearts were in our throats, we did not say a word as we listened for any indication that she might be coming back. Finally, there she was running across the road with her precious bundle in her mouth.
She had done it! She had saved them both! The emotion was unlike any I have ever felt in the bush. I was brought to tears by this leopard. Her courage and dedication to her babies was so touching and so apparent.
One month later on the 23rd of January we received the most devastating news, we were up in the North at Shingwedzi and had reports that a male Lion had killed a leopard cub, the location was Nsuku’s old den. We knew in that moment that this cat had lost at least one of her cubs, possibly both. We had no idea whether she had lost both of them. A devastating blow that hit both of us extremely hard.
Nsuku seemed to disappear leaving us wondering and of course hoping against hope that she had managed on that tragic day to save one of the cubs. Months went by as we dutifully traversed her territory searching for any sign of her.
On the 31st of March 2024 we were on one of our missions into her territory when Josh spotted a leopard in a tree, it was Nsuku and as he watched he realised there was something moving behind her. She had done it, she had saved one of the cubs. The flood of emotion was to much to hold in, as the tears ran down my face I could only watch in abslolute awe and admiration. This brave mother had risked her own life to save her baby.
Nature can be so incredibly cruel at times, but it is moments like this that remind us why we are so in love with the bush and with nature. As brutal as it can be, hope still lives here.