A leopard walking along a sandy road with her cub while motorists watch is one of the most magical and intimate sightings you can experience in the bush.
This is exactly what Lindi Herbst witnessed in a heartwarming encounter near to Phabeni Gate in the Kruger National Park.
This kind of spectacular sighting usually happens in the early morning or late afternoon, when leopards feel most comfortable moving out in the open.
Here, the mother kept close to the edge of the road while her little one tottered after her. Cubs at this age are curious but stay close to their mother.
Vehicle follows leopards as they saunter along
Lindi and her fellow travelers followed the leopards in their vehicle. Motorists who witness this kind of scene usually sit quietly in their vehicles, with their engines off, allowing the animals to move naturally along.
Curious cub wins hearts of motorists
The mother occasionally glanced back at the cars, however, continued confidently along her way. As a young, curious animal, the cub stalled often, taking its time to examine the car and winning the hearts of all of the spectators.
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It stopped occasionally to investigate a stick or clump of grass, providing heart-stopping moments for viewers.
Walking on road, a sign of confidence
While leopards generally prefer cover, seeing a grown leopard, such as this mother, walk openly down a road is often a sign that she feels secure in her territory or that she is leading the cub to a new den site.
Cubs under three months of age are moved frequently to keep them safe from hyenas, male leopards, and other dangers. The road is a convenient, quiet pathway for such a journey.
A relationship worth noting
The relationship between a leopard mother and her cubs is one of deep protection, patience and careful teaching.
From the moment her cubs are born blind and helpless, she becomes their sole source of safety, food and warmth. As they grow, she allows them to explore but never strays far, watching alertly from the shadows.
She will teach them essential survival skills by bringing back prey, encouraging playful pouncing and eventually allowing them to follow her to kills.
The bond is strong and affectionate, with cubs often rubbing against her or climbing over her as they seek comfort. Although the relationship changes as they approach independence, the mother remains attentive until they are capable of living on their own, leaving them with the instincts and confidence they need to survive in the wild.
The magic moment seemed to stretch into forever, as the game viewers enjoyed this intimate journey with the leopards. It’s not every day that one gets to be a part of such an incredible journey, however, as ardent animals enthusiasts will testify, the bushveld is full of surprises!
Perhaps one of the most heart-warming aspects of the video was the spontaneous dialogue happening between Lindi and the occupants of the vehicle who were clearly completely enamoured by the leopards.