Leopard cub w/ kill, Sabi Sabi (South Africa). Wildlife photograph by Lee Downing, finalist in the Shoot The Frame Wildlife photography award, June 2022

Finalist Wildlife · June 2022

Leopard cub w/ kill

My wife and I recently visited Sabi Sabi in South Africa. We were fortunate to find a female leopard in a tree with her morning kill. The guide knew it was a mother of two cubs because of the territory she was in. We decided to wait patiently for the day to see if she would come down and go get her young cubs. After a few hours she came down and disappeared into the brush. We had a quick breakfast in the vehicle about 500 yards away and then returned to our spot (all alone). After another half an hour my wife spotted the two little ones creeping up through the thicket to the tree. After some effort and coaxing from mom they both were able to make it up. We spent about 6 hours total enjoying every minute of the amazing experience. The cubs dropped the kill out of the tree on two occasions and mom quickly retrieved it. Unfortunately on the third drop a spotted hyena was a bit quicker and departed with it.