The Dumbana legacy continues

It was a particularly warm summer afternoon, with rain having fallen the day before and more predicted for the coming days, creating a dense and humid atmosphere. It was the kind of afternoon that wraps around you like a warm blanket, the light filtering through making it as beautiful as ever. The bush was alive with the sound of frogs calling and an array of insects all around us.

We had been driving around for quite some time, crossing over the N’wanetsi River and clambering through drainage lines in search of any sign of a leopard, but to no avail. As the light started to fade and the temperature finally dropped to a more comfortable degree, the colour of the sky changed before our eyes, and a masterpiece painting of rich, warm, golden clouds appeared. It felt as if Africa was holding its breath, waiting for something magical to happen.

I decided we should look in one more area, one last hope for the elusive cat. We came around a bend, dropped down into a river crossing, my trackers eyes scanning through every bush and tree. All of a sudden, I see his posture change, a flicker of movement caught his eye and without saying anything, he raises his hand telling me to stop. I turned off the engine of the cruiser, he turns around and whispers, “leopards”.

There they were—not just one, but two leopards—lying in the cool, wet sand, gazing directly at us. The ultimate definition of beauty. I believe we all held our breath, and perhaps even shed a few tears, as we took in the sight. Over the past few weeks, it had been a challenge to find these animals due to the chest-high grass and the dispersion of prey. So, for us, this moment felt perfect; everything was perfect.

As we sat and watched the two leopards, they stalked, ambushed and jumped onto each other. This is how they learn the skills needed to be a successful leopard. We decided to change our position and try get another view of these cats. We were lucky enough to drive into the drainage line where they were playing and could sit and watch them for over an hour. In that time, if a full sentence was spoken, it was a lot. Everyone was in complete awe, not just of what we were watching, but also of what we were a part of.

As the temperature began to drop, the leopards grew increasingly curious about our presence and decided to investigate. They crept through the grass and climbed onto fallen branches to get a clearer view of us, remaining elusive yet incredibly brave at the same time. Their mother's features were evident in both of these magnificent animals.

We sat there for a while, watching as the setting sun dipped below the horizon. The warmth of the evening gradually gave way to the coolness of night, while the bush remained as alive as ever. What felt like only five minutes had actually been over an hour, but we knew we had been granted a rare glimpse into the lives of these elusive cats - a moment we would never forget.