Heart stopping moments with the Nkuwa leopardess

There’s something about a winter sunset in the Lowveld that feels otherworldly. As the sun dips low, the dust in the air catches the last golden light, and the bush seems to pause - waiting. That’s when we found her tracks.

They were fresh, pressed into the soft sand along a game path. All signs pointed to Nkuwa, the leopardess that rules this stretch of the southern drainage lines. She’s elusive, known for her quiet confidence - and sure enough, not long after, we spotted her: low to the ground, stalking.

Just ahead of her was a herd of impala, completely unaware. The setting couldn’t have been more perfect. A slight breeze kept her scent downwind, and the soft terrain masked her steps. She crept forward like a liquid shadow, every movement smooth and precise.

In the vehicle, we were silent. One of the guests whispered, “Is this really

happening?” The excitement was written all over their faces - eyes wide, cameras forgotten in their laps. It wasn’t just a sighting; it was a scene unfolding in real time, a private moment in the wild that we were lucky enough to witness.

The impalas shifted. A ram looked up, frozen, ears flicking. Nkuwa stopped mid-step. You could feel the tension - no one even breathed. Everything - the golden light, the dust, the stillness - seemed to press in around us.

Then, she launched.

A blur of muscle and intent, she tore across the clearing. The impalas scattered, their alarm snorts sharp and panicked. For a moment, it looked like she might make it - her focus locked on a young ewe. But with a final jink and burst of speed, the antelope slipped away.

It was over in seconds.

She stood there, chest rising and falling, watching the bush close behind her fleeing prey. No meal tonight. But there was no sense of failure - just part of the rhythm of life out here. She turned and melted back into the thickets, swallowed by the shadows.

It’s not just about the hunt or the leopard, it’s about being right there, in that golden, dusty moment, with wild Africa unfolding in front of you - a secret being shared. An absolutely incredible experience that we are often privy to, providing that we show respect and patience.