Imara, a famous female leopard

Imara is one of the most impressive leopards in Grumeti. Her name means “strong” in Swahili, and anyone who has watched her for even a short time can see how perfectly it fits her. She has made the area around Faru Faru her home, holding a territory of about six square kilometres, an area she knows extremely well and moves through with confidence and purpose.

Over the years, Imara has proven herself to be an exceptional mother. She has raised three cubs from two different litters. Her first litter was a single male, and her second litter had two cubs, one male and one female. What makes her even more impressive is that all three of her offspring are still alive, now roaming the western side of her territory. For a leopard living in an area with so many dangers, this is a remarkable achievement. Meanwhile, Imara has shifted her own core area a little further east, spending more time around Faru Faru lodge, following the Grumeti River and moving through the Mbogo Drainage just north of the lodge.

Raising cubs in this landscape is no small task. Imara’s territory lies between two lion prides’, the Faru Pride and the Mkuyu Pride. Lions are a major threat to leopards, especially cubs. Several times, guides have witnessed lions aggressively chasing Imara, even when she had tiny cubs hidden nearby. But every time, she has shown incredible intelligence and determination. She knows exactly when to hide and when to run. Her quick decisions have saved her cubs many times, proving just how strong and capable she is.

Not long ago, she was seen near Faru suite 9. Her teats looked swollen with milk, a clear sign that she had a new litter tucked away somewhere, her third litter. The fact that she is raising cubs again in such a high pressure area filled with lions, hyenas, and other threats shows just how fearless and resilient she is.

As we followed her during that sighting, Imara suddenly stopped. Her whole body dropped low, and her eyes focused sharply on something hidden in the tall grass. For a moment, we could see nothing, just grass moving softly in the wind. Then she sprang forward, disappearing into a thick bush. A single reedbuck call echoed through the air, short, sharp, and final. Moments later, Imara emerged carrying a reedbuck kill in her jaws. She dragged the kill to a nearby tree, expertly climbed up the trunk, and hung it safely across a branch. After eating only a small amount, she descended and slipped away, almost certainly heading back to her cubs.

The following day, we checked the kill, but she was nowhere to be seen. Then, the next evening, she returned. She climbed up, took the carcass, and moved it to another tree for more safety. Watching her work was like watching a master at her craft, calm, efficient, and incredibly strong.

Imara continues to show why her name suits her so well. She is powerful, smart, and endlessly determined, a true survivor in a challenging environment. And now, with a new litter hidden somewhere in her territory, we wait with excitement and hope, eager for the first glimpse of her next generation.