Piccadilly Leopardess

MalaMala Game Reserve is known for its stunning trees and ancient forests, especially in the northwestern corner, where the Manyelethi River winds through a bed of scattered granite boulders. Here, towering Jackalberry trees stand tall, their gnarled trunks twisted with age, whispering stories of the past. Among them is one particular Jackalberry, my favorite—a tree that has always captured my imagination. Its weathered bark, contorted branches, and silent presence exude a wisdom that’s hard to put into words.

It’s the kind of tree that, every time you drive past, you instinctively mutter, “I wish there was a leopard in that tree.” I’ve said it countless times over the past decade. And today, everything aligned. The Piccadilly female was resting in that very tree, her impala carcass draped across its branches.

The scene wasn’t about capturing the perfect close-up shot. Instead, it was about stepping back—embracing the moment and the environment, framing the connection between leopards and trees. We watched as she stretched, yawned, and then gracefully walked across the arching branch to feed on her kill. As the light faded, we decided to leave and enjoy sundowners—a rare indulgence for me, as dusk is the prime time for predator activity.

And sure enough, while we sipped our drinks, two other leopards arrived. The dominant Flatrock male and Piccadilly’s independent son, the Matumi male, came to claim the spoils. We missed the action, but that’s the nature of safari—you win some, you lose some.

But not all was lost. As we headed back, we found Piccadilly moving through the dry riverbed. She approached our vehicle and lowered herself to drink from a pool of water right beside us. The shimmering ripples reflected in the spotlight, creating a mesmerizing scene—one that will stay with us far beyond the images in our cameras.

What a start to our safari. Tomorrow, we set out with the hope of witnessing something even more special—Piccadilly returning to her den, where two six-week-old cubs wait patiently for her return.