Black Leopard Safari - Day 4

Today turned out to be a leopard-filled day. A day I won’t forget. In total we saw four individuals: Kinyo, the young male we first encountered when we arrived, his mother Nyosha, the big male Kisiwa, and finally Giza to close the day.

Hopefully one of my shots from the day will make it into my collection of fine art leopard photos

Kisiwa the lazy leopard.

The morning started as usual, with an early drive and little happening for the first hour or so. If I was focused on everything else around us, there was plenty to see and photograph, but my mind was locked on leopards. Then, almost out of nowhere, we came across a large male. It was Kisiwa, the same leopard who had stolen what remained of Giza’s kill the night before. Local guides describe him as a notorious thief, preferring to take meals from others rather than hunt properly himself. We stayed with him for about an hour and watched him make a few lazy attempts at hunting, none of which succeeded, which only confirmed his reputation.

Kisiwa was relaxed around the vehicles, showing no signs of stress. People often ask whether following predators like this interrupts their hunts. From my experience, it doesn’t. Sometimes the cats even use the vehicle as cover. Once a stalk begins, we hold back to let things play out naturally, and if a leopard wants to disappear, they can vanish into the bush in seconds. The thriving leopard population in this area is proof that they are adapting well despite being watched and photographed almost daily. Eventually we left Kisiwa to continue on his own.

Late morning was set aside for brunch, and the location could not have been better: a waterfall framed by boulders and palms, with birdsong echoing all around. It felt like a scene straight from The Lion King. After a meal prepared by Laikipia Wilderness Camp, we returned to camp for a short break before heading out again in the evening.

Our first encounter in the afternoon was with Kinyo. He moved through the bush calling out for his mother. Not long after, Nyosha appeared, and the reunion between them was warm and tender. It was moving to watch. Nyosha eventually slipped away and then reappeared carrying fresh prey, proof that she still provides even as she shares her territory with her son.

Later we drove into Giza’s range, arriving earlier than usual to try to catch her in good light. She kept us waiting until seven, but right on cue she emerged from the shadows. Almost immediately she switched into hunting mode and within twenty minutes brought down her first kill of the evening. Most of the time she targets dik-diks, which are easier and safer than larger prey. With two cubs relying on her, it makes sense to avoid unnecessary risks, even if it means she has to hunt more often.

We stayed with her for a while but decided to leave before Kisiwa picked up on our presence and came to rob her again. It felt like the right moment to return to camp for our own dinner, while Giza enjoyed hers.