The Khulwana Male – Master of the Unexpected
on Sep 02, 2025There are days in the bush that remind you just how finely tuned the balance between predator and prey truly is – and how quickly fortunes can change in the wild. One such moment unfolded recently in the heart of Sabi Sabi's iconic landscape, where the elusive Khulwana male leopard demonstrated once again why he is a formidable force in the ecosystem.
It was early morning, with the heat of the day slowly approaching as we made our way along a winding game path near one of the many drainage lines that carve through the reserve. These dry riverbeds are often hotspots for wildlife activity, acting as highways for both predators and prey.
Suddenly, the telltale alarm snorts of impalas pierced the stillness.
We paused, scanning the thickets. It didn’t take long to spot him – the Khulwana male. His golden coat dappled in shadow, locked in on a small group of impalas further down the drainage line. His body was low, muscles coiled, every movement deliberate. The tension was electric. Then, with a burst of speed and grace, he launched the chase.
But luck wasn’t on his side.
The impala scattered with milliseconds to spare, agile and alert. The Khulwana male came up just short. His powerful frame skidded to a stop as dust rose around him. For a moment, he stood motionless, sides heaving, eyes still scanning.
And then, the bush spoke again.
Just upstream the drainage line, a young male kudu, perhaps drawn from the same alarm calls or simply unaware of the drama that had just unfolded, stepped into view. Still catching his breath, the leopard’s instincts kicked in immediately. Without the stealth or slow stalk of before, he pivoted and charged.
The kudu male, caught completely off guard, had no chance.
The impact was sudden and brutal. Dust exploded into the air as the Khulwana male latched onto the kudu’s throat, using his full weight to bring it down with precision. Within moments, the struggle was over.
What began as a failed attempt on an impala turned into a decisive kill – a testament to the opportunism and adaptability that make leopards such formidable predators. The Khulwana male, now panting over his prize, dragged the carcass towards the shade of a nearby tree, looking over his shoulder every so often, wary of the ever-present threat of hyenas or lions.
We sat in awe, the sounds of the bush settling back into rhythm around us. A missed chance had turned into a meal. This is the raw, unpredictable reality of life in the wild – and few embody it as elegantly and efficiently as the Khulwana male.
With such a large prize, the Khulwana male will have to feed on a fair amount of the meat before he will be able to hoist his kill in a tree, making sure nothing steals it from him. But with temperatures already climbing and vultures circling the area, time is against him. Leopard males can hoist up to about 150% of their own body weight, with their strength mainly in the forequarters of the body.
Khulwana was successful in feeding on some of his meal before hoisting it into a Jackalberry tree before any other predators or scavengers arrived. This was a hearty meal and experience for him, as he also got a massive confidence boost from this large kill.
What an incredible experience and fantastic sighting we were fortunate enough to witness right in front of us. Every day in the bush is different, and one thing is for sure - the bush never disappoints.
Blog by Ruan Mey (Earth Lodge Ranger)
