13/10/2026
Some wildlife stories begin long before a guest ever sees the animal. Recently, a distinctive male leopard known as the “Strawberry” leopard was recorded several times on camera traps in the north-eastern reaches of Welgevonden Game Reserve.
Quiet, elusive, and moving through the landscape largely unseen.
For our guides and the reserve’s conservation team, records like these are more than exciting sightings. Camera traps help build a clearer picture of where animals are moving, which areas they are using, and how they move through the reserve over time.
For guests, it is also a reminder of what makes a safari so special. You can spend hours scanning the landscape, knowing that animals are moving through it whether you see them or not. And then, sometimes, you get lucky. A leopard steps out from the trees - a brief glimpse. A moment you couldn't have planned.
That is part of the beauty of the bushveld: there is always more happening beyond what you can see from the road.
Discover the wildlife of Welgevonden: https://nedile.co.za/about/game-reserve/
