Wildlife legends of Mombo

Legadima, the focus of the National Geographic documentary "Eye of the Leopard" (2006), is Wilderness Mombo’s – and perhaps Botswana’s – most famous leopard. Discovered as a four-day-old cub by wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, Legadima was destined for stardom from the very beginning.

Named after the lightning that struck during the week of her birth, Legadima was the only cub of the Tortilis Female’s to survive to adulthood, an early indication of her singularity. The documentary follows her journey from cub to adulthood, showcasing her tumultuous interactions with chacma baboons, and the eventual conclusion of her relationship with her mother when she reached maturity. To say her life was action-packed is an understatement. One iconic sequence in the documentary shows Legadima killing a mother baboon and hauling it up a tree with the live infant still clinging to her. Amazingly Legadima doesn’t harm the infant but instead grooms and plays with it until it eventually succumbs to the cold. Much can be learned from this sequence and the way this exceptional leopard lived her life. Those at Wilderness Mombo, who observed her almost daily, gained an even deeper understanding from her behaviour.

From raising cubs on the predator-dense island to evading baboons, every encounter with Legadima took game drives to the next level. But apart from her many adventures, it was her spirit and relaxed demeanour that made her a legend. Doc Malinga, a long-time guide at Wilderness Mombo, notes that guests would often be amazed to see Legadima sleeping on the camp boardwalks, completely undeterred by their presence. He recalls seeing her with numerous kills around camp, yet she never posed a threat to anyone. However, there were times when she might have been seen as a somewhat inconsiderate host.

On one occasion for guests staying in Tent 2, it came as something of a surprise when this movie-star leopard was spotted in front of their entrance, perched in a sausage tree with a dead red lechwe beside her. The guests were offered another room and toiletries, while the staff fortunately managed to sneak into the ‘occupied’ tent later to retrieve their belongings. While it was an inconvenience, it was certainly a stand-out experience, and a fantastic story to share once they returned home from their safari!

Sadly, Legadima passed away in 2015 with the cause of her death remaining undetermined. One of her final sightings was on Limpy Island during a time when numerous lions and hyenas were present due to the carcass of a dead elephant. The guides never found her body but such is the way of the wild. Although she is not with us anymore, her legend lives on. 

According to Doc, Legadima’s spirit can be seen in her great-great-granddaughter Naledi. She, like Legadima, is completely wild but has that same impartiality to human presence. She has frequently been spotted with a kill around Wilderness Mombo – near the boardwalk, next to the pool, and most recently in front of Tent 8 with a bushbuck.  Perhaps we can put it down to Mombo’s immersive infrastructure that seamlessly blends with its natural surroundings, making it seem like the camp is no different to the rest of the island. But I suspect she too has that star quality, and rather likes being the centre of amazing sightings. Legends after all, breed legends.

In addition to Botswana’s most famous leopard, Wilderness Mombo was also home to ‘Solo’, a wild dog seen between 2011 and 2013. Solo was part of a larger pack of wild dogs that tragically fell victim to a lion ambush. While most of the surviving dogs left the area, three chose to remain. Eventually, that trio was reduced to one – Solo – with the guides uncertain whether the other two had been killed or had simply moved on. In such a dire situation, the normal response would be to leave. But Solo’s decision to stay defined her as truly unique.

Despite being a pack animal, Solo learned to hunt independently. Primarily targeting impala, she enjoyed the advantages of being a solitary hunter – quieter and less visible. Without other dogs breaking cover or alerting her prey, she hunted with remarkable efficiency, making kill after kill. Her ability to survive alone was impressive, but even more fascinating was her desire for companionship. She took it upon herself to bond with two pairs of black-backed jackals by sharing her kills and even feeding their pups! This phenomenal interaction was caught on camera by Brad Bestelink and is in the documentary – Solo, A Wild Dog’s Tale (2010 - 2012).

If this story wasn’t astounding enough, Solo also developed an understanding with several spotted hyenas. The hyenas would tolerate her presence and even greet her before she went hunting. Once on the move, they would follow closely, confident in her success, and swoop in when she made a kill. This behaviour was amazing to witness and is quite rare, as hyenas and wild dogs normally attack one another in the wild.

For the Wilderness guides and guests, it was a remarkable experience to watch these different species interact. Solo’s connection with the jackals was so strong that she would even slow her hunts at times, to wait for them to catch up. At night, before settling down, she would call out to check if they were nearby, a haunting sound that echoed around Mombo. It was a truly unforgettable spectacle.

As with Legadima, Solo’s cause of death is unknown. The last sightings of her were around the same time that a pack of male wild dogs entered the area. It is unknown whether they chased her off, and it seems unlikely that she joined them since their numbers remained the same. Another possibility is that time simply caught up with her. As a mature female when her pack disbanded, she may already have been in her twilight years.

You might think the wildlife legends of Mombo stopped at a movie-star leopard and maverick wild dog, but they don’t. Chief’s Island has also been home to legendary maned lionesses, most notably Mmamoriri and her predecessor, Martina. 

During the mid-2010s, Mmamoriri was often seen with the Western Pride around Mombo. While she primarily displayed typical female behaviours, such as staying with the pride and mating with males, she also exhibited male characteristics. She had a striking black mane, was larger than other lionesses, and frequently roared and scent-marked - making her a truly unique sight to behold. 

While it has been proven that Mmamoriri was genetically female, there are a couple of explanations for her uniqueness. One possibility is that she was exposed to high levels of testosterone in the womb, which could explain her male characterises as well as her infertility. Excessive exposure to androgens (like testosterone) can impair the ability to reproduce, and Mmamoriri was never documented producing offspring.

With other maned lionesses also documented in the area, it is likely that this is a genetic trait unique to Chief’s Island. Given that all these females have been infertile, the theory of prenatal testosterone exposure seems to be the most plausible explanation. Regardless of the science, it has been a true privilege for Wilderness staff and guests to witness maned lionesses like Mmamoriri at Mombo. From taking down buffalo to protecting her pride like a male, her life has been far from conventional  as a lioness.

Mmamoriri died of natural causes in 2020, and due to her infertility, it is likely that the genetic trait she carried ended with her. However, in true  Mombo style, the extraordinary has a way of returning. Never say never to the possibility of once again witnessing a maned lioness majestically appearing before your eyes in the Place of Plenty.

While Legadima and Solo were perhaps the most notable legends that we’ve had the privilege of hosting at Wilderness Mombo, they were not the only ones. From maned lionesses to three leopards perched in a tree, Mombo has long been a haven for the unexpected. As a result, numerous ‘celebrities’ have emerged, each contributing in their own way to the vibrant tapestry that is Mombo.

Despite this uniqueness, there is a common thread shared by all – mortality. The beginnings and endings of life are a natural part of existence, felt most acutely in the wild where survival is a constant struggle. The beauty of nature’s balance lies in its indifference, it does not choose sides. Animals live and they die. So, while we reminisce and root for our legends, life continues, and the natural cycles repeat. New legends, like Naledi, emerge, and we observe their lives unfold. With each passing, all we can do is appreciate, learn, and take notes, whilst always leaving room for the unexpected. For at Mombo, there is plenty, and plenty that is unique.

All images by Graham Simmonds, Wilderness Zambezi Camp Operations & Trade Manager