An extraordinary leopard
Few leopards have ever charted a path as extraordinary as Mutima. From braving the treacherous currents of the Luangwa River to navigating human villages and farmlands, her quest for territory was a relentless odyssey. Yet, against all odds, her journey ultimately brought her right back to where it all began: ready to claim the crown of her legendary mother, Olimba.
Born in early March 2021 as part of a twin litter, Mutima and her brother, Moyo, grew up in the spotlight. Their early days were captured by resident filmmakers Will & Lianne for the acclaimed BBC series Kingdom.
Mother Olimba
Their mother, Olimba, was revered as the “Leopard Queen of Nsefu” for over a decade, and she raised her cubs with fierce dedication. While Mutima was the cautious, shy sibling, Moyo was fearless and bold. Tragically, his bravery proved fatal when he was killed by lions at a young age.
From then on, Olimba poured all her focus into her surviving daughter. Now free from her brother’s shadow, Mutima blossomed, growing in confidence and quickly becoming a favourite among our guides and guests. And she was easy to recognise… Mutima, meaning ‘heart’ in the local language, earned her name from the extraordinary birthmark on her left flank in the shape of a heart. It is thanks to this birthmark that the remarkable journey she was about to undertake, would become known to us all.
By the time Mutima turned eighteen months old, Olimba’s maternal instincts shifted to territorial dominance; she wanted her daughter gone. Mutima endured her mother’s harsh chases and attacks, whilst attempting to carve out a space to the north and south, only to be pushed out by other resident females. With no home left to claim, Mutima eventually vanished…
Mutima’s Odyssey
It was later discovered that she had travelled an astonishing 100 kilometres from her natal area, when she appeared in the southern section of the Luangwa Valley at the end of 2023. Many believed she would never return… Yet, at the start of the 2024 dry season, Mutima reappeared, almost as if testing the waters. Would Olimba finally surrender a piece of her massive Nsefu empire to her daughter? But her mother refused to yield an inch, and once again, Mutima vanished into the bush.
Months later, a stunning report emerged. Mutima had been spotted on the western bank of the Luangwa River. She had actually swum across – a perilous, highly unusual feat for a leopard. What drove her to take such a desperate risk? This time we thought we had lost her forever; surely, no leopard would brave that crocodile-infested river twice.
But Mutima defied the odds. It was as if she realised that patience, not exile, was her key to the kingdom – as her legendary mother was coming of age, and Mutima being her last-born daughter.
The Rise of a New Queen
The inevitable change came in October 2025. At fourteen years of age, Olimba’s incredible, decade-long reign came to an end, and Nsefu’s legendary Queen passed away.
Mutima had been gone for months leading up to this moment, her whereabouts a total mystery. Perhaps she had been waiting in the shadows, lingering at the very edge of her mother’s domain. Because shortly after Olimba died, Mutima made her triumphant return.
While Nsefu mourned the loss of a legend, Mutima began marking the wilderness, leaving her scent everywhere, and definitively claiming this piece of paradise as her own. After years of exile, patience, and survival, the princess had finally become the Queen.
Today, Mutima roams just as far and wide as her mother once did. She has even been spotted with a mate, sparking hope that the next generation of this incredible lineage is already on its way.
We wish Mutima a long, magnificent life in the heart of Nsefu, and we look forward to sharing her story with our guests. There is nothing quite like getting the chance to meet this charismatic, phenomenal leopardess – a true Queen, walking proudly in her mother’s footsteps.