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A front-row seat to leopard conservation
Black Leopard Camp
Conservationists collar a wild leopard darted at Black Leopard Camp.
© Black Leopard Camp/ Ingwe Leopard Project
Did you know?
Leopards are South Africa's last remaining Big 5 member occurring in the wild, outside protected areas.
Black Leopard Camp is a family-owned and run luxury lodge, located on a 6 000 hectare farm just outside Lydenburg.
For the past 10 years the Ingwe Leopard Project has used the farm as a research base in its work to save the region's leopards. Like other leopards in South Africa, these animals are under threat from poisoning and trapping by local livestock farmers and hunters supplying the traditional medicine trade.
The farm has become a safe zone for the animals which - normally elusive - are increasingly being spotted within the farm's boundaries. This, combined with the ongoing leopard conservation research and the need to raise the profile of these efforts, saw Black Leopard Camp open its doors in 2010.
The camp is involved in monitoring and tracking leopards on the farm every day, either on foot or via GPS through the high frequency collars located on 3 leopards that visit frequently. Ingwe Leopard Project staff also set camera ‘traps' to get footage of leopards coming onto the farm.
Guests are able to assist professional conservationists in these activities and, once the collared leopards have been located, be taken to the site.
Black Leopard Camp and the Ingwe Leopard Project also host leopard capture experiences at intervals throughout the year. This involves safely capturing the leopards, darting them and gathering data on the animals.
Guests participating in the leopard capture experience are brought in once the animal has been sedated and are able to view the research and collaring process.
Black Leopard Camp has been frequented by at least 3 males and 2 females with cubs. As its name suggests, the camp is also visited by rare black leopards, which is a melanistic (dark pigmented) version of the normal spotted species. The camp is located in a high-density black leopard region, although sightings of these animals are incredibly rare.
In between these activities, visitors can do self-guided and guided bush walks, photographic safaris, bird watching, game drives and archaeological walks, which take in the farm's old mines and petroglyphs.
The camp will also soon house a new trails camp, allowing visitors the opportunity to spend a night out under stars in hammocks around a campfire.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Black Leopard Camp
Tel: +27 (0) 82 465 9570
Fax: +27 (0) 86 617 8070
Email: info@blackleopardcamp.com
Web: www.blackleopardcamp.com
How to get here
Fly from any major SA city to Nelspruit. From Nelspruit take the R37 towards Lydenburg and then look for the Black Leopard Camp signs. From Cape Town take the N1 to Johannesburg, the N4 to Belfast and then the R540 to Lydenburg and R37 to the camp. From Durban, take the N3 to Ladysmith, the N11 to Middelburg, the N4 to Belfast and then the R540 to Lydenburg.
What to pack
Sun hat, sun block, walking shoes, warm jackets, binoculars, camera, and swimming costumes in spring and summer. Mountain biking (bring your own bike) is permitted on the farm.
Where to stay
Accommodation at Black Leopard Camp is in luxury tents, including 2 family tents (100m²) with 2 en-suite bathrooms each and an open-air bush bathroom; as well as 5 double tents (50m²) with 1 en-suite bathroom and an open-air bush bathroom.