Eric Smith

Brad has located the Xudum pride mums and cubs on the move. Led by their noses, hungry mothers Magogo, Nosi and Mmakgosi locate an unexpected opportunity — a leopard with its meal high in a tree. Taking advantage of their uncommon tree climbing ability, the lionesses give the leopard no choice but to abandon its kill. Mmakgosi, first up the tree, is not forthcoming with sharing the prize.

Sets is called in to follow Pobe and her cubs and witnesses the cheetah bring down an impala in spectacular fashion. But she lets the impala go. It’s a test for her cubs — she is allowing them to put into practice what they have witnessed their mother do on many occasions.

Leopard mother Lediba is out hunting after stashing her cub. As Brad follows her, Lediba appears to be using noise created by elephants to stalk something. It becomes clear that she’s after vervet monkeys. Scaling a tall cluster of trees, Lediba shows her incredible agility as she leaps from branch to branch.

Anna is staying with cheetah mum Pobe and her two cubs through the night. While settling into feed on a fresh meal, an unwelcome visitor arrives — a large and potentially dangerous male leopard. Pobe’s mothering instincts take over, and she takes a risk to draw the male leopard away from her cubs.

In this episode, young lions are taking their first steps into becoming adults. They’ve made it through a dangerous part of life, being a cub, where the odds are stacked against them.

Lions, leopards and cheetahs are threatened across their ranges. Man-made factors are driving their declines - from habitat loss to poaching. But in the Okavango, all three species are thriving due to the protection that this unique place offers.