THE ELUSIVE LEOPARDS OF THE XUDUM CONCESSION BOTSWANA: A Wildlife Photographer’s Dream
Deep within the heart of the Okavango Delta—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s last great untouched wildernesses—lies the Xudum Concession, a remote private reserve that’s become a haven for elusive predators. Chief among them is the African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus), a solitary, secretive big cat revered by wildlife photographers and safari-goers alike.
For those in search of unfiltered wilderness, Xudum's leopards offer an unrivalled opportunity to witness raw, natural beauty—and to capture it through the lens.
A young female leopard locks eyes with the camera for a brief, electric moment in the Xudum Concession, Botswana. But in all likelihood, she’s not focused on me at all—she’s sensing something deeper in the bush, beyond my presence. That’s the magic of wildlife photography: capturing a gaze that seems intimate, yet remains wild and unknowable — Wildlife Photographer Drew Sproule
A Guide to Safari Concessions in Botswana
A concession is a designated area of wilderness that is leased by the government to private safari operators or conservation groups. Unlike national parks, which are publicly accessible, concessions like Xudum are privately managed and offer a more exclusive, low-impact safari experience.
The Xudum Concession, located in the Okavango Delta, is a pristine and remote area known for its exceptional wildlife diversity and fewer tourist vehicles. Only guests of specific lodges or mobile safari operators are allowed to enter, meaning you’ll often have wildlife sightings all to yourself—ideal for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts seeking unspoiled nature and intimate encounters.
In concessions, guides can drive off-road, conduct night drives, and lead walking safaris—activities that are often restricted in national parks. This freedom allows for more flexible and adventurous wildlife viewing, making concessions a top choice for photo safaris and immersive wilderness experiences.
Why the Xudum Concession is Leopard Country
The Xudum Concession occupies a prime ecological zone where dense riverine forests, seasonal floodplains, acacia woodlands, and mopane thickets converge. This rich habitat diversity supports a stable population of prey species—impala, reedbuck, duiker, young kudu, baboons, and even the occasional bushpig—making it ideal leopard territory.
Leopards thrive in Xudum due to:
Low human impact (as a private concession, there’s no mass tourism).
Limited vehicle numbers, allowing sightings to unfold in peace.
Habitat complexity, which supports both arboreal and ground-based hunting.
Xudum’s leopards tend to be more relaxed around vehicles compared to those in more trafficked parks. This allows for longer observation windows and, for photographers, a better chance to anticipate behavior and compose a shot.
For the past four years, acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Brad Bestelink has been based in Botswana’s Xudum concession, where he and his team filmed the captivating Netflix documentary Living With Leopards. Brad’s ties to Xudum go back more than 20 years, to when his father launched a tourism venture in the area. Alongside his work on Living With Leopards, Brad has also contributed to the BBC’s Big Cat 24/7 series, continuing his dedication to telling the stories of these iconic African predators.
A young female leopard blends with the marula tree’s rough bark. Shot from below, the perspective reveals her quiet strength and natural elegance as she watches the world beneath her with calm intensity. A powerful reminder that in the wilds of Botswana’s Xudum Concession, beauty often lies in the details—and in the patience to see them - Wildlife Photographer Drew Sproule
The Secret Lives of Xudum’s Leopards
Leopards are among the most adaptable of all the big cats, but in Xudum, their behavior follows unique rhythms dictated by the floodwaters and prey migration.
Males and Territories
Adult males in Xudum can command ranges of 30–50 km², overlapping with the territories of several females. These solitary roamers patrol their turf with a low rasping cough, often heard at dawn or dusk.
You might see a dominant male marking territory, dragging his cheeks along branches or spraying trees with urine. These signs are vital clues for other leopards—and savvy guides—about who’s in the area.
Mothers and Cubs
The Xudum concession is also an excellent place to observe leopard mothers with cubs. Dens are often hidden in thick brush or rocky outcrops, and if you're lucky, you may witness a mother guiding her young to their first kill or hoisting meat into a tree to avoid scavengers.
In leopard society, survival is a quiet, careful business. Cubs are vulnerable to lions and hyenas, and it’s not uncommon to see the telltale signs of a recent leopard kill hidden in a tree—a tactic to evade ground-based threats.
Leopard in a Marula Tree High in the fork of a marula tree, this young female leopard in Botswana’s Xudum Concession kept a silent vigil over her territory. Draped gracefully across the limbs, she was alert but relaxed—her eyes scanning the bush below as dusk crept in. It’s in moments like this—when predator and landscape become one—that the quiet magic of a photo safari truly comes alive - Wildlife Photographer Drew Sproule
How to Photograph Leopards in Xudum: Practical Tips
Photographing leopards in Botswana is a thrilling challenge. Their stealthy nature, combined with thick vegetation, demands both technical skill and patience.
Gear Recommendations:
A fast telephoto lens (e.g., 300mm f/2.8 or 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6) gives the flexibility to shoot from a distance.
Full-frame cameras perform better in low-light conditions, especially during golden hours.
Beanbags or gimbal heads help with stabilization on game vehicles.
Ideal Shooting Times:
Early morning and late afternoon are best. Light is soft, and leopards are more active.
Night drives (where permitted) with red-filtered spotlights can yield dramatic, moody portraits—though ethical use is essential.
Compositional Tips:
Look for eye contact—it's powerful and rare.
Frame the leopard against its environment to tell a richer story.
Don't overlook behavior—yawning, scent-marking, stalking, or climbing are golden storytelling moments.
Master of Camouflage - As golden dusk settled over the Xudum Concession in Botswana, this young female leopard was spotted, almost ghostlike, atop a termite mound. Her rosette coat melted into the shadows—so much so that we nearly missed her completely. It took a sharp-eyed guest and a stroke of luck to spot her still form. These fleeting, intimate wildlife encounters are the essence of a photo safari—raw, unscripted, and unforgettable - Wildlife Photographer Drew Sproule
Conservation Matters: Protecting Xudum’s Apex Predator
While leopards are incredibly adaptable, they’re under increasing pressure across Africa. Habitat loss, retaliatory killings from livestock conflicts, and trophy hunting all threaten their numbers.
However, Botswana’s conservation model—particularly in concessions like Xudum—is a beacon of hope. Revenue from low-impact, high-value tourism helps fund anti-poaching patrols, community engagement, and sustainable wildlife management.
As photographers and safari-goers, we play a role too:
Support ethical lodges that prioritise wildlife welfare over forced sightings.
Share images that celebrate natural behavior, not disturbance.
Educate others about the importance of wild, undisturbed leopard populations.
A young female leopard rests gracefully in the fork of a marula tree, completely at ease in the shadow and light of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Captured in a fleeting moment of stillness, this image reveals the silent rhythm of the wild—a true reflection of Botswana’s untamed beauty. Wildlife photography by Drew Sproule.
Why Photographing Leopards in Xudum is Different
There are many places in Africa where you can see leopards. But few offer what Xudum does:
Unscripted sightings in an unspoiled environment.
The chance to observe rare behaviors—like tree caching, mating rituals, or cub rearing—without the pressure of dozens of vehicles.
A deep sense of connection, built over quiet observation and respect.
As a photo guide and storyteller, I’ve seen how a single leopard encounter can shift someone’s perspective on wildlife forever. That’s the power of this place.
Join Me in Botswana: A Safari for the Senses
If your dream is to witness and photograph Africa’s most elusive big cat in an environment that respects and protects them, I invite you to join me on my next photo safari to Botswana’s Xudum Concession.
This isn’t a checklist trip—it’s an immersion. We'll track these silent hunters through dappled forests, wait for that one perfect moment of eye contact, and create images that mean something—both for us and for the leopards themselves.
Spaces are limited, and designed for photographers of all levels. If you’re ready to go beyond the surface and photograph Africa with intent, I’d love to have you along.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at info@drewsproule.com with any questions you may have.
