Leopards of Sabi Sands

[Ngala]

Many interesting updates about Anderson male.

Photo credits: Chanan Weiss. Information credits: Anderson male leopard (FB Page)
"He was snarling at a heyna, who decided he didn't need the kill."

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Photo and information credits: Dawie Jacobs
"Anderson the male leopard has been amazing to us the past week, here he is on the search for one of our resident female leopards."

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Photo credits: Arnoud Quanjer

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Photo and information credits: Brendon Cremer Photography
"One of the largest male leopards I have ever seen and what a pleasure it was to photograph him resting on the branch of this tree after he finished feeding on a buffalo calf he killed."

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"Just love this huge make leopard when he gives us the opportunity to photograph him out in the open."

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Photo and information credits: Vision Photography by Villiers Steyn
"The first half of September's first Tusk Photo photographic safari at Elephant Plains Game Lodge has been very rewarding! The highlight was seeing Anderson and Salayexe mating right next to us!!"

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*This image is copyright of its original author

From Tusk Photo, 12 Sept. '16:
Elephant Plains Safari: Salayexe Honeymoon with Anderson …
News from Villiers:
This morning our first very early encounter was with six Spotted Hyenas. Two adults lounged around in a lovely open area with two biggish cubs drinking from them while another two adults sloped around. We used our spotlights as it was still dark. One of the youngsters came close to us and started pasting - walking again and again over grass stalks to leave his scent and thereby to mark the territory. It was fascinating to see how he did this over and over again with the same grass stalk.
Not far away we found two more Spotted Hyenas busy at a week old giraffe carcass. We stopped for shots of them as they chewed on the scraps of skin and bone left on the head.
We saw plenty of Kudu today, including some stately bulls with magnificent spiral horns, looking majestic as they fed on the last bits of green vegetation along a dry river bed.
We spotted a Martial Eagle nest close to a river bed and a young eagle was sitting on one of the branches below the nest. It was almost as though mom had instructed the youngster to sit tight if anything approached, and while we were there he bent his head down and froze. He didn't rustle a single feather as he tried his hardest to resemble a vulture. It was quite comical to see him sitting there like a statue, probably believing that we were unable to spot or to recognize him, but we had a great view and filled our memory cards with multiple images of the young one.
The highlight for us was when we found Tiyane - Salayexe's young leopard cub close to a river bed. She was clearly waiting for mom, and in no hurry to go anywhere. But there were so many distractions! Nyalas, Kudus, Baboons, Impalas, Squirrels and even Elephants were close by and kept coming into sight. She moved from one termite mound to the next with each distraction, and even stalked a herd of Impala at one stage, but basically just filled in her time as she waited for mom. Meanwhile we were able to get some wonderful shots of the lovely young lady!
This afternoon we returned to search for Tiyane but she wasn’t where we had left her, and when we heard that fresh tracks belonging to both Anderson and Salayexe had been spotted we headed that way – and found Salayexe - mating with Anderson! This was a very exciting first for some of our group. After the leopards had mated about three times, Anderson leaped into a tree to investigate a really old carcass that had been left there by another leopard. There was nothing left for him to scavenge, so maybe he just went up to investigate.
Meanwhile Salayexe went down to nearby Rhino Pan where she first lay down next to the water and then had a drink with the sun setting behind her, giving us many chances to collect some great images.
Then the two met up again and started mating again … every five to ten minutes, so everyone managed to get good photographs of the huge male with Salayexe. And listening to the deep guttural sounds as they mated was quite impressive.
We also saw two sub-adult hyenas chewing on the final scraps of an old buffalo carcass, and as we switched off the car we heard adult hyenas calling in the distance – that lovely whooping sound – and within moments they arrived on the scene. A noisy greeting ceremony with plenty of vocals followed the arrival of the adults.
After our amazing day we are back at the Lodge, tired and very happy, and so busy talking about everything we saw today that there is no time to even think about tomorrow …

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*This image is copyright of its original author

From Tusk Photo, 14 Sept. '16:
Elephant Plains Safari: Unlikely Bedfellows …?
News from Villiers:
The final drive of the first safari ended on a really high note. It all started as we left the Lodge this morning and almost immediately found 10 Spotted Hyenas in a wide open plain. A group of adults accompanied by an unruly bunch of youngsters were playing and enjoying themselves just as the sun was about to rise. We watched with glee as they scampered and chased one another around. They found some kind of rag which led to a strenuous tug-of-war game, while others ran up to give a mischievous nip before dashing away to pretend total innocence! Now and then they came up to us, almost as though to invite us to join the games ... hahaha!
From there we headed to Big Dam, but had not traveled 5 minutes from the hyenas when we came around a corner ... and who should we find? Right there! Slap bang, sprawled across the middle of the road? Yes, none other than Anderson with Salayexe - right there after all that searching yesterday!
So, you see - when you put in the effort, you are always rewarded in the bush!
The leopards were lying in the road, and soon after we arrived they started mating again. Then, to our amazement and a little amusement, because it is so cold, Salayexe went to snuggle onto a rhino midden. She wiggled herself in, and snuggled right into the dung to get some warmth - and Anderson cam to lie next to her.
But that is not the whole picture. Suddenly a hyena strolled up and came to lie down close to the two leopards ... maybe wanting some warmth, but probably hoping that they make a kill! So he hung out with them. Anderson growled and snarled at the hyena, but not enough to frighten it away.
Later the leopards got up and went down into the dry river bed to lie in the sand. The hyena followed and settled down a few meters away. They seemed to be quite settled when a herd of elephants pitched up, feeding on the Palm Trees along the edge of the river bed. At first the elephants didn't notice the leopard, but when they did they surrounded them and chased them away. Anderson slunk away, tail between his legs, followed soon by the hyena, while Salayexe just lay there and watched from a distance before she got up and went to join Anderson to continue their honeymoon activities.
So that was how the first of these safaris ended! Those who need to depart are very reluctant to leave this incredible place, but many have elected remain for more ...

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