African Leopards

[Ngala]

Photo and information credits: Nombekana Safaris and Wildlife Photography
Story behind the Picture 

The Leopard and the Kudu. 

Many people who follow my safari adventures with my clients often ask me if i sometimes go without seeing cats in the wild and the answer is yes, however most of my drives i find them . People often ask me what is the secret ? The answer is never simple but experience is everything. It is also about using all your senses, reading the bush , including other animals. From the alarm calls of Grey Louries to Tawny eagles sitting on trees , vultures circling , giraffe starring , alarm of the impalas and Barking of the Kudu's and the list is endless. I love driving with my windows open because it gives me time to listen to the bush . The bush always talks to us every single moment and its always up to us to listen . 

On this day i had some guests from Hong Kong and i was driving one of the most productive roads in Pilanesberg National park and came across a Forkl of Kudu . We enjoyed watching them browsing the nearby sweet thorn before we moved on and hardly two minutes the same kudus started to run and where giving a very loud bark . I had to turn around as i know they hardly ever give false alarm . We waited but i couldn't see anything and i told my guests to be patient with me as we could be in for a nice surprise . I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the was a predator in the area and it was just a matter of time before we saw it . I spotted some waterbuck on the base of the mountain opposite the mountain and their eye-line was slightly behind where my car was parked. I decided to follow where they were looking when i suddenly heard one of my clients ask loudly "what is that ?" and when i looked i couldn't believe it . A beautiful leopard was moving directly towards our car. The most beautiful thing is we were the only car at the sighting . The leopard came close to us and rested near a small bush before crossing the road and sniffing our car before she disappeared behind the trees . The look on my guests faces was that of excitement as well as of that of gratitude. 
It is moments like these that Keep me going back to do what i love and that is self driven Safaris . 

*This image is copyright of its original author

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