The Leopard is a big cat with excellent camouflage and stealthy habits. I am sure in all our years of visiting South Africa’s wild places we’ve passed many more Leopards without seeing them than we actually did notice, but I try not to dwell on that too much… With the Kruger Park being so lush and green when we visited in December 2021 it was a wonder we saw any Leopards at all.
Even when you are lucky enough to glimpse a Leopard, often all you get to see of it is a few spots and a white tail-tip as it slinks out of view, like this one along the road between Orpen and Satara on the 23rd of December.
Most of our Leopard sightings have been in the very early morning, so it pays to get up early and be one of the first vehicles out the camp gates. We saw this big male on the S100-road with the sun still struggling to rise on an overcast morning.
Leopards are great at climbing and that’s a good reason to scan trees big and small while out on a game drive in reserves where they occur. This beautiful lady was draped over a Marula branch hanging almost over the S36-road and so relaxed in our presence that she actually fell asleep while we watched. She probably lies in this tree very often to be so relaxed in the company of people and their vehicles. We only noticed later while going through our photos that she is blind in her right eye.
When you are blessed with a fantastic Leopard sighting it’s a memory that will stay with you forever. In the morning of the 29th of December we were travelling along the S39 road, that follows the course of the Timbavati River, towards Timbavati Picnic Spot and finding sightings rather sparse, though the bushveld scenery was as beautiful as anything you could imagine. Suddenly, within sight of the Leeubron waterhole, this magnificent creature appeared right next to the road. A big and beautiful Leopard male, so relaxed in our presence that you could imagine that it didn’t even acknowledge our existence. He came closer and closer, crossed the road behind our vehicle, and walked off into the distance, leaving us all very excitedly chattering about our luck at being in the right place at the right time!
DeWetsWild 
Leeus tot vervelens toe, 2 cheetah in die bos spring op net voor ek daar trap, rooikat op my sitkamerbank, maar luiperd ontwyk my. Vele KNP besoeke, vier maande op patrollie net buite KNP, soveel Sondae in Bainskloof en nog nooit het ek in ses dekades ‘n luiperd gesien, of ‘n serval of nie eens ‘n sivet nie.
Een dag is eendag dan kry jy jou beurt!
Die Kgalagadi is heel bo-aan my emmerskoplysie, maar daar moet wonderwerke gebeur voordat ek hier kan weg
You have some fabulous photos here of these beautiful animals and you had some intense experiences there! I think that leopards are the wildest-looking of our big cats.
Thank you, Carol. Every leopard encounter is a thrilling treat. They’re so beautiful and, as you say, wild.
Ongelooflike foto’s!!!
Dankie nogmaals!
Altyd ‘n plesier!
Great sightings, Marilize! I like the photos of the female up a tree. It reminds me of things I’ve seen house cats do.
I imagine the fire brigade won’t be too pleased getting this kitty down from the tree! 😀
Sjoe, julle het sulke mooi foto’s hier … en alhoewel hulle bietjie skuil op die eerste foto’s, lyk dit kompleet of hulle langs julle staan in die volgende paar! Ek is verstom hoe ‘n luiperd so grasieus op ‘n boomtak kan ontspan!
Baie dankie, Corna. Hulle het beslis die slaap op n boomtak tot n kuns verfyn.
Daardie skoot van Joubert van agter af, met die ou se stert, lyf en ore in perfekte belyning, is briljant!
Joubert se foto’s word by die dag beter en beter, Tannie Frannie. Ek kan amper nie wag om te sien wat hy eendag daarmee gaan doen nie.
Of all the cats, I think my favorite is the leopard. Beautiful feline structure!
I think you’ll find yourself in a bug fan club here, John. They’re absolutely flawlessly beautiful animals.
The intensity of the stare on the cover image is magic!
Thank you very much, Cal
Pragtige foto’s, veral die laaste klompie en die een in die boom! Ons was twee weke terug in die wildtuin en kon ook net kolle en grassade sien. Ek het die wildtuin lanklaas so groen en ruig gesien. Dit was pragtig! Weereens lieflike bog, Dries.
Baie dankie, Dina. Ja, selfs in Desember reeds was die Wildtuin n groen lushof, regtig n paradys om te aanskou.
Ek onthou ‘n paar jaar gelede het die seekoeie so gevrek van die droogte toe ons ons daar was. Ek het gedink dis die grootste ramp en kyk nou net! Die natuur het sy siklusse.
Ek onthou daardie tyd met n knop in die keel. Seekoeie wat jy vanoggend nog lewend gesien het was n fees vir die krokodille of leeus teen die aand. Karkasse myle en myle van die naaste water. En nou is dit als vergete, behalwe vir n paar skedels wat nog rondlê soos grafstene.
Ons het buffels ook so sien vergaan. Dis nie eers lank terug nie… miskien vier of ses jaar?
Ek wil ook onthou dat dit hier rondom 2015 – 2018 was
While all of these photographs reflect the excitement – and privilege – of seeing leopards in the wild, the one you selected for the header is a real winner.
Thank you very much, Anne. We don’t get a chance for shots like that very often and I’m grateful it turned out so well.
Absolutely gorgeous!! The sleeping in the tree photos made me smile.
That’s almost their trademark, Janet! They make moving up and down from the trees look so easy.
This is another big feline, beautiful as well. He likes to hunt and bring the preyed animal up a tree. They are avid tree climbers, so they can just ambush by dropping on you. Tricky guy! Great photos, yours and Joubert’s. 🙂
Thank you, H.J. Yes, leopards are very resourceful!
So wonderful story of Leopards and gorgeous photos , admiring view 🌷🙏😍🌷
Thank you very much, Thattamma!
The leopards are just a tad bit prettier than cheetah, you think? They almost look alike to me.
I agree, Lois! The leopard really is a very beautiful animal. They do look very similar to cheetahs at first glance, but you’ll notice that the leopard is very burly compared to the slender build of the cheetah. Look closely at their spots and you’ll see the leopard’s spots on its body is in the form of rosettes. Cheetahs also have “tear marks” running down their faces from their eyes to the corners of their mouths.
Joubert se foto van die agterkant is werklik skou gehalte. Pragtige foto. Dis lekker om ‘n luiperd so duidelik te kan sien.
Baie dankie, Ineke!