Satara Summer 2021 – Lurking Leopards

36 Replies

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.

Leopard walking through long grass between Orpen and Satara
Leopard walking through long grass between Orpen and Satara

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.

Early morning Leopard along the S100
Early morning Leopard along the S100
Early morning Leopard along the S100 (photo by Joubert)

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.

Leopardess relaxing in a Marula tree
Leopardess relaxing in a Marula tree
Leopardess relaxing in a Marula tree
Leopardess relaxing in a Marula tree (photo by Joubert)
Leopardess relaxing in a Marula tree
Leopardess relaxing in a Marula tree

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!

Leopard along the Timbavati River
Timbavati Battle-scarred Leopard
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River (photo by Joubert)
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River (photo by Joubert)
Leopard along the Timbavati River (photo by Joubert)
Leopard along the Timbavati River (photo by Joubert)
Leopard along the Timbavati River (photo by Joubert)
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River
Leopard along the Timbavati River

 

 

 

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36 thoughts on “Satara Summer 2021 – Lurking Leopards”

  1. anonimix

    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.

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  5. wetanddustyroads

    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!

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  9. perdebytjie

    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.

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      2. de Wets Wild Post author

        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.

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  12. H.J. for avian101

    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. 🙂

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      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.

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