Of all the “Big 5” animals none are as difficult to find as the Leopard. Seeing one is usually the highlight of a visit to a nature reserve in South Africa. Having six sightings of these beautiful cats – of which four were on one day! – will mean our latest visit to the Kruger National Park will not soon be forgotten!
Our first sighting, near Lower Sabie late afternoon just minutes before the gates closed, was not very awe-inspiring, even by Leopard standards. Being as lazy as only cats can be this individual did not even deign to show us its face.
Lazy Leopard near Lower Sabie
Early one morning while travelling along the S56 Mphongolo Loop north of Shingwedzi we came across a pair of Leopards in a tall tree – a smaller individual very high up in the tree and visually afraid of the bigger one below guarding the remains of a kill. Visitors who were on the scene before us later shared how the male stole the female’s kill and chased her to the top of the tree where he was too heavy to get to her.
After spending quite some time at the Leopards in the tree we decided to move on to breakfast at Babalala Picnic Spot when, only 4km further along the same road, we found a young and curiously calm Leopard next to the road at the turnoff to Sirheni Bushveld Camp. She posed beautifully for all the photographers in the car, not fazed in the least by our proximity! Having been treated with such grace by the young princess we slowly backed away from her so that she could repose in tranquility.
Mere minutes later, still sauntering along the S56 towards Babalala, we found our third Leopard encounter for the morning where it was using a small outcrop of rocks as a vantage point and being particularly interested in a huge kudu bull lying nearby. The kudu soon saw the Leopard and did not even think the cat enough of a threat to stand up. Knowing it was outgunned, the Leopard gave the kudu a wide berth and disappeared into the dense shrubbery next to the Shisha stream.
That same afternoon, still extremely excited about our morning, which by then also included sightings of other charismatic or rare species of wildlife including lions, roan antelope, tsessebes, buffaloes and elephants we found our fourth Leopard sighting of the day along the S50 Kanniedood Road southeast of Shingwedzi. The apparently heavily pregnant female was in a hunting mood and stalking a mixed herd of impala, kudu and waterbuck mingling on the bank of the river. She was soon discovered however and slinked back across the road and out of sight.
Our final Leopard sighting of the trip (and I am sure we missed more than we saw thanks to their exceptional camouflage!) was before sunrise as we left Shingwedzi for a morning drive. This was a shy individual, trying to hide behind a palm frond for a minute or two and then deciding to retreat into the riverine vegetation lining the Shingwedzi.
I made a little compilation video of some of the Leopard encounters I told you about.
DeWetsWild 
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What a great experience you’ve had, and the photographs are beautiful.
Thank you very much! As much as we see elephants during our travels to South Africa’s wild places we just cannot get enough of them!
Dankie vir al die mooi, Dries – jy en Joubert is ‘n wonderlike span; terwyl hy foto’s neem, maak jy video’s. Julle verdien absoluut al daardie opwindende ontmoetings!
Baie dankie vir die gawe woorde, Tannie Frannie. Dit is n groot seen om ons liefde vir die natuur so te kan deel!
Wat ‘n ongelooflike dier om so te kan sien! Ek het hulle nog nooit so gesien nie!
Kom saam op een van ons toere, Aletta – dan help ons soek!
Ek sou dit graag wou doen! Miskien eendag!
Such stunning photographs and beautiful animal!
We’re excited about every chance we get to see them!
I would be too!
I agree with awesome in the true sense of the word and any other superlatives you can come up with. These animals are gorgeous. Loved the kudu story, typical male behavior to chase anyone smaller away from food, I’m sorry to say, and I’m off to watch the video. 🙂
😀
That thieving male leopard really had a very intimidating stare in his eyes. I would’ve handed over my sandwich too if he wanted it!
Such beautiful animals, Dries. The ending shots with their eyes shining like that…is it scary to see that, at first?
When you are on foot and you catch those glowing eyes in your torchlight you will likely need new shorts, Lois. Thankfully we were safely enclosed in our vehicle for all these encounters.
haha! Yes, I would think so.
Wow! So beautiful!
Of course we agree wholeheartedly, Kathy. Blessed beyond measure with experiences like these.
Fantastic images, what a great experience!
Thank you very much, Sue. This trip and its abundance of leopards will remain fresh in our memories for quite some time!
I’m sure!
Wow, what a beautiful series of encounters! ❤️
We were thrilled out of our socks, Lori!
Awesome.
In the real sense of the word, Tracy!
Dit was nou ‘n groot geskenk so uit die natuur se bek om die luiperds te kon sien en beleef. Joubert het beslis ‘n paar pragtige fotos geneem. Hy sal moet begin om om ‘n boek uit te werk om te druk en uit te gee.
Ek dink daar le nog vir Joubert baie fotografiese hoogtepunte in sy lewe voor, Ineke. Ons het juis by n fotoklub aangesluit vir nog meer blootstelling en leiding.
Dis heerlik. Jul is werklik ‘n ondersteunende en omgee familie vir mekaar.
Dit is baie gaaf van jou om te se, Ineke
Sjoe, so baie luiperds op een dag! Julle was voorwaar baie gelukkig … en soveel mooi foto’s. Dankie vir die beskrywing van elke “sighting”. En op die video is dit lekker om te sien hoe hulle beweeg (veral daardie laast een in die donker).
(Nou wonder ek … is dit luiperds of luiperde 🤔). Luiperds klink snaaks op die oor, maar luiperde klink weer soos perde wat lui is!
Ons raak altyd vreeslik opgewonde as ons net een sien, so jy kan dink hoe dit gegaan het met ons emosies op hierdie trip!
Luiperds is die korrekte meervoud 😉
Dankie, ek het gedink dit moet luiperds wees … maar toe ek dit vroeer getik het, het dit so vreemd gelyk 🙂.
Sjoe, julle was omtrent gelukkig, Dries! Luiperds bly een van die opwindendste diere om te sien.
Ek sal altyd opgewonde wees om hulle te sien, maak nie saak hoeveel keer dit gebeur nie!