What a weekend it’s been! It’s probably best to start off with saying that we had 3 leopard sightings in 3 days. How fortunate for us that these elusive beauties were out and about at the same time as we were. Guests at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp also enjoyed scenes of elephant, buffalo, giraffe and zebra, PLUS, those Ross Breakaway lionesses we know and love!
As you know, leopards are not easy to spot, and often move around after dark. They are solitary animals and move quickly and quietly through the bush, camouflaging themselves in their surroundings and making them difficult to see. The fantastic thing about our private Kruger reserve, is that the sightings are kept exclusive with only 2 vehicles at a time, and this helps to gently habituate animals such as leopards to the presence of our land rovers. Cleo, one of our top lady leopards, was possibly the highlight of the leopard sightings this weekend. Take a look at what went down.
Greg and Mike were guiding their guests on an afternoon game drive, and after spending a while with a nice herd of buffalo, the news of a leopard came in on the radio. Africa on Foot arrived on the scene shortly and laid eyes on this fantastic cat. Immediately, guides identified her as Cleo, a female leopard we fondly remember from numerous sightings, and we were about to enjoy another one! Cleo was stalking impala, and her alertness, stealth, and skill was something incredible to witness.
The leopardess kept a low profile and watched the movement of the oblivious impala herd for a while before she slunk off and used various obstacles to keep hidden. It was fascinating to watch her at work, going about her business unperturbed by the presence of Africa on Foot guests. At one point, she climbed a termite mound, keeping low and creeping up to view her surroundings. She walked passed the vehicle, offering unforgettable sightings for the guests until she finally picked up the pace and disappeared all too quickly into the thicket, ending this superb leopard sighting in the Klaserie.
Brenda Quatember