ktcards.com - Safari Photos

By Kay L. Trotman

I had been on many safaris during the ten years I had been going to Africa. However sighting a leopard was still fairly rare. Several of those safaris I was unable to even spot a single leopard.

The safaris are always an adventure, but one of my favorite animals is the leopard. Leopards can be real close to you, but they blend in so well with the natural scenery they are hard to spot.

As night approached we saw a pride of lions

On one of several African safaris, this one in the Okavango Delta, our guide frequently pointing to the high points of interest mentioned it was getting late as he beckoned at the slowly sinking sun. I remember as our group was marveling at a pride of lions, ‘brothers’ as we were told by the guide. They were spectacular lions with black manes doing what they do best, resting on the floor of the savannah. Blending in with the high grass, barely visible except for the occasional black manes one would see as they turned over, yawned and then fell back on their side continuing their R&R.

Imagine a lion or leopard’s prey. They must really have a hard time and might always be on the watch since they could be attacked at any time. If we are looking specifically for leopards and they are close to us, but hard to spot - it’s probably the same for their prey, except maybe for their good sense of smell. I feel sorry for their prey since no animal can always focus their attention one hundred percent looking for an imminent attack by a hungry leopard or lion.

A frantic radio message

Suddenly the guide’s radio came alive with a frantic message about a leopard. A leopard sighting! The guide asked if we wanted to go, it was late in the evening, the sun was beginning to set. The guide explained that it was not that close and the leopard, as elusive as it was, may be gone from the spot by the time we got there. Unanimously, we all agreed to take that chance.

We began to fly across the savannah, only able to drive on the existing trails. Drivers are not allowed to make their own trails - not in this neck of the woods! As we bounced from side to side in our open Land Rover, getting closer to the leopard every moment, the sun sank further and further. Oh we hoped we would arrive in time to see the leopard.

Four lionesses’ and a zebra

And then lo and behold, not the leopard, but we saw four lionesses’ taking down a zebra. The zebra was barely alive, with one lioness on the throat; one on the rear end, one underneath and another resting close by. Finally, with the zebra succumbed, they begin to enjoy the fruits of their labor! Although that’s how it is, I feel sorry for the animals that get eaten by lions and leopards.

We begged the driver to stop and he said, ‘what about the leopard’. We told him to wait until after we take pictures of the sighting. Cameras clicking away, we spent way too much time there, but worth every minute, as the sunset became more beautiful with each passing moment. And then off we went, rushing to see the leopard!

A stunning and regal leopard

Still with some daylight remaining, we arrived to see the most spectacular, stunning and regal leopard perched atop a huge rock, barely visible when his head was down. As he lifted his head out of the same color of grasses surrounding him, oh my god, what a sight! Gently he moved his head from side to side, surveying any potential threat or danger and gently laid his head back down as if to say…can you please let me get some rest here?

As if posing for our hundreds of pictures, the leopard casually and slowly got up to move, from the heat of the sunlight to the shade of a nearby tree, as the sun was slowly going down in the distance. And as the sun set, and we could only see the eyes of the leopard, we realized it was pitch black.

Total darkness: How do we get back?

How do we get back? How do we see? Can we find the roads? We’re not in the city; there are no streetlights, no signs, and no headlights! Like most guides, our guide knew exactly where to go and how to get there. But first he asked us, who knew the way back - everyone pointed in a different direction, so we chose his.

Eyes viewed us in the darkness

Tearing back across the savannah, the only things visible were the many eyes of animals in the bushes or out in the open. The guide pointed to the eyes, and would say, there’s a hyena over there, there’s a lion over there.

After spotting the lions and fortunately an elusive leopard, the only eyes we wanted to see were the eyes of the Chief Camp’s guides as they greeted us back at camp. Those other eyes, they were just distractions and I hoped we were secure in our vehicle and immune from an attack by any of those creatures. WHAT AN ADVENTURE! I can’t wait till my next safari.

About the Author

Kay Trotman is a Travel Agent specializing in custom African Safaris. She also arranges Group Tours and Cruises. Kay is an avid photographer and shoots pictures of her safari adventures and her beautiful flower garden. Many of her pictures can be purchased as custom photos or cards at http://safarikay.zenfolio.com/.