Leopard fever!

by Tony & Carol Dilger
(UK)

Stealth mode

Stealth mode

We have seen leopards many times in the Park, but a recent visit rewarded us with our best ever sighting. We had not seen a single leopard in three weeks and were beginning to think we would miss out this time. So we followed up a reported sighting from the previous day and headed for Transport Dam. On arrival, we were greeted by an excited couple, who immediately showed us the backs of their cameras, revealing a young male leopard they had come across on the dirt road leading to the dam.


We returned to stake out the dirt road, stopping on a long straight where we could see some distance down the road and with a small herd of impala nearby, felt about as confident as one can with this species. After an hour of straining our eyes into the distance, we happened to notice a leopard standing alongside, also straining his eyes down the road.

Some close shots were soon obtained and our excitement mounted as he moved round the back of our car and into the bush, in order to conceal his approach. We moved up the road towards the unsuspecting impala knowing this could be a unique opportunity. As we did so, the leopard appeared again beside us, walking by the car on the blind side. Clever cat.

Nearing the impala he stopped, and we moved forward and swung round to a broadside position to photograph whatever came next. Peering through the bush, the leopard suddenly caught clear sight of the impala and immediately went into stealth mode, stalking across the road in front of our cameras at point blank range.

It was one of those moments when you just keep your finger on the button, you couldn't get a bad shot. I counted 20 frames, every one a cracker. After this, we couldn't help ourselves...we saw leopards every day for a week. A severe case of leopard fever!

Comments for Leopard fever!

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 04, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Very Nice
by: Bob Shepardson

Excellent capture

May 13, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Superb Images!
by: Peter

I love the low angle, well done.

May 10, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Well done
by: Jen

Wow what great shots with some clever moves to get the shot, well done.

May 10, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Super shots
by: Bob Shepardson

Congratulations on some super shots.

May 07, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Excellent stalking pics!
by: Neil

It's not often you get to see a leopard stalking so well done on positioning yourself to get the front view!

May 07, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
That's how the bush goes...
by: Alan

...it's either feast or famine or in your case famine and feast!! Great images!

May 07, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
What amazing pics!
by: Mario

Tony & Carol - thank you for an exciting story with excellent images to go with it!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Share Your interesting Kruger stories with us! .






To make a safari rental booking in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia click here


"It's 768 pages of the most amazing information. It consists of, well, everything really. Photography info...area info...hidden roads..special places....what they have seen almost road by road. Where to stay just outside the Park...camp information. It takes quite a lot to impress me but I really feel that this book, which was 7 years in the making, is exceptional."            - Janey Coetzee, founder of CAROK (Camps and Roads of Kruger)  South Africa

"Having a passion for the region itself and having to know about all dynamics, water holes and ideal roads for a period of 6 years - I wish I had this guide on my first trip already!" - Morkel Erasmus, Secunda, South Africa

"Mario and Jenny take you to places that are not always visited, and their descriptions of the more remote camps will allow you to make an informed decision without wasting time and money"  -  Bob & Sherry Shepardson, DeBary, Florida, USA

"Your time and money are valuable and the information in this book will help you save both."         - Don Stilton, Florida, USA

"I highly recommend the book to anyone visiting Etosha National Park to photograph the animals - or anyone considering an African photography safari in the future." - Anne Darling, Cognac, France

"As a photographer and someone who has visited and taken photographs in the Pilanesberg National Park, I can safely say that with the knowledge gained from this eBook, your experiences and photographs will be much more memorable." - Alastair Stewart, BC, Canada

"This work is so much more than an eBook, because it is also a guide, a tutorial, an inspiration and a must-have for anyone interested in wildlife photography"  - Findtripinfo.com, USA

Booking.com

Manyeleti Big Cat Safari

Photo Safaris on a   Private Vehicle - just You, the guide & the animals!