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Week in Pics : Predators Play while Plains Game Stay Away

It’s that time of the week again, when we select our top images from our budding photographers to showcase their natural talent at capturing mesmerising moments in the Kruger. When the photos come flooding into our media folders, we look for a common thread throughout. This week, the panthera species are our shining light. The big cats have emerged from the darkest depths of the thickets and the plains game have scattered to quieter corners of the bushveld, but we’ve managed to track a variety of game across the board. We’ve had leopard kills, powerful male lions tracking females and birds of prey soaring over the landscape. But overall, it’s the week of the predators. Let’s give them their due and celebrate the presence of Africa’s most fearsome, brutal and regal beasts.

The Klaserie camps enjoyed a sighting that is best described as “one for the books”, and this has certainly proved to be the top highlight to have emerged across all camps. While watching the Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses idle away their time under the shrubbery, 40 metres away a leopard was conducting a kill. Just when rangers thought this sighting had made history, the lone Sumatra male lion aggressively forced his way through where the Ross girls were resting. He smashed a kill against the tree, just below where the leopard (Cleo) was dining on her kill.

Ivory Wilderness Riversong Camp

Xobega Island Camp in the Okavango Delta

Ezulwini Game Lodges

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

Lions Take Down Prey while Leopard Sits in Tree Above

There are times when you’re navigating the arid landscape and there’s nothing in sight except the flurry of turquoise wings from lilac-breasted rollers and the nervous scuttle of impala. As the vehicle twists and turns on the network of sandy roads with not a predator in sight, you wonder if all that’s on the horizon is empty promises and broken dreams. Welcome to the world of safari splendour, when you don’t know what awaits around the next mopane tree. When all is quiet and you let your guard down, something mind-blowing happens. You become a witness and participant in THAT safari moment that rangers talk about in months to come. This much-talked about moment happened on 20 June in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and will be remembered for quite sometime.

A small voice snuck through the airwaves and crackle of the radio to report a sighting of the Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses. If you don’t already know, these two sisters are notorious for their non-stop attempts at mating with any available male and for not possessing admirable maternal skills! They’re often spotted on Klaserie turf , either conducting kills or lazing around – as lions do. This occasion was no different – the Ross girls let us observe them for a while and that’s when things took a dynamic turn. A neighbouring camp alerted us to the presence of a leopard a mere 40 metre’s away from the lions. Vehicles were turned around to head into the sighting and lo and behold, there was the magnificent Cleo with a fresh kill straddling the branches of a tall tree.

Before Cleo could tuck into her kill, we heard the familiar throaty calls of a lion and a rustle in the thickets. The Sumatra male lion, who was mating with the Ross females a few days back, caught wind of their scent and made a beeline for the ladies. Shortly before approaching the lionesses tis brazen male decided to take down prey – to impress his lionesses perhaps? He stealthily and powerfully charged a small duiker and smashed it against the SAME tree where Cleo was hiding out. The cheek of interrupting her dining experience! The Ross lionesses sauntered over after hearing the unmistakeable cries of a wounded animal and joined their male king for dinner !

It seems the big cats of the Klaserie congregated at the same time and same place. At least this time we got the memo! And if that wasn’t enough, when we left the scene we heard reports that another male leopard headed into Cleo’s tree to try take her kill. The theft was unsuccessful, and with all the commotion and fresh scent of a kill in the air, the hyenas arrived. The branch broke, the kill fell and the leopards scattered. The hyenas hurried forth like a hurricane and tried to make off with the full carcass, but the male leopard fought back with a vengeance. The leopards retrieved the kill, but subsequent to that we don’t know what happened. What we do know is that we witnessed an unusual sequence of events, one that will forever remain etched in the books!

Lone Sumatra Male Lion in Klaserie Mates with Ross Females

Lion pride dynamics in any reserve are always shifting and changing with the wind – nothing is ever cast in stone, which is why we can never become emotionally attached to local prides. Prides splinter, lionesses stick together and once strong kings are ousted when the testosterone fuelled sub-adults seek to take over. Sounds complicated? Well…It is.

Males leave their birth pride and form coalitions with other males at roughly the age of 3. This is the age when they seek to take over prides and form strong bonds with other males. Young males that don’t find a coalition become nomadic, always in search of lionesses. You have nomadic males and coalitions coming in search of prides to rule and lands to reign over. There may be warfare or quiet retreats from old pride kings. It’s all about power, land and females!

You see, the life cycle of a lion and its intricate, dramatic family life is a spaghetti-like world of complication. At the moment, we’re watching the intricate web of Klaserie lions becoming more and more involved. Today, yet again, we received further information about a male lion, which adds another twist in the tale from our Klaserie rangers.

Just when we thought the Mapoza’s were going to take over, they disappeared deep into the thickets. The Trilogy male triumphantly returned with a sidekick and bodyguard. Were they scoping out the lay of the land in the hopes of forever reigning supreme? We don’t know, because they disappeared as quickly as they arrived. Then we had the Sumatra males testing the waters, a nomadic male and a male with lionesses.

Last week, Luan heard two male lions brazenly contact calling through the land and upon seeing them, we’ve yet to discover just who they are. There’s speculation that they could be the Mbiri male lions – and it’s not the first time we’ve spotted them.

Shortly after the sighting of this duo, rangers reported a sighting of another Sumatra male ! This is actually the third sighting of the Sumatras (previously we saw two young Sumatra males in the area) and this time it was a different male.

This Sumatra male has JUST been spotted mating with the Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses. We spotted the male yesterday and the Ross girls moved off into the thickets. This powerful male had a full belly – a clear indication that he’d just enjoyed a recent kill ! Kevin said the stench of the kill was strong, but they couldn’t see the carcass anywhere. The wakes of vultures and clans of hyena are sure to approach the kill site in the next day or two.

The one thing that appears to be consistent on our traverse in the Klaserie is the presence of the notorious lion sisters – the Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses. They leave no male lion untouched and have birthed many cubs, none of which have survived. At least they’re our reliable lions of the area.

But, are we complaining? No – we have a heavy presence of lions which is always a good thing, despite their origin!

Recent Bird Sightings while Cruising the Okavango Delta

Botswana is a mecca for birders across the globe, who flock to the country to seek out wildfowl, waders and lifers. A bird sighting is always a guarantee – even if it’s a common southern yellow-billed hornbill, the one thing that we can guarantee while on safari is a bird sighting! The Okavango Delta, with its intricate network of channels and waterways, provides the ideal habitat for over 550 species of bird. Just recently, our photographer Kevin MacLaughlin took to the channels and stumbled across a colourful array of birdlife. While staying at Xobega Island Camp, which is located on an island in the Okavango Delta, guests can enjoy plenty of water safari activities. A prime destination for twitchers flying in from around the world. These are our most recent sightings of birds spotted during one water safari excursion.

Malachite Kingfisher

The malachite kingfisher is an exceptionally good looking bird. With its colourful plumage and glossy good looks, it reigns over the reeds of the Delta with a sense of pride. Its razor sharp beak is perfectly equipped for piercing its prey, which comprises amphibians and fish. It has an unusual flight pattern that sees its wings spinning rapidly in a blurry whir. Flight is in short, jagged bursts and it flies low over the water. When nesting, the malachite builds a tunnel-like structure in a sandy bank close to water. Look at the base of the reeds for speckles of colour and a whirring of wings – there you’ll find your malachite.

Pied Kingfisher

The pied kingfisher is a rather classic looking bird and easily recognisable due to its stark black and white markings. This powerful and minute bird is yet another beauty that hovers over the pristine waters of the papyrus-lined Okavango Delta. This bird is lightning fast and flies low over the calm waters trying to detect the slightest movement below. When it spies a target it will do a vertical drop, bill-first to stab its prey. Their flight pattern is streamlined and quick; and they are known to reach speeds of up to 50km per hour! They even have the capability of eating their prey while mid-flight, so they don’t have to return to their perch. An accomplished and skilful kingfisher – one to watch out for!

African Jacana

The African jacana gives the impression that it can walk on water. This wader lightly and delicately dances across the surface of the placid channels and open waters of the Delta. Its long toes and claws enables the bird to walk on floating plants and vegetation. The jacana prefer shallow waters and enjoys a diet of insects and invertebrates. You’ll find the jacana dwelling in shallow, swampy areas and navigating its way through thick reeded areas.

Pygmy Goose

The pygmy goose is an attractive bird and its facial markings are clearly outlined by what looks like black liner. Golds, greens and whites stand out against its tawny plumages and dark wings. This “goose” is actually a duck although it has the bill of a goose, its behaviour is more like that of a dabbling duck. This is evident in their love of surface dwelling insects and seeds from water plants. These wildfowl pair off to mate during the rainy season and enjoy a bond with just one partner, which means you will often see a mating pair during the wetter times of year.

Squacco Heron

The squacco heron is a small brown heron with a distinct streaked head. During the breeding season, its black and white crest becomes more prominent. This widespread pond heron has a shrill squawk and favours fresh marshes where it can see its prey clearly. This wader assumes a statuesque position while on the hunt for prey. When its quarry is identified, it goes in for the kill!

Week in Pics : Delving into the Past for Youth Day

On Friday 16th June it’s a public holiday in South Africa – yet another one! A day fraught with conflict during the Soweto uprising in 1976, the day was declared a public holiday to commemorate the many lives lost during the riots. What was meant to be a peaceful protest march to eradicate racism, ended up being a violent mayhem that would make international news. Today, we not only think about the many lives lost but also take time to celebrate the importance of our youth. So just how do we incorporate the historical and much publicised Youth Day into “Week in Pictures”? We’ve decided to intertwine the two by delving into the past and sharing our photos of the “youth” of the wildlife world.

Before we beguile you with our Youth Day images, we’d like to share a few highlights from our camps over the past week. Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp were in the enviable position of spotting lions and a lone leopard. Lions were heard contact calling, but we couldn’t ascertain which lions they were – although rangers did identify them as male. It could well have been the Trilogy male with it’s newcomer of a friend.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge in the Sabi Sand saw the White Dam leopardess together with her cub on a kill. This is not the first time this has happened! Our Botswana camps – namely Tuskers Bush Camp, experienced an unusual event regarding leopards. Being elusive cats, they often spend their time hiding out in the thickets. Daniel Dugmore not only discovered the leopards, but also came across two leopards mating ! A rare sight indeed.

Enjoy the long weekend !

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Ivory Wilderness Riversong Camp

Ezulwini River Lodge and Ezulwini Billys Lodge

Botswana Camps

Umkumbe Leopard Update : Mxabene Devours a Pile of Scat

There are common behaviours with cat species that are predictable and easily understood. When leopards mark their territory they may claw trees, scent mark low lying shrubbery and let out a rasping bark to warn off intruders. Because they’re such solitary cats – the loners of the world – they avoid coming into contact with competitors. Avoidance is favoured over conflict. While we can generally list common behaviours in the Panthera pardus kingdom, there are the unusual behaviours that leave us in awe. We establish a thread and try to ascertain why they engaged in x and x; and sometimes walk away baffled. We do love it when an animal goes against the textbook – which is exactly what Mxabene the male leopard did a few a days ago. Ranger Nadia Bester, together with her loaded vehicle of guests, came across staunch and powerful Mxabene devouring a pile of dung!

Eating dung is not that uncommon among animals, but it is unusual to witness. So just why did Max dine out on a steaming pile of dung when he has a smorgasbord of protein delights on his doorstep? The reasons are many. Firstly, dung may have plenty of undigested food and thus wasted nutrients. It’s an easy take-out meal that requires little energy to source and eat.

Leopards are opportunistic predators and aren’t fussy in their choice of meal – dung beetles, birds and medium sized antelopes are all possible food sources for leopards. Never one to skip an opportunity to eat, leopards will quite easily digest anything edible in their path. Dung is the new KFC of the bushveld! Witnessing Max engage in coprophagia (dung eating) was rather amusing and he appeared to rest on it, frolic and eat it. It is rumoured that buffalo dung appears to be the favourite dung cuisine among big cats.

The undigested matter in scat is not the only reason why animals eat dung. You will notice that cats will roll in the dung and digest it. It is speculated that the dung masks their smell during a hunt and eating it aids digestion. However, are leopards masking their smell or rather releasing their own scent to mark territory?

Whether it was a snack, a scent masking or scent releasing act; the act itself was another rare sightings for our guests. Clearly Mxabene worked up quite the thirst during his in between real meals snack. After spending time with his pile scat, he slowly meandered down to the waterhole where we all managed to ogle over this powerhouse of a cat gently lap up the pristine waters.

Week in Pics : Crafty Cats and Arty Angles

Our big cats, so powerful and stealth-like, dominate the food chain and command respect throughout the land. Sometimes they prefer to seek solitude in the thickets and other times they desire an audience to observe their craftsmanship when it comes to conducting kills. Their fearless ways are admired from afar and potential quarry lives in constant fear of being the next target. While the bushveld produces exquisite colours that would give a rainbow a run for its money, it’s not the scenery that we’re in awe about – its the big cats . And the reason for that? They’ve provided plentiful sightings across all of our camps. Our cats – they own the night…And the day. They’re our protectors of the bushveld, constantly inviting us in to be observers in their complex and chaotic world.

This week, Ivory Wilderness Riversong Camp has their first appearance in “Week in Pictures” ! Warren Howson provided us with the images taken while out on drive and walk in the Klaserie. The lodge is based on the banks of the Klaserie River, which means there is plenty of opportunity to watch game from the confines of the lodge or while traversing the terrain. Welcome aboard to “Week in Pics” Ivory Wilderness !

In other news, the Klaserie camps (Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp) spotted three cheetah males just relaxing in an open area! Quite an unusual sighting given that the presence of leopards is quite high. Bundu the male leopard was also spotted during the course of the week and so was the nomadic male that was spotted with the lone Trilogy male.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge is literally a hotspot for leopard sightings! Last week was no different! Mxabene was spotted on more than occasion during the course of last week and was even seen eating dung. Little Bush’s cub and White Dam’s cub showed off their good looks and natural prowess, allowing guests to take plenty of photographs.

Without further ado, here are your photos for the week!

Ezulwini River Lodge and Ezulwini Billys Lodge

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Ivory Wilderness Riversong Camp

Xobega Island Camp and Tuskers Bush Camp

Warren Samuels: Naturalist, documentary cameraman, and guide extraordinaire

Leading cameraman and experienced guide, Warren Samuels, is about to embark on yet another intrepid adventure into the undiscovered bushveld. The destination : Botswana ! Home to an abundance of wildlife and plenty of uncharted territories, there’s certainly not going to be a shortage of photographic and filming opportunities. Captured in Africa Exclusive Safaris are pleased to announce that Warren will be leading a professional photographic expedition. Two camps, Tuskers Bush Camp and Camp Savuti will be the base for his company’s latest exclusive photographic safari in June 2018 called “Predators of Botswana”. Read our interview and get to know Warren Samuels, the man behind the lens.

Two of our camps, Tuskers Bush Camp and Camp Savuti will be the base for his company’s latest exclusive photographic safari in June 2018 called “Predators of Botswana”. Let’s get to know Warren and delve deep into the heart of what makes hime tick and discover his roots. Curious? Read our interview and get to know Warren Samuels, leader of your photographic journey.

What was it like growing up in Kenya?

It was an absolute privilege growing up in a country with such diverse landscapes, from ice capped mountains, montane forests, savannahs, deserts to sandy white beaches and beautiful coral reefs, who could ask for a anything more for a young person looking for a sense of adventure.

What were you before you were a celebrated wildlife photographer and documentary cameraman?

I was a field guide/ranger, wildlife conservation officer and lodge manager, working at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa from 1980-1986.

What is your favourite photography subject?

Big cats, Elephants and flying Raptors.

Where is your dream photography destination?

There are a number of very special photographic destinations that I really enjoy going to. In Kenya, Samburu national reserve and close encounters with elephants, Tsavo national park searching for iconic big tusker elephant bulls, Masai Mara for big cats. Tanzania – Selous game reserve for big cats and waterbirds. Serengeti for the wildebeest calving. Botswana – elephants, big cats, water birds and Wilderness.

What has been your most hair-raising encounter out in the field?

Tracking a mother leopard with small cubs on foot. Together with my Shangaan tracker, we set out to track and find a mother leopard with 2 x 1 month old cubs, to show to our international clients. Photographing baby leopard cubs are probably any photographers “dreams come true” moments. My tracker, khimbian mnisi and I, stood up to a full blown charge by the mother in defence of her cubs. Khimbian got behind me as I faced the very angry leopard. He guided me backwards up a rocky gully whilst the mother leopard advanced on us growling with a swishing tail. The cat finally backed down once she knew she had us in retreat. I have never been so scared and so relieved to have escaped unscathed from a potentially very dangerous situation.

And your most memorable moment caught on camera, when all the patience practiced was well and truly worth it?

There were many memorable moments, some exciting, some emotionally charged, and some unique and revealing. From filming cheetahs doing a 100m dash in 4 secs, 10,000 wildebeest crossing a river over a 10 hour period, to filming 3 x3 month old baby elephants being swept down a flooded river with their mothers desperately trying to save them by reaching out to them with their trunks.

What did you learn about filming wildlife during the Big Cat Diary series?

Patience and more patience is need to be a successful wildlife cameraman. I learnt better use depth of field when filming cheetahs running and pulling focus quickly. Following an animal thru a film lens running at 75mph is no easy feat.

Have you lost any valuable equipment while out at work in the wild? If so, what’s the story?

Not lost a camera or lens yet touch wood.

What is your favourite camera angle/setting/lens for wildlife photography?

Definitely the low angle. The lower the camera the larger and more dramatic the subject looks. I particularly like backlighting or rim lighting animals especially animals with furry coats. I find this camera position allows for very moody and atmospheric lighting. Fast shutter speeds of 2-3000 secs for photographing flying Raptors and wide open apertures of f2.8 or 5.6 looking for minimum depth of field for doing animal portraiture.

Do you prefer photo or film?

I like both. Film with moving images enables one to capture interesting animal behaviour. Photo stills enables one to capture and freeze frame a particular moment in time.

What is the greatest conservation achievement you could wish to see in your lifetime?

The establishing and development of more community run wildlife conservancies and partnerships between the tourism operators and local landowners. Long term sustainability of wildlife areas is directly dependant on the local people that live there, and receiving tangible benefits in the form of employment, and income from leasing their land.

On your upcoming Botswana photographic safari, are you most looking forward to the world-renowned Savute, or the unchartered Kwatale Conservancy?

Both actually. The world renowned Savuti concession is famous for its large numbers of elephants and lions. I am really looking forward to getting up close and personal and achieving some great low angle, close up photographic images of both. The Kwatale concession is a great sell as an exclusive wilderness area and it is here that I look forward to enjoying some great hide photography with elephants drinking at waterholes and pans. Opportunities to see and photograph wild dogs and cheetahs too, is exciting, but most of all is the experience of being a part of a unique African Wilderness far from the madding crowds.

Are you a happy camper, or a comfort-seeker? If you’re a camper, what is your key to comfortable camping in Africa?

Both really. A camper, when I head out to enjoy expiring the Wilderness and doing a little soul searching. A comfort seeker, when working hard on film or photographic projects where after a long hard days work, I really do appreciate a hot shower, good food and a comfortable bed. This means I can rise early the next day, feeling totally rejuvenated, and ready to start creatively composing images.

The elements: Are you better in the icy cold, or the searing heat?

Definitely the heat. Having grown up in Africa, I am more adaptable to coping with heat. I once did a reality TV shoot in England, mid Feb on Dartmoor and operating cameras in a -25 degree Celsius wind chill was no fun at all!

What is the best time of day?

For photography, 6am to 8am in the morning, and 4-7pm in the afternoon. Lower angled sunlight is softer on the subjects, shows up more light and shadow (depth and textures), and is very atmospheric.

Who are your greatest inspirations?

Film makers Alan Root, Derek Joubert, photographers frans lansing and Jonathan Scott.

What gadget/gear/kit item would you recommend as a secret weapon for the aspiring photographers joining you on safari at Camp Savuti and Tuskers Bush Camp?

A camera body that shoots large RAW files at a minimum of 6-7 frames/sec. A 70-200 image stabilised lens for composing shots of full bodied elephants at close up to medium distances from camera. A 100-400mm image stabilised lens with a 1.4 converter for good long lens wildlife photography, and for those strong enough to hold it, a 200-400 mm IS lens with 1.4 converter to eyeball your wildlife subjects and get all those big close up and intimate shots. Landscape photography, a wide angle 10-55 mm lens. Go pro hero cameras for planting at strategic spots on waterholes for those amazing low angle shots.

Below are a few photos taken by Warren Samuels.

Umkumbe Leopard Update : The Young and the Restless

Umkumbe rangers have, yet again, inspired us with their leopard photos and videos fresh from the Sabi Sand. While our powerful – and favourite – male, Mxabene was spotted on more than occasion during the course of last week, it is the young ones we’re keeping watch over. Forget the folly of youth, our leopard cubs are proving to be quite stalwart creatures when it comes to aggressively marking territory and conducting finely-tuned kills. Like most young species, they tend to be somewhat shy when it comes to “owning” their role in the wild.

This makes sense, given that they’re still ill-equipped to handle strife and have yet to hone in on their instinctive skill-set. Tentatively, the young and the restless cubs make their way through the wild trying to establish their place in the bushveld.

These leopard cubs have been raised well. They’ve been nurtured and looked after by regal legends that we’ve written about, observed and video’d. The new generation of leopards belongs to Little Bush’s cub and White Dam’s cub. Two well-known leopardesses, each with a different temperament and brutal way of life in the Sabi Sand, have proved to be excellent mothers. Of course, any leopard sighting gets our vote, but it’s particularly rewarding seeing “Generation X” thriving and growing in the wild.

Cue the entrance of Little Bush’s female cub and White Dam and her male cub. Little Bush’s cub has clearly learned how to hunt effectively and ambush her prey. She was seen with her duiker kill in the safety of a tree. This is key to dinner success – learning the art of how to drag your carcass up high into an area of safety, out of the prying eyes of hungry scavengers. After all, Toothfairy the hyena and her gang rule this part of the block! Little Bush and her cub have ensured that we’ve enjoyed plentiful sightings of them.

White Dam and her male cub were spotted just outside the confines of camp, which means the vehicle didn’t have to go far to enjoy big cat sightings! Ranger Kyle sent us a clip of White Dam casually strolling past the game viewer, indicating she is accustomed to vehicles and sees no threat with their presence.

Hopefully these leopards, the young and the restless, will become legends in their own rights.

Week in Pics : Return of the Powerful Bushveld Veterans

Old legends have returned to their neighbourhood to stake their claim on previously “owned” turf, newcomers have scuttled into the shadows and the mistresses of the bushveld have followed the old legends. Leopards have bolted down trees in front of aghast guests, plains game have idled in the midst of dense shrubbery while our game viewers trundle past like a slow tortoise. Juvenile raptors with underdeveloped plumes and the bravado of youth dive-bomb through the blue skies, creating picture perfect opportunities for avid photographers. The veterans of the safari world have returned with a vengeance, to oust the cocky young ones, lead the ones with potential and command respect throughout their land. As it is in life, so it is in the safari world.

The highlight of the week, across all of our camps and lodges, has been the return of the Trilogy male lion coupled with a re-appearance of the Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses – the lion veterans have returned! The breaking news has thus become the theme of today’s “Week in Pictures”. The almighty Trilogy coalition, a once dominant force on the nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot traverse; disappeared without a trace. Hints of new “wannabe” lion leaders emerged, but there was nothing concrete. The Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses were still seen on occasion, but sightings weren’t consistent. The old-school players of the Klaserie turf are back!

Two other highlights emerged from Tuskers Bush Camp in the Kwatale Conservancy and Umkumbe Safari Lodge in Sabi Sand. Both instances of delight involved big cats. Let us explain.

Warwick Hendry was on assignment at Tuskers when he stumbled across three tough sub-adult male lions relaxing at the waterhole. Guttural roars and contact calls were herd and then the sighting happened. These three lads are burgeoning beasts in the area but they’ve been hiding over the past few weeks. It’s safe to say that they’re the dominant force within the Tuskers Bush Camp area. They’re often seen with a much older female, which we can assume is the mother of the these young males.

In Sabi Sand, our resident leopard icon, Mxabene, gave guests quite a viewing on Wednesday night. While guests were watching him casually straddling the fork of a tree, he abruptly decided to make a dash onto ground level. Witnessing a leopard in motion, and the absolute grace and speed of this sleek cat, is not something guests will easily forget.