That lucky leopard sighting… on video

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Enjoying that ideal leopard sighting on safari quickly becomes one of the most memorable parts of one’s trip. There is something unbeatably beautiful about the leopard; glimpsing its rosetted pelt, yellow-green eyes, and the white flick of its tail is what puts one the the edge of their safari seat. The hunt for this exceptional cat was on at Africa on Foot last week when game vehicles trundled through the veld, hot on the path of a male leopard.

Kevin MacLaughlin and John Dixon positioned themselves in the shade at Nyala Dam, patiently awaiting the arrival of the leopard they predicted to be moving in their direction. It is always a gamble in the bush, but this time they were right. A few minutes later and the graceful shape of this big cat emerged from the bush and approached the water to drink. Camera ready and alive with anticipation, Kevin and JD captured this beautiful footage of the cat marking its territory and finally settling down to drink.

 

Shortly after this video was filmed, the leopard moved into the path of a herd of elephants and received a stern warning from the matriarch. What an incredible sighting here in the Klaserie!

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