Dancing with death

"LEOPARD!" We had just crossed over the Timbavati River when one of the guests spotted a female leopard in a tree. She was very relaxed and rested in the tree for some time before coming down. It wasn't long before the vervet monkeys too noticed her and started their chattering alarm calls. She stopped momentarily and stared to the ground and it was then that we noticed what had caught her attention. A black mamba reared up, almost looking her square in the eyes. We held our breath as the deadly venomous snake slowly lowered and slithered into a nearby bush. Soon two hyenas came running past us, possibly responding to the alarm calling of the monkeys. The leopard crouched down in the grass as the hyenas went running past her, oblivious to her presence. It was two very close encounters and somehow she managed to come out unscathed.

Posted: Ngala by Ray Hume, Date: 11 November 2009