Exeter is situated within the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, renowned for having the best Big Five game-viewing in South Africa, if not the world.The Reserve is famous for its incredible leopard sightings. The Sabi Sand leopards have grown accustomed to safari vehicles, thereby permitting close up sightings and extraordinary photographic opportunities.
LEOPARD KILL!
From the morning tracks eventually Eric (the tracker) managed to find the Shikavi leopardess resting up in the thickets close to the Shonalee Dam behind River Lodge.
After 15 minutes the leopard got up and walked slowly away looking for cooler shadier spot.
We followed. Suddenly the presence of an animal, we were unable to see, changed her behaviour completely. She froze dead in her tracks, poised in a stalk position.
Carefully she lifted her back foot, and neatly placed it where the front foot had been, thus eliminating the chance of standing on a crunchy leaf or twig. Slowly she edged forward.
I could not figure out what she could see and in a flash it was over!
Shikavi exploded forwards toward the thicket and grabbed a Scrub hare! It let out a few squeals and then it died. She lay down to enjoy her kill.
This sighting showed us how opportunistic the leopard can be, even hunting in the afternoon daylight if a favourable situation presents itself.
SIGHTINGS
GALLERY
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GREAT MIGRATION
NEWSLETTERS
