WHEN PATIENCE PAYS OFF

As per the usual, recent guests of mine were desperate to see the elusive leopard. We decided to head up to the North of the Phinda Private Game Reserve where the sandy roads make tracking a lot easier.

I could not believe my luck when we had hardly left the lodge, and the large, dominant male of the North was found in the Sand Forest very close to Phinda Forest Lodge. When we arrived we quickly found him in the same position he had been left in. We could not see him very well at all as he was lying in thick bush, but even the partial view had everyone very excited. Every now and then he would lift his head, look at us and collapse into a deep sleep again.

I explained to my guests that leopards usually wake up around sunset and start their territorial walks, and all were eager to sit and wait for him to get up. Almost two hours later, after a few yawns he stood up. He looked magnificent! We stayed with him for over half an hour as he walked, scent marking, stopping every now and then to listen. He was so relaxed and seemed not to even notice our presence.

What an experience! On the way to our bush dinner my guests could not stop marveling about the experience and comparing photographs.

Posted: Phinda by Felicity Swanepoel, Date: 16 February 2011