The Leopard and his breakfast: The story: Yesterday morning we were tracking a male leopard. Prince, our spotter, sitting in the front of the truck using hand signals and directing us...

Sark17 Loc: Atlanta, GA

The story: Yesterday morning we were tracking a male leopard. Prince, our spotter, sitting in the front of the truck using hand signals and directing us to follow the prints. He would raise one hand and the vehicle would halt immediately so he could listen for alerts being given by the animals to hopefully use those as his GPS to where this beautiful guy was. We spent an hour yesterday morning and an hour the evening before searching for him. The Leopard is extremely elusive and not a common sight in and of itself, but to see one with a "kill" is very unique. Now, on many safaris, you will see trucks and trucks and trucks on top of trucks, but that's not how it is here. Not at all. In fact, we have seen just two others since we've been here AND they will not allow more than 3 at any one sighting. There are a zillion benefits to that (for visitors AND animals) but the ONE downside is there are far less eyes looking for the animals you want to see. So, with only 3 trucks on a zillion acres of land, we looked for ONE animal. A lodge close to us radioed in at about 6:30am and said they were tracking one again. We put the truck in gear and hauled tail over that direction. Bouncing around, climbing rocks, dust blowing, the engine roaring, adrenaline rushing... we were on our way!
By the time we got there we saw a truck stopped - that usually means they're looking at something. But since we didn't get the radio call, we had no idea what it was. We approached slowly and THIS is what we saw!
Something I learned - the Hyena is a CRAZY predator. I always pictured them as a pesky coyote. Mange and scrawny and scampering away from big animals. NOT TRUE. The Hyena in fact ALWAYS steals the kills from the bigger prey and they KILL leopards regularly. They are STRONG and they crunch through bone like we eat an apple (our guides description).
We see this INCREDIBLE animal dragging his breakfast along the path, not too concerned with us or much of anything really UNITL he caught the scent of the approaching Hyena. He needed a plan, FAST. He had already dragged his meal to the closest tree, which they do for IF they need an escape route - this morning he did.

He laid down to eat for a while but then immediately we saw him start to worry and we looked around to see this Hyena approaching. So with a LOT of determination and a hell of a lot more muscle, he lifted this Impala up into the tree. Panting, grunting, struggling to hold his kill and not drop it to the awaiting hyena below... It was intense. He eventually climbed to a branch that was literally directly over the truck we were in which was a little 😳, but we left him to his meal and carried on to see a lot more beautiful animals, including an elephant who literally walked within 3 feet of me and I was sitting so high I was at eye level!

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Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good series, Sark.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Narrative and photos!

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Great photos as well as interesting text - way to go!

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Terrific.

Who was your tour operator and where were you?

CWGordon

Having been on a Safari I truly appreciate both the luck and hard work it takes to find a Leopard. That you got such wide open shots is wonderful. Which Park is this? I am planning to go back next year and want a Park with few other guests. You have a Park that sounds great. Thank you for the great photos.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Sark17 wrote:

The story: Yesterday morning we were tracking a male leopard. Prince, our spotter, sitting in the front of the truck using hand signals and directing us to follow the prints. He would raise one hand and the vehicle would halt immediately so he could listen for alerts being given by the animals to hopefully use those as his GPS to where this beautiful guy was. We spent an hour yesterday morning and an hour the evening before searching for him. The Leopard is extremely elusive and not a common sight in and of itself, but to see one with a "kill" is very unique. Now, on many safaris, you will see trucks and trucks and trucks on top of trucks, but that's not how it is here. Not at all. In fact, we have seen just two others since we've been here AND they will not allow more than 3 at any one sighting. There are a zillion benefits to that (for visitors AND animals) but the ONE downside is there are far less eyes looking for the animals you want to see. So, with only 3 trucks on a zillion acres of land, we looked for ONE animal. A lodge close to us radioed in at about 6:30am and said they were tracking one again. We put the truck in gear and hauled tail over that direction. Bouncing around, climbing rocks, dust blowing, the engine roaring, adrenaline rushing... we were on our way!
By the time we got there we saw a truck stopped - that usually means they're looking at something. But since we didn't get the radio call, we had no idea what it was. We approached slowly and THIS is what we saw!
Something I learned - the Hyena is a CRAZY predator. I always pictured them as a pesky coyote. Mange and scrawny and scampering away from big animals. NOT TRUE. The Hyena in fact ALWAYS steals the kills from the bigger prey and they KILL leopards regularly. They are STRONG and they crunch through bone like we eat an apple (our guides description).
We see this INCREDIBLE animal dragging his breakfast along the path, not too concerned with us or much of anything really UNITL he caught the scent of the approaching Hyena. He needed a plan, FAST. He had already dragged his meal to the closest tree, which they do for IF they need an escape route - this morning he did.

He laid down to eat for a while but then immediately we saw him start to worry and we looked around to see this Hyena approaching. So with a LOT of determination and a hell of a lot more muscle, he lifted this Impala up into the tree. Panting, grunting, struggling to hold his kill and not drop it to the awaiting hyena below... It was intense. He eventually climbed to a branch that was literally directly over the truck we were in which was a little 😳, but we left him to his meal and carried on to see a lot more beautiful animals, including an elephant who literally walked within 3 feet of me and I was sitting so high I was at eye level!

The story: Yesterday morning we were tracking a ma... (show quote)

Good job, in all respects!

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Sark17 wrote:

The story: Yesterday morning we were tracking a male leopard. Prince, our spotter, sitting in the front of the truck using hand signals and directing us to follow the prints. He would raise one hand and the vehicle would halt immediately so he could listen for alerts being given by the animals to hopefully use those as his GPS to where this beautiful guy was. We spent an hour yesterday morning and an hour the evening before searching for him. The Leopard is extremely elusive and not a common sight in and of itself, but to see one with a "kill" is very unique. Now, on many safaris, you will see trucks and trucks and trucks on top of trucks, but that's not how it is here. Not at all. In fact, we have seen just two others since we've been here AND they will not allow more than 3 at any one sighting. There are a zillion benefits to that (for visitors AND animals) but the ONE downside is there are far less eyes looking for the animals you want to see. So, with only 3 trucks on a zillion acres of land, we looked for ONE animal. A lodge close to us radioed in at about 6:30am and said they were tracking one again. We put the truck in gear and hauled tail over that direction. Bouncing around, climbing rocks, dust blowing, the engine roaring, adrenaline rushing... we were on our way!
By the time we got there we saw a truck stopped - that usually means they're looking at something. But since we didn't get the radio call, we had no idea what it was. We approached slowly and THIS is what we saw!
Something I learned - the Hyena is a CRAZY predator. I always pictured them as a pesky coyote. Mange and scrawny and scampering away from big animals. NOT TRUE. The Hyena in fact ALWAYS steals the kills from the bigger prey and they KILL leopards regularly. They are STRONG and they crunch through bone like we eat an apple (our guides description).
We see this INCREDIBLE animal dragging his breakfast along the path, not too concerned with us or much of anything really UNITL he caught the scent of the approaching Hyena. He needed a plan, FAST. He had already dragged his meal to the closest tree, which they do for IF they need an escape route - this morning he did.

He laid down to eat for a while but then immediately we saw him start to worry and we looked around to see this Hyena approaching. So with a LOT of determination and a hell of a lot more muscle, he lifted this Impala up into the tree. Panting, grunting, struggling to hold his kill and not drop it to the awaiting hyena below... It was intense. He eventually climbed to a branch that was literally directly over the truck we were in which was a little 😳, but we left him to his meal and carried on to see a lot more beautiful animals, including an elephant who literally walked within 3 feet of me and I was sitting so high I was at eye level!

The story: Yesterday morning we were tracking a ma... (show quote)

Wow. I don't know which was better, the photos or the narrative......really, both are fantastic.... Love the photos...... You did good......

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

You have a terrific series of shots. In Tanzania in April we were fortunate to see three different leopards, all high up in large trees and all had kills with them. I think two kills were warthogs. It is incredible how much strength the leopard has to leap and carry large animals up into trees.

I didn't realize that the hyenas were so aggressive. We only saw a couple in the Ngorongoro Crater. On several lion kills we saw, the jackals and buzzards kept a very wary distance even after the lions ate and dozed in the graze nearby.

Again, great series of leopard images.

Stash Loc: South Central Massachusetts

Excellent series.

Iron Sight Loc: Utah

Thank you for the images along with the description.

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

Glad to see you made the trip! These are magnificent shots! Very envious of your trip! Hope you took a ton of cards so you can spend time editing when you get back. Keep the trip shots coming!!!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Thank you for posting these AWESOME photographs. And I hardly ever use that word. And the narration was great too. What park? What tour company? I'm going next year. I would very much like to see more photos!

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

I feel like I have watched a mini movie with your descriptions and photos. All very nicely done. Two thumbs up!!!!👍👍