Kruger and Sabi Sands - a safari of elephants and leopards (and much else)

[Peter Connan]

Well you certainly saw leopards, and up close too!

[pomkiwi]

Into the Night (with Leopards)

 

If you don't want to see lots of images of leopards, best look away.

 

The young leopard was looking to move:

 

 

Mum was also moving but not far:

 

 

The cub passed behind the vehicle:

 

Meeting the adult as she moved across the grass:

 

 

 

As the adult moved back to shade the cub climbed into a tree where dinner was waiting:

 

Meanwhile mum was moving around and seemed to be calling. Eventually the second cub who we had yet to see emerged:

 

There was the usual meeting with mum followed by a wash:

 

 

The cubs exchanged places at the dinner table (we did not get a good view of this as another vehicle was in the spot):

 

The second cub came back down a few minutes later :

 

Bounced behind our vehicle:

 

 

Finally we got to see the family together:

 

This didn't last long as mum decided it was time for her to eat:

 

The cubs waited patiently as evening drew in, unfortunately they didn't play - presumably as it was too warm. The moon was spectacular and it is clear (pun intended) how much pollution we have in the atmosphere at home:

 

After a while we left the family to it and headed away. Outside of the lodge we met a young female leopard who had a cub of a few weeks age secreted close by although we did not follow her:

 

All in all a stunning afternoon with leopards - over three hours with a single family most of it on our own. 

 

Edited July 3 by pomkiwi

[KaliCA]

All your leopard pics are a feast for the eyes! And the greenery makes the cub look especially lovely. You can count yourself very lucky to have seen Sable in Kruger. None for me in 5 visits. Maybe next year?

Thanks for sharing your pics and narrative. 

[michael-ibk]

Great Leopard sighting - and photos!

[Peter Connan]

Any amount of photooverdose is acceptable for a sighting that special!