Look out for Leopards

Perhaps the most elusive and enigmatic of all the big cats found in Africa, the leopard is one animal that most guests on safari would love to get a glimpse of during their time in the bush. Leopards are incredibly beautiful. Their coats are marked with unique rosettes, and they have eyes that draw you in. These big cats are as deadly as they are beautiful. Bruce Bryden (a previous long standing Head Warden of the Kruger National Park) dedicated an entire chapter in his book, “A Game Ranger Remembers”, to the leopard. The chapter was called “Killer of Consummate Grace” and it is very apt for this creature. The way a leopard moves is captivating, and they have an ability to simply melt away into the bush, as if they were never there. However, this does not in anyway mean that you will not see a leopard on safari. One must have a real stroke of luck or be looking very carefully in the right place. When on safari, never neglect looking into the trees or thickets around riverbeds. Often a leopard can be found snoozing the day away on the bough of a Marula Tree or lying half hidden in the shade of a Lala Palm. Always be on the lookout for leopards as they can surprise you when you least expect it.

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