Thank you Kruger Park for a fantastic visit. In the past two weeks, we have seen just about everything there is to see in the Kruger – the big 5 (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino), all the usual animals, honey badgers, roan and sable antelope, and many wonderful large and small birds. We’ve visited a number of the camps, from Berg-en-Dal in the south to Punda Maria in the north, and many inbetween.
All the way, however, I’ve said that I’ve never seen a leopard in a tree – that all the leopards that I have ever seen have been on the ground. I’ve seen stunning photos of leopards in trees, and my eyes scan the branches of every leopard-worthy tree we drive past, but the sight of a leopard in a tree eludes me, and it looked like it would do so again.
Then, just 2km before Malelane gate, where we would exit the park, we came upon a strange sight – an impala in a tree. Well, to be more precise, an ex-impala in a tree – surely a leopard kill! But no sign of the responsible leopard. So close, but so far!
Suddenly, with a quick and effortless motion, a leopard appeared in the tree! I couldn’t believe it! A leopard eating a kill is quite gruesome, but the leopard remains a stunningly beautiful animal, and I finally managed to get some shots of a leopard in a tree. I somehow know that this was a final gift to us. Thank you and goodbye.
