Leopard love


16 June 2016

After sending our GM, guide and two journalists off to Xobega island for two days, I resorted so reading about animal behaviour and identifying the birds at the waterhole. Definitely going to do it tomorrow as well. It’s just so peaceful with no one around and I get to do what I want for a change. No small talk!! And I took an afternoon nap – wasn’t the best since it was stinken hot, but it was still good not having to think about anyone else. Even baked cinnamon rolls yesterday – BAD IDEA!! What happened to carb free days?! Even had freshly baked bread rolls when the guests were here…I can’t say no to that. And I didn’t eat last night’s roll. Does that count? Guess I made up for it by chowing all those cinnamon rolls today…I could actually have another now that I’m thinking about them. Going to give them to the staff tomorrow so that I can’t be tempted anymore.

But the best part of today – casually sitting at the waterhole sipping my coffee when I see a male leopard strolling towards the water! WHAT! We’ve seen his tracks in camp, and the staff saw his tracks close to their tents, but it’s the first time I see him at camp. He’s beautiful. Wonder if he was as curious about me as I was about him. Caught him starting at me while I studied him through my binos. My heart rate definitely increased when he started coming closer to the camp – our dining tent overlooks the waterhole which is about 200m away. I’m just so chuffed that I got to take a few photos, although it’s not a close up, it’s a start. Also put up a camera trap but the path he loves walking along so hopefully we get a few good photos. I just love how their tails curl at the tip when they walk so gracefully. Man what a sighting! And aaaaall by myself. I am however safely tucked into my tent before sunset as to avoid any extreme close up encounters with the beautiful boy.

Who knows what tomorrow might bring….

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Botswana-lovin

Image
So that’s where I am at the moment, sitting in a dilapidated little chalet in Seronga, a small town situated in Northern Botswana, on the side of the delta which tourists seldom visit. Painted a pretty picture right, ag it’s not bad, it’s extremely rural – picture majestic elephants roaming freely between the villagers at dusk and dawn; fetching water either from a manually operated borehole or a tap; getting to the closest town (110km) away by crossing the delta with a ferry and having local kiddies shout “kua” which means white person every single time you pass them. So as you can imagine, it’s a little different to what I am used too, but it’s Africa and I love it.  Although I do miss having a fridge and everything that comes with that. I’ve already warned the family back home that I’m expecting the biggest braai known to man when I return as I need to catch-up on all the meat I’m missing out on while living the dream in Botswana (only slightly sarcastic on that note). So let...
Read more

Botswana lovin' continues. with just a little bit more drama

It's been a while since I've thought about writing down anything about my conservation adventures, which is terrible I know, and it's not that I haven't had stories to tell so I'm rather going to summarise everything that has happened until now instead of thinking of an excuse. 1. I was lucky enough to be able to see rhinos, elephants and lions almost every week while working with ACE on the Game Ranger Experience program offered in Hoedspruit. The guy I worked with was a special case of crazy, calling me Angel after only knowing each other for a few days, but he had a good heart and I learnt a lot from him. 2. I finally get to Botswana and then the fun starts....or more like first the frustration with working with human beings, their plain lack of common sense (you'll soon realise I rant a lot of this) but also their loving nature. (insert the start of my Botswana adventure) 9 June 2016 10:42pm After endlessly rolling around, trying to fall asleep, I...
Read more

I don't want to work with humans

18 June 2016 The guide was supposed to be back yesterday after dropping off the journalists as well as our GM in Maun, but he hasn’t arrived back yet. And just my luck that my airtime is done again! Prepaid phones are going to be the end of me. I’ve already practised the lecture I’m going to be giving him about using company cars on his free will without even letting me know or asking permission. Even if the GM gave him permission, I’d appreciate it if he would let me know as well since it’s the camps vehicle. The good ol mechanic finally arrived yesterday to install the pump for the camps waterhole. But of course it can never be as easy as that – first the borehole was covered with a layer of mud – who would have guessed after it not being used for 2 years that mud be accumulate. When he finally broke through the mud, it appeared that there was no water. Goodness. I don’t think he actually knows what he’s doing. Marinus said he’ll come look when he comes next week. It’s a ne...
Read more