Leopard at night
Leopard in camp?
Greg's favorite animal in Kruger is undoubtedly the leopard. This magnificent creature possesses a strong build, remarkable camouflage, and impressive stealth. Primarily active during twilight hours, spotting them while on the move can prove quite challenging. However, leopards are adept climbers and often seek refuge in trees, concealing their prey and increasing the likelihood of daytime sightings. Leopards can be found not only in Kruger, but throughout Africa. With their unparalleled stealth and agility in scaling trees, these animals cannot be confined or restricted. While typically solitary and shy, they may attack if threatened by humans or other animals. Unsurprisingly, they hold a well-deserved position among Africa's "big five" game animals.
Thus, it was truly shocking when we stumbled upon a leopard in our camp one night. Since early rising is common in Kruger, the campground tends to quiet down by around 10 p.m. Consequently, if you need to use the restroom at midnight, your chances of encountering an animal are much higher than encountering another human being. During the night, various camp inhabitants such as honey badgers, wildcats, bushbucks, warthogs, snakes, and porcupines may roam about. But don’t the electrified fences and wildlife grids effectively keep out the more dangerous creatures? Well, almost. Most predators generally avoid venturing into the camp area. However, as mentioned earlier, leopards can be found throughout South Africa and even venture through human inhabited areas. Given a suitable tree, they can effortlessly leap over the fence.
For this reason, we rarely ventured to the washrooms at night. However, there were occasions when it was unavoidable, and we preferred to go together. One particular night, around midnight, we headed for the ablutions. It was a long walk, passing numerous campsites and clusters of trees. The night was calm, and our senses were dulled by drowsiness.
As we turned the final corner, I (Jacobine) was jolted by a sudden shock. A large, muscular creature was crossing the path not far from us. It was unmistakably a cat. "What's that?" I inquired, rather startled. Greg looked up, his gaze fixed on the creature. Without hesitation, he abruptly turned back and made a beeline for our tent. The leopard, positioned right in front of the ablution block, had also noticed us and swiftly vanished from sight. We had startled it just as much as it had startled us. Our need for the restroom was completely forgotten.
The following day, we promptly reported our nocturnal encounter at the reception. A leopard in camp could pose a potential danger. The reception staff took immediate action, assuring us that everything would be done to restore safety within the camp. Nevertheless, we were in wild animal territory, which meant remaining vigilant was an absolute necessity. One could never predict what lay around the next bend in the road.
Eye contact
Leopard with kill
