SANParks.org Forums

So we recently had the good fortune of visiting KTP at the beginning of Dec.....we stayed over at Nossob on the night of the 7 Dec. It was one of those warm, muggy nights.....not a whisper of a breeze......the air just sat ontop of you. I was having great difficulty getting to sleep.....toss and turn......toss and turn . Eventually, I heard the jackals start up to the South of the camp......they were very agitated......quick glance at a watch 23h20....... . I carried on listening, the howling getting closer and closer...... ......to get up and have a look at the waterhole or not...... ......eventually I decided to drag myself out of bed.....grab the torch.....electricity has been off for a while, and boy is it dark out! The jackals are still at it so I gingerly head out towards the hide......now you got to understand what primevil instincts come to life out there in the dark knowing that there is possibly a large'ish predator on the prowl on the otherside of a thin wire fence......and you are wandering around in your PJ's with a torch as your defence..... ...

Anyway.....I make it to the hide, and try to make my way as quietly as possible to the viewing deck......Wow, that hide can creak worse than Urikaruus' cabins!!!! Get to the viewing deck.......shine torch out.......... .......

Ok ....gotta run back to camp to get video/camera/anything........run as quietly as possible over creaky planking........charge to camp ....grab video.....camera locked in car......damn!!!!

High tail it back to hide......hope its still there.....shine torch out.....she stares back at me with amber eyes.......



Ther rest I will put up once I can get youtube to co-operate

Beautiful, Jo! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing encounter with us.
Sometimes a spell of insomnia is not the worst thing to suffer of.

wow..what a wonderful sighting !!!!
The jackals are right tittle tales..they always shout when predators are around. !!!!
Lucky for some !

Jo now we know, those of us who stare at the GREEN SCREEn after lighst out...

Maybe they do prefer to come to the waterhole when the light is off (I would, if I was a Leopard )!!!

wow what a sighting and a great night to suffer from insomnia! thanks for sharing

Know that feeling only too well

What a wonderful sighting Jo
Now I am keeping my fingers crossed that YouTube will be kind to you
And we are going to see more of this beauty...

Jo - What a wonderful and special sighting
Can't wait to see more
Debbie

Beautiful sighting Jo

Tahnks for sharing that very special moment with us

Wow Jo, great sighting!

WOW Jo, this is amazing. Thanks so much for sharing this beauty.
It must have been so exciting to be there

Jo - wonderful sighting. I laughed at you running across in your pj's with a torch and camera as protection. Far braver than I.

260 days till SA
266 days till Kruger

Well done Jo - what a brilliant sighting - I bet you looked dehind you quite often as you wandered across to the hide entrance

Fantastic sighting Jo! Thrilling to see 'The Spotted One' at Nossob. I've run to the hide at 4 in the morning(with SO) and it's pretty scary, so you were brave going all by yourself! Thanx for sharing this special sighting!

Great sighting Jo - glad you managed to capture those special moments so that you can re-live them over and over.

(I know that feeling oh so well of walking into the dark alone - the worst is turning your back on the dark and walking back (but that may be just me ))

Fantastic video footage Jo, thanks for sharing.