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I'm not sure which leopard this was, I'm afraid. I know there's an identification program going on with the leopards, but I've not yet had a chance to go through all the information there yet. But if I or anyone else is able to identify her, I'll definitely report back.

As for whether the Brownie knew if the leopard was there or not.... I honestly can't understand how he couldn't. The sun would have been in his favour, as was the wind. It, quite literally, circled that tree and walked directly underneath the leopard twice, sniffing intently. Unless it was blind and had a bad sinus cold, it should have been very aware that the leopard was at the very least nearby.

...however, it showed no nervousness, nor did it show any concern about the leopard's presence.

I would say that it is more likely that the Hyena knew the leopard was there, but had already sized it up and decided that it posed no threat. This was, after all, a female leopard - and thus smaller and less of a danger then a male would be. In addition, Brownies, while smaller then Spotties, still have tremendously powerful jaws.

If it had been a large male leopard, the Hyena may have behaved differently..... but I really doubt I'll ever be lucky enough to see that face-off, after getting to have a ringside seat for this one! (Not that I'm not hoping, of course!!)

Thank you Miros

Wonderful sighting and very interesting too

Maybe the brownie was hoping she could be intimidated into handing over some food

Moose wrote

Night Drive last night:

Seriously unforgettable night... Porcupine in the road- a first for our well-travelled guests, so they were thrilled. Also plenty of lions to keep us on our toes...


Thanks again once again Moose for a stunning experience during the subject night drive! Porcupine was "magic", Lions, especially two of them, kept all involved on their toes, chasing us away from TR (sometimes in reverse). Unfortunately, not one of us had a camera with us during this experience. Somehow I don't think any of the other guests would have been able to use one due to some state of panic.
Thanks a stack to KG for providing back-up in the middle of the night to get everyone back to camp safely!
Highlight of the evening was the Ghecko walking aroung on the windscreen frame during the whole trip and arrived back at camp with us.

welcome to the forum petrovski
what a chance you had to have a drive with Moose and a super nice drive

Thanks for the welcome anne-marie. It was my first post, although I've been a member for a long time.
Still new and a bit rusted but sometime or other I should get it right.

It was definately stunning drive, which I don't think Moose will ever forget

@petrovski

Welcome to the forum, although you are not a newcomer.

It was indeed an experience to "escort" the game drive vehicle back with lions which were not happy at all that evening. I do get the feeling that the lions you and I came across was the lions which went into the tent at Rooiputs.

KG

More detail please.

Nossob Sightings:

Sunset Drive
Bateleurs, Tawnys, PCG’s, African Harrier Hawk
5 lionesses
Faithful antelope friends


Night Drive
Bat eared fox
Cape fox
Brown hyena
Cheetah (who was so huge we thought it was a leopard!)
Spotted eagle owls
The usual antelope

Regarding the lion incident, it was just a mating couple which under NO circumstances wanted the game drive vehicle to pass them and the lions kept the vehicle going back for a few kilometres.

Just back from a lovely 2 weeks in the park.

Here are my thoughts on the current "sightings" (obviously as experienced by me) staying at least 3-4 days in all 3 main camps:

TR: very green, definitely had the most rain, but good sightings all around - I think I should've stayed longer. On our last afternoon in the Park we had an awesome time with 4 cheetahs near Batulama (all on our own) and on the final quick morning drive to Rooiputs we saw an AWC, 4x cheetah (on opposite SA side but far due to road construction), and lions twice near Rooiputs. I do hope the waterhole is opened up again soon and that the road construction now finishes quickly as I do love this stretch of river.

Nossob: Also had lots of rain - resulting in LONG grass. The gate times changing also didn't work in my favour, as from 1 March we could only go out at 06h30 and often I was tracking fresh lion tracks only to realise they had just gotten off the road and lost in the long grass. The place seems to be swarming with lions. Many tracks every day between Kwang and Bedinkt. 4 Lovely males in the Kousaunt area. Large male (tracks only) between Marie's and Kaspersdraai, 2 lionesses hung around Marie's all the time we were there. Once again, as in November, I was very lucky with cheetah sightings up north. Found mom with 4 cubs close to Cubitje one morning crossing the road, and 3 large males drinking from puddles in the road north of Kwang on the same morning.

Mata-Mata: I had high expectations as a friend had LOADS of lion and cheetah action only 2 weeks before me in this area. We had only 1 lion sighting in 5 days (lone young male) and a pride at 14th (far away) on our way down out of the Park. Good cheetah sightings, all of then lone males - where are all the females with cubs who were swarming the place in November? This area certainly has had the least rain and is driest. Saw giraffe herds every day - most I've seen in the park. LOTS of general game around which makes the predator scarcity strange to me??

All in all - the park is brimming with life and you still need a bit of luck to find the proper sightings.

One question to Jannie - why do you think the springboks haven't lambed yet? No lambs dropping at all! Is it because of not enough rain?

PS: was good to meet you and your family at reception!
PPS: I really think the Park management can keep the gate closing time at 19h30 for the period of March (perhaps April) as it was VERY frustrating to have to turn back to camp when the sun has a long way to go before setting!!

Hi Morkel

Sounds like you had an amazing time in the park with stunning sightings - can't wait for your trip report with your wonderful photos

I may be wrong but I think the springboks lambed quite early this time - there were certainly lots of babies when we were there towards the end of November last year and I seem to recall reading somewhere that they dropped their babies earlier than normal ?? If so they would be quite big by now ....

Found Jannies post of 17 October last year :
The springboks don’t really have a specific season when the start dropping lams, they normally lam just before the rains so that there would be enough food for the youngsters, but this year they are early...very early as there have been lams from about a month ago.

Hope that helps

Thanks - still got to finish up a few "late" trip reports before I get to this one

Thanks for the information - makes sense then. I was there at the end of November too and saw some lambs but didn't think they were that young and figured they might have been the beginning of the year's younglings - might explain the amazing cheetah activity we had in that time!

Vote here for Cricket 2013 to be in KTP.

Morning all,

Herewith the sightings from Nossob.

Sunset Drive
Marshall eagle
Spotted eagle owls
Barn owls
Brown snake eagle
Jackals
African wild cat
Bat eared foxes
The usual antelope
Lion spoor everywhere ….. but no luck in finding them

Night Drive
3 lionesses
2 lionesses
African wild cat
1 lion
Spotted eagle owls
Barn owls
Brown hyena
2 lion and 2 lionesses
Bat eared foxes
Jackals
Small spotted genet
Our faithful antelope friends

I have to return for... the Barn Owl