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A naughty little bat in hut 13 at Olifants camp, decided that it was time to wake my brother at two in the morning, so it dislodged an ants nest in the roof, onto his head!
Very memorable experience indeed!!!

Tamboti night visitors

COS

Hi Ian, What a wonderful experience. We have been to Tamboti a few times and it is wonderful.

You can realy tell a good story.

My sister camped right next to the gate at Maroela once, which you know is next to Tamboti. Most people were out of camp when she noticed a leopard walking towards the gate. They ran and closed the gate. (Not that a closed gate could stop it) but it did change its mind and went off into the bush.

Hi gabbisa,

Thanks for the kind words

That's precisely how I assume 'my leopard' got into Tamboti. Both it and Maroela have unmanned gates, and it's only by chances such as your sister's that these situations are avoided. Although, I really don't mind sharing a camp with as many animals as are around, as it adds to the 'wild' experience

IMAGINE WALKING INTO A LEOPARD OR LION!!! WHAT TO DO THEN???

If I was to choose, I would pick the lion rather than the leopard.

O DO AGREE!! BUT I WILL BE RUNNING ALL THE WAY!!

Rufie if you choose to run I can tell you the same line from the film Ghost and the Darkness "The lion will eat you" Best thing to do is to stand your ground and slowly reverse. If you turn your back and run you will be chased down.....

Ian that is an amazing story. Leopards do tent to wander in between tents. We were camping on a farm north east of Bronkhorstspruit one long weekend and the first night I woke up around 3h30 am from footsteps on the ground sheet under the tent with a perimeter of about 30cm not covered by tent. At first light I went out to investigate and found leopard tracks which was confirmed by a HR camping with us. The next evening he was back again.

I read both of the "Veldwagters vertel" books and there are some amazing stories of rangers and their encounters with big cats. It is definitely worth a read...

HALLO DrPhil


I know that I must stand still,butt personally I think that's it hard to stand still! lol

I think from the fright of a growling lion all muscles become jelly and as soon as you turn around you will collapse and become dinner.....

The previous Mooiplaas ranger Johan Oelofse told us that he once had a big male lion charge him only to stop less than a meter from him. Spit and dust all over him. He is a huge man with a beard so the lion might have mistaken him for a rival male. But even he said he never wanted that to happen to him again.

Wow that's sounds scary!

He is also the ranger who got attacked by a leopard in Mopani restcamp only to have his field rangers shoot the leopard ontop of him.

When you see a lion, your whole being wants to run away, but their prey runs so they chase it.
You have to resist the urge and be strong and loud and aggressive, and he usually runs off. If not, well you gave it your best shot!

Ian Grant, a magical story that you were privileged to be part of! And you're a superb raconteur! What was satisfying is that the story had a happy ending for everybody; the stuff of great books.