SANParks.org Forums

Wonderful thread, with fantastic sightings and pics!

There have been so many over the years, that I will have to give it a lot of thought before posting some. There is something strangely unique in being the only car present at a sighting - it's not that one wants to be selfish, but the fact that it is only your eyes that had the privilege of seeing an event that no-one ever will, sort of elevates that sighting to an almost spiritual level.

Couldnt agree more, Onewithnature. Its the fact that you have witnessed something, that perhaps only you were destined to witness Beats having the crowds around

In May 2003 I sat one morning early before a round of golf in the Lake Panic bird hide all by myself.
Next moment an impala came running towards the water from the left.... with 5 wild dogs hot in pursuit!
At the time there was very little water in the lake for some reason and the impala managed to escape the dogs with a tremendous jump over the stream leaving the dogs milling around for a few seconds before they disappeared again from the bushes they burst out a few seconds ago. And as I was video recording the sun rise I got everything on video!

What a unique sighting wildtuinman Would you mind to post the video for us

Two special sightings come to mind when we were on our own. Don't remember when but probably early 90s.

Left Punda early to go north, we might have been the first car, and at some point saw something on the road ahead. I always stop and look through the binoculars first to see what it is in case it disappears, but these two cheetah were just making their way slowly up the road. It was hot and they kept stopping to rest in shady patches and we were able to stop right next to them on the road, we could hear them purring the width of the road away from us. Stayed with them for about 20 minutes, I think, until another vehicle arrived.

The other occasion was going south from Satara on a cloudy day in the morning. We came upon a whole flock of storks, maybe more than 100, probably white storks, and one Marabou with them, in a dip in the road where it bends round to the left. They blocked the whole road and we watched them for some time, amazed at this conference in the middle of the road. A vehicle approached from the opposite direction, paused for a short time on the brow of the dip, and then slowly drove forward, at which the birds gradually took off. As the vehicle approached us I stopped them and said "Wasn't that amazing" and the man replied "Have you seen lions?"

It takes all types .....

We also came across a huge flock of White Storks on the S39 Timbavati Road a couple of years back and I must admit it was one of the highlights of our trips, same thing, there were hundreds of them in the road and on both sides, quite an incredible sighting.

Was driving on S1 Tar road and reached a traffic Jam. Stopped and asked them what they see and they replied a leopard was sitting in the tree but has moved off into thicker bush now. So i switched the car off and started scanning the area. Car after car left resulting in me being the only one looking for the leopard. Dont know what made me look in the review mirror but glad i did as this is what was looking back at me



had her all to myself for 10 min in the road drinking water.

WOW That is a terrific

Hi Massimo

What a sighting!!!

Wow!

Friedrich von Hörsten

Incredible pic Massimo

This is an amazing leopard picture.

Fantastic.

Many moons ago (1992) my SO and I were driving along the dirt road between Lower Sabie and Skukuza when out of the bush, a lioness appeared with a tiny cub held gently in her mouth. There was no-one else around and it was a very short sighting, but one that will remain with me forever!!

Easily my best sighting in the park with no one else, was my first ever Leopard. I've been waiting nearly 4 years to see one in the park, and in October 2011 i finally did,
We had stopped to give our daughter some milk, and just as we were about to drive off, Matt looked out of his window, to be greeted by the sight of this guy! He'd been laying there the whole time, and we hadn't noticed!

DSCF1273 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1274 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1279 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1280 by MattYar1974, on Flickr
We sat with him for about 10 minutes, just watching him sleep, roll over, sleep again. Then he got up, had a look around, and came and lay down again...even closer! I still couldn't believe there were no other cars around! I was expecting my first Leopard to be a traffic jam!

DSCF1282 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1283 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1285 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1286 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1293 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1294 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1295 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1298 by MattYar1974, on Flickr
About 40 minutes into our sighting, we heard another car coming, as we saw them we waved them to slow down and they did. We could see the excitement in their car as they saw what we were watching. So, it was just us two for about 10 minutes, then another car began to approach, we waved them to slow down...but they didn't...Matt started flashing his lights but they still didn't slow down. By now, our Leopard was sitting up, looking quite nervous, he really wasn't happy about the approaching car. As they reached us they slammed on the brakes but by this time Mr Leopard was having none of it, and he was up, making a run for it, into the bush and within about a minute he was completely gone.

DSCF1299 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1302 by MattYar1974, on Flickr

DSCF1304 by MattYar1974, on Flickr
The offending car drove off, clearly angry that they didn't see what they wanted to, although it was totally their own fault, but the other car stopped and thanked us for showing them the Leopard and even apologised for the other cars behaviour!

WOW, what a wonderful thread and what awesome sightings and pics!!!

Thanks to all - and please show us more!!!

What a wonderful sighting MaryMattMillie And for such a long time
would you mind to tell us where you saw this beauty?