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I agree with Ndloti. Back off please. I was told that before modern medicine, most people that were mauled by a leopard died from infection instead of the wounds itself. Under the nails of a leopard, there so much rotten flesh which harbours deadly germs and stuff.

Spot on, Ndloti and Rooies

A leopard usually gives no warning prior to charging. Approaching once the leopard has gone to ground will almost certainly result in a serious charge. It's also interesting that a leopard will charge numerous times, each time from a different direction.

Some signs to watch out for:
o crouching and flattening of the ears.
o head held up with ears held forwards.
o teeth-baring and snarling.
o staring fixedly.
o head lowered and standing side-on to you.
o a leopard that takes a few quick steps towards you or your vehicle and then halts abruptly, is telling you that you are too close.

First one wins, so you're IT, Ndloti Well done to you both

Anyone is welcome to post a question as I have run out of non predicatable "on foot" questions , Rooies is unable to post , I hear he is recupereating from a knee operation .

Ndloti, Rooies, Porridge Excellent Q's and information.

Let us conclude the very eventful day;

The ranger decide to head back for camp and prepare for a nice braai the evening. Everyone has to pick up some fire wood for the braai and the ranger cautions them to look under the logs before picking it up. He warns them that spiders and scorpions may lurk under the logs. Back at camp, a big fire was started and the braai commences. Later the evening, they hear lions close by and instinctively, they grab the end of the logs with their hands and push it deeper into the fire.

Good idea or not?

Not a good idea to remove wood from the bush, especially since it is against the rules in the national parks.

And insects could have emerged from inside the logs and moved away from the fire, now sitting perched on the end of the log being grabed by the scared trailist.

Imberbe...spot on

Our group headed in to the bush early morning. They are now sitting hidden amongst some bushes approx. 35 meters from a herd of elephant. There is no real wind to speak of, but for a light whiff every now and then.

They have been watching the elephant for some time and the elephants are not aware of them, going about their business undisturbed. The elephants are feeding and are not moving around. The matriarch, which is closest to the group, is standing in a green tuft of grass. She is plucking the grass, playing with the grass, taking it to her mouth but then dropping it. The birds are singing and all is peaceful.

Our guide silently but urgently orders the group to leave the scene.

Do you think he is correct or do you side yourself with the guests who wanted to stay to take some more great photos?

A wise decision , in fact they should not have been that close to a breeding herd .
From the description supplied it is possible that the matriarch has become aware of intruders , being do close is extremely risky as the human scent and sounds of and movement can easily be carried 35 metres in which case an instantaneous charge without warning could be imminent (having experienced a similar situation) .

The matriarch is busy with what is called displacement feeding. She is acting as if she is feeding while not actualy feeding. This is a sign that she is aware of something which is not right in her environment.

Best to get out of there.

Ndloti is IT.

Great learning quiz!

Great quiz Imberbe!

Is it only the matriarch who will displacement feed, or do lone bulls do the same thing under similar circumstances?

Bulls and other females do the same. I usually watch for this behaviour as a first sign of elephants being disturbed.

Yes, we have noticed this equally with matriarchs and bulls. And they get a certain mischievous, inquisitive look in their eyes. I always smile when I see how they pretend to fool those they are watching. However, one indeed needs to take this behaviour seriously, as it may be a precursor to a charge.

Let's see what Q Ndloti conjures up ...

Thanks Imberbe!