Africa Wild

February 2, 2024
Afternoon Drive

We were on our way back to camp when we came across a couple of cars in the road. Luckily for us a car moved off and we were able to find a spot and work out what everybody was looking at. A bundle of spots... We didn't think that this bundle of spots was going anywhere soon so we decided we had better head back to camp....there was this small matter of gate closing time that needed attending to...it was already 18h48 - with the gates closing at at 19.30.

We were just about to pull away when a lioness came on the scene. I had got really excited when I saw the lioness approach ... I was on my knee aiming my camera through Doug's open window...I was so ready for this barney that was about to happen. She had not seen the leopard (bundle of spots in the far right of the image) but leopard had seen her and he shot up but immediately lay down flatter than flat.....she just continued walking past without a backward glance at all.
Leopard gingerly sat up and checking whether the coast was clear.
Obviously he was no longer comfortable with the lioness in the vicinity and started heading off...

Constantly checking behind him.....
Walked right past Monty...
The leopard was not at all perturbed about the cars ...image taken through the windscreen. I think he was more intent on getting away from the lioness
One more backwards glance before crossing the road in front of us ..another windscreen shot.

I think leopard was grateful for the protection the cars offered ....
One more glance before heading off towards the dune....we were elated ....but there was that small matter of gate closing that needed attending to. It had been a wonderful day with wonderful sightings and we still had 24 more days of game viewing. We were happy to go back to camp. ( although I would have enjoyed photographing leopard and lioness having an altercation )

Great Leopard photos

......

I'm often mad at the lions for annoying other animals one way or another.
But in your case, the lioness did some good, hey?
Great photos! Was it on the Nossob side?

Just great A fight lion/leopard would have been better, but alas

WoW Michele,

what a sighting and what stunning spots you got