The Great Escape

[Mel]

I've fainted when I saw your leopard sightings They are both out of this world!!!

Great photos in general again too. Love the little squirrels

[PJL]

You sure were lucky with the leopards on this trip

We were very lucky Lis - particularly this particular morning... the best sightings we've had so far

You are becoming like Bushcraft now, Peej!

What a great sighting with brilliant light.

The croc reflection is almost like a trick!

Haha I was thinking about the explosions that would have taken place in the Bushcraft vehicle at the leopard sightings... they really were amazing which was a treat

I've fainted when I saw your leopard sightings They are both out of this world!!!

Great photos in general again too. Love the little squirrels

Yep we couldn't believe our luck Mel. The two leopard sightings were both 'once in a lifetime' kinds so we were thrilled

[PJL]

Thursday July 8th contd

We popped in to Malelane gate for a quick bathroom break before heading back up to Skukuza. En-route there were some ground hornbill, elephant and a giraffe drinking again at De Laporte











For our afternoon drive we plotted to head down in the direction of Lower Sabie. The route down was pretty quiet and our first sighting of note was a wattled plover along the S79 causeway



Around this point I realised I had totally forgotten to fill up with fuel over lunchtime
Getting all the way to Lower Sabie for fuel and back to Skuks in time was going to be a big push time-wise so we decided to limp our way back towards Skukuza trying to maintain the best fuel economy possible.

On our way back we came across a small group of cars (remarkable given it was school holidays) where a leopard had jumped into a tree. Our fourth leopard of the day was a new record for us

[PJL]

Thursday July 8th contd

We moved along the road to get a different angle on the leopard who seemed very alert, but also quite happy to stay in the security of its tree







Further up the H4-1 on the way back to Skukuza there was a lion couple flopped on the road



With our lack of fuel issue we weren’t going to hang around for long and made a plot to drive past the lions and get past the cars at the sighting. However as we moved up next to them to go past, some clown from the other direction decided to park themselves in front of us.

The male lion seemed surprised that we had stopped next to him.



We motioned to the people in the other car that was blocking us that we were trying to get through but they didn’t seem capable of reversing

Fortunately at this point the lions decided to get up and walk which not only gave us room, but also put us right in the best spot for the sighting directly following them.



Once they moved off to the side, we were able to move past them. The couple were busy snarling at each other so in lion language they were clearly in love







We moved on past them so as to get back without running out of fuel





One last pic of the sunset to end what had been a brilliant day of sightings

[Lisbeth]

FOUR leopards in one day, how exaggerated and insulting to someone who has never even once seen a leopard in Kruger

[Richprins]

More leopard!

And you say you did not even have any ....

Love the lion portrait in great light again, Peej!

Interesting the Cape taxis!

[Lisbeth]

Interesting the Cape taxis!

I would use another word, certainly not "interesting". On the other hand, maybe it's the only way that they have a way to go to the Kruger, but I would like to hear the reason

[RogerFraser]

Wow more Leopards 4 in a day and Lions .

Always amazes me how some people are incapable of noticing when they are blocking the road or other people at a sighting even when you clearly trying to get past them.

Lion language -would love to see the subtitles

[Pumbaa]

Indeed four different leopards on one day is out of this world, PJL

and on top such quality sightings

Love also the hyenas, the lions, the drinking giraffe and the ground hornbills

What a day

[PJL]

FOUR leopards in one day, how exaggerated and insulting to someone who has never even once seen a leopard in Kruger

Sorry for the insult Lis

More leopard!

And you say you did not even have any ....

Love the lion portrait in great light again, Peej!

Interesting the Cape taxis!

Yeah, those taxis were very distinctive... they were all camping as well

Wow more Leopards 4 in a day and Lions .

Always amazes me how some people are incapable of noticing when they are blocking the road or other people at a sighting even when you clearly trying to get past them.

Lion language -would love to see the subtitles

Agreed... some people are a bit clueless at sightings. I'm not a fan of roadblocks at all, so we were fortunate that this time with all the travel restrictions it was much quieter than normal

Indeed four different leopards on one day is out of this world, PJL

and on top such quality sightings

Love also the hyenas, the lions, the drinking giraffe and the ground hornbills

What a day

What a day indeed Pumbaa