Africa Wild

22nd Lower Sabie continued

The leopard paused for a few seconds, crossed the road in front of us, did some scent marking in the grass next to the road and then lay down looking at us. (In the first pic below you can see the other cars further up the road still looking for him in the thick bush)



While the leopard was parking off in the grass I informed all that it wasn’t “Sausage” and pointed out the missing distinctive markings. The Rats were silent a few seconds and then a naming exercise started in the back seat. Albert thought he was a doff looking leopard and others said he looked like a “Ricky”, so from now on he was called “Thicky Ricky”.

Two more cars arrived while the leopard was parking off so he started to look around, then he got up, crossed the road again and went to park off in a sandy patch below the riverbank.

The leopard parked off another 10 minutes before getting up and disappearing into the reeds so we decided to continue on, but first thanked the guy in the VW Kombi for indicating to us that the leopard was about to enter the road.

Around 1.5km later we hit the brakes again because there were around 6 cars parked off in the little dirt loop at Lubyelubye and we quickly spotted another leopard relaxing in the shade on the rocks.

This was “Sausage” so the Rats were stoked that we had found him again a year later in almost exactly the same spot on Lubyelubye rocks where we found him twice in October 2018.


Minutes later we noticed that there were also lions parking off in the riverbed below Lubyelubye and then the 1 lioness got up and seemed interested in something.

We had been distracted by the lions for around 60 seconds, but then the focus turned back to the leopard and I hit a flap straight away.

“Where’s Sausage!”

The leopard was in front of us but had disappeared and none of us had seen him move which irritated all of us, however another vehicle’s occupants had seen him move and they indicated that the leopard had moved quickly when the lioness got up, but he had ducked around the rocks and out of sight.

We had experienced his exit pattern twice before so drove up to the main road and stopped on the bridge, switched off and waited.

This didn’t last though because everybody thought we could see something so I had 4 cars parked behind me and 2 cut in front. Then every passing car stopped to ask what we could see and after the 5th car, I hit a wobble and drove off down the road, turned and stopped to re-group.

We had a discussion and decided to drive back over the Lubyelubye Bridge and further up the H4-1 towards Skukuza as it was just after 8:30am, so still early.

As we neared the Lubyelubye Bridge again it was clear that “Sausage” had eventually followed his normal route because there were waving hands and cameras out on the bridge.

“Sausage” had moved under the bridge and you could only see him if you stopped on the bridge, so chaos erupted quickly.


It only takes 1 selfish person to create drama and some toss decided that he wasn’t moving for anybody. I did some serious manoeuvring while the Cow squawked in my ear “You aren’t going to fit, you aren’t going to make it, I’m not looking, etc”, but we got through the traffic jam.

It was much more peaceful on the other side of the Bridge as the chaos was like a magnet to most and people were just driving into the traffic jam just because it was a traffic jam.

The lions in the riverbed below weren’t even featuring, however they were on the move north and only a few people had picked up on it so we decided to move towards the next loop just around the corner.

Two Sanparks rangers had now arrived on the bridge to sort the chaos out which was good, but it was certainly going to take them awhile.

To be continued

And the leopard luck continues Two very awesome sightings
Plus, there are still some decent people left in the Kruger

Half spotting and half commuting!

You must get one of those "birders, please pass" signs!

You lucky fish! I am

Before going to Kruger in January, I'll have to re-read all your TTs and take notes, because obviously some of those spotties are creatures of habit

More leopards

That traffic jam you can keep thank you. My blood pressure will go sky high in that chaos

Unbelievable!! Two massive leopards and lots of other kitties in between.

Mel wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:50 pm And the leopard luck continues Two very awesome sightings
Plus, there are still some decent people left in the Kruger

Kruger still has a few with manners visiting, but in the south of the park people tend to lose the plot at sightings

Richprins wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2019 8:41 am Half spotting and half commuting!

You must get one of those "birders, please pass" signs!

I have plotted that bird sign, I think we need to get 1