Day 4 Friday June 21, 2013

We are sleeping in tents but each tent has a bathroom.  It feels like camping but its not really roughing it.  when you can turn a faucet and get hot water -- I have learned after 25 years in Africa it's luxury!  We have seen lion, cape buffalo, elephants, Tobi Antelope, heartebeast, water buffalo, giraffe, zebra, black back jackal, wildebeest, Grant Gazelle, Thompson Gazelle, crested crane, helmet guinea fowl, baboons, ostrich, vultures, hyenas, warthogs, impala, secretary bird, the bastard bird, crocodile, yellow billed stork, hippos, cheetah but the most memorable was the leopard.

After hearing over the vehicles radio that a leopard was sighted our driver took off in a cloud of dust.  We arrived to find 25 vehicles lined up on the road with their inhabitants straining eyes through binoculars.  The leopard was laying on a hill but it was far away.  If I cant see its eyeballs I don't think it counts on safari.  After some time the leopard arose and disappeared.  One by one the vehicles drove off until we were only four remaining.  Our driver Peter announced the car in front of us held a ranger and he was going closer for a better look and we could follow but only to pass by.  Driving we hunted for the cat with our eyes.  Levi spotted the animal hidden in the bush not more than five feet away.... it was snarling at us.  Bess exclaimed, "the color is beautiful -- better than any picture".  We left satisfied. We nearly killed each other with our cameras seeking the perfect picture -- Cozz won the honor elbowing us all out of the shot.  We were paparazzi at its worst.

After thirty minutes of driving Peter (our driver) announced the leopard was on the move again.  We raced back to the road.  There was panic as we became momentarily stuck as we turned around.  Peter managed to manuver himself in front of three other vehicles and we drove directly alongside the leopard as he casually walked down the road.  I carelessly hung out the vehicle window snapping pictures.  Ashley behind me whispering in panic "mom get back inside and close the window".  Paul added, "Ya'll are not going to be happy until that leopard is in the car mixing it up with us".  At the moment we passed the leopard spotted something in the grass and crouched down in hunting mode.  Shap!  The perfect picture of a leopard hunting.