30th Lower Sabie
It was a cooler overcast day, but a Sunday, so we knew that the day visitor numbers would climb through the roof again and by 9am the H4-1 would be jammed with traffic which isn’t my cup of tea, so the plan was to do some of the H4-2 to the S28, some of the H4-1 to the S79 causeway, basically covering the main leopard areas close to Lower Sabie and then to duck up the H10 to the Tshokwane area where there’s more space and less people.
We arrived at the camp gate just before opening time this morning and followed 2 cars down the H4-2, but they stopped again 200m outside camp for a hyena. The hyena was badly injured and I was concerned that it may have been a snare, but we couldn’t see any evidence of a snare, so if it was then it had been removed already.
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We moved on while the other 2 cars stayed with the hyena.
Just before the S28 turnoff I spotted a movement in a tree, so I hit the brakes and then the brain registered
“Leopard!”
This was maybe to soon after leaving camp for the Cow or maybe I shouted too loudly, but instead of passing the camera the Cow did some strange hand waving in the air thing and made weird noises for 5 seconds before passing me the camera, which caused a drama because the leopard was parking off on a branch totally in the open initially, but had now bailed out the tree.
I could immediately see that this was a very sensitive leopard, so instructed all to remain still and quiet. Seconds later the leopard poked his/her head out from behind the tree and checked us out for maybe 15 seconds, but another car then arrived and the leopard immediately ducked off deeper into the bush and out of sight.
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The leopard had a kill in the tree so one got the impression that the leopard would return, but I expressed my doubts purely because of the way the leopard reacted to just our car let alone the size traffic jam that could develop later in the day should he/she return, so we turned and continued with our initial plan to do some of the H4-1 next.
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We found out later in the day that the leopard never returned and only those on the night drive got a further glimpse of him/her.
Just past Sunset Dam another hyena made an appearance and a few km later our 2nd leopard of the morning was lying in a tree, but this girl was very relaxed, however in an awkward spot for a facial pic as her butt was facing the road, so we went a little past her and tried different angles, however the crowds started to grow and she soon also jumped out the tree and disappeared into the riverbed.
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Definitely had more luck than some previous trips and really had none of those "You just missed it" sightings, except 1, but we found it 
If the winter rains come early...…..it changes the entire picture
(4th and 7th)
Where were you staying 
Tomorrow's episode has a leopard sighting.... well elements of it were new for me also 
, cheetah and sable!! 