Aat&Elly-Story 11 - Picasso & Friends (AWD)

[Flutterby]

Stunning sable sighting, and the male is really handsome!

[aat]

Thanks a lot for all the comments. I was a bit busy with other things and with the tuskers. Many entries and lots of ID work but time for another story...

*** Travel Tales ***
Trip to Kruger NP 2015 (October – November) New series of Stories

03 – Private conversation with ?

Welcome back again at Mopani. Shongololo loop (near Mopani) , it’s very early in the morning , still a bit dark and not really awake. We were just on our way and suddenly 3 male lions crossed the small road. Before we realized what happened they were almost gone, so I could only make a few pictures.

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and

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This was just a warming-up for a special private conversation I had also on this Shongololo loop. Another day, late afternoon (around 4:30) and slowly driving looking left…right till I saw something at the RH side …it was small but…

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African Wild Cat (male) probably just preparing for the evening

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Never thought a AWC could be so relaxed. When I saw him I rushed to make a few pictures with the idea he will be gone in a few seconds but he was with me for about 15 minutes before I had to leave to be back on time at Mopani

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I was thinking if I ever seen a male AWC in the wild … answer…no… I was talking (whispering) to him and sometimes he was looking at me. Great moment to have this cat all for yourself.

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You can see he enjoyed the conversation too. I told him he was beautiful and answered with a “wink”

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Amazing moment. So quiet on this loop and being together with this small cat. Also thinking of so many people saying you don’t see cats near Mopani…. I had this “smile” on my face… seen 4 different cats near Mopani (what else ……??? ) smileeeeeeeeeee

Isn’t he cute ?

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In the mean time it was getting darker and and looking at my watch I had to move on but… felt it was so special… just could not get away
Before he moved under the tree

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A last shot of him and byeee….

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Another day in Kruger and another special moment….. this conversation with an AWC

See you next time with another Mopani special….


Aat & Elly

[Richprins]

Wow!

Strange for it to sit still for so long!

[nan]

not easy to find a mini cat in Kruger, well done

and to converse with

[Pumbaa]

Awesome sightingss you had on the Shongololo Loop, Aat,

with all the cats - We in fact had not that luck so far there with sightings

[Lisbeth]

What a nice surprise meet with a kitty, that did not run away, but stayed for a chat

[Flutterby]

Great sighting of the AWC and lovely pics.

[Alf]

Nice to see the pictures of the special meeting Aat

[aat]

Hi all.... thanks for the comments for last AWC story.... this time a Big Cat near Mopani

*** Travel Tales ***
Trip to Kruger NP 2015 (October – November) New series of Stories

04 – Leppy Time near Mopani

Still in Mopani and after an early morning drive we had breakfast. It was 9 AM as we decided to make another drive. Leaving camp and before the T-junction we saw this leopard just jumping into the first tree at the lh-side.

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A bit breathless since we were just discussing what direction to go at the T-junction and really did not expect to see a leopard here and now.

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A leopard is always great to look at, even in a tree when he/she is moving a bit and posing for the pictures.

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and

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Many times if you see a leopard in a tree he/she will be there for a long time… sleeping and you ? waiting till ….. Not this time, after exactly 18 minutes she came down.

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What direction to go , walking away or getting closer …pleaseeeee…. ?
And what happened… she took that didge towards us…

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We were with our car on the road and the leopard was following this didge going under the road so how close can you get leopard ? This was just a few meters away

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Almost disappearing “under our car”

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Gone…. Is she going to stay / sleep / wait under the road or…?
Lucky….!! She appeared at the other side of the road smileeeeeeeeeeee

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Still breathless of this sighting… what a beauty !!

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Last shot of this amazing leopard.

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Mopani is not that bad….

Thanks again for joining us and with this story Elly and I wish you a Merry X-Mas and see you next time with another Mopani story…. That story will be specially for Richard-Okie-Alf and Nan……..


Aat & Elly

[harrys]

WOW what a wonderful sighting of my favorite animal