Browns in Kruger September 2021

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Bushcraft
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

Post by Bushcraft »

We didn’t stay with the leopard long as he went to sleep and a few in the car were about to pop if we didn’t make it to the loo.

We had wors rolls at Tshokwane and I did my normal sighting board stalking, however there wasn’t much happening south of Tshokwane except I did get information about a leopard kill on the S3 very close to Kruger gate from someone who had travelled up from there.

The H1-2 down to Skukuza produced the normal gang, so we stopped a few times, but it was generally rather quiet and we arrived in the Skukuza area at around 11am which was way too early for book in, so we decided to cruise to the leopard kill we had been told about.

There was some initial confusion trying to find the leopard kill, but we eventually found it right next to the road on a little loop 2km down the S3 from the H11 as there were a couple of cars parked off waiting, including some imbecile who had parked directly under the kill, but there was no leopard in sight.

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I parked and switched off a little back from the crowd and we cracked some cooldrinks as it was now around 38 degrees and rather uncomfortable.

Another cool older couple arrived and started chatting to us because they had seen a glimpse of a leopard earlier in the riverbed close to us, so I started scanning the riverbed bush and quietly said to the Cow

“The leopard is right here through the bush under a rock ledge.”

After a few more explanations of “that tree, that rock to the right, etc” everyone in the car could see the ear and spots. Nobody else at the sighting was looking anywhere close to where the leopard was which was strange, but after 15 minutes there was some movement from under the ledge and we could see a small leopard staring through the bush at us.

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The leopard checked out all the cars and then went back under the rock ledge.

It was roasting hot and people couldn’t handle it so 1 at a time they were leaving and we noticed that each time a car started up to leave the leopard peered through the bush to check and then ducked back under the rock ledge. I then realised that the leopard wanted to return to it’s kill, but the imbecile who had parked slightly off the road and directly under the kill was causing the problem. The older couple agreed, but said they were afraid to talk to him for fear of violence, however it was a leopard, so I wasn’t going to relax.

After further negotiation it was agreed that we would both head for Kruger gate for the loo and some ice creams and then return with the hope that the final 2 cars had moved off, but I decided at the last minute to improve our chances of this and stopped next to the imbecile.

“Do you realise that the leopard has come up 3 times in the last half an hour and each time turned back because of where you are parked, you need to move and give it some space!”

I got a blank faces from the sweating occupants and then

“We haven’t seen the leopard”

“Well, you won’t if you stay parked off here!” and we left in convoy with the older couple.


The ice creams were a welcome relief in the heat even though they broke the bank, but 20 minutes later we were back on the road to the leopard kill and my confidence grew as we entered the S3 because the imbecile that was parked under the leopard kill earlier pasted us heading the opposite direction.

I noticed that there were no cars in the little loop as we approached, but I was still checking the riverbed, so got a big skrik when the Cow shouted

“It’s in the tree!”

I hit brakes immediately because I already knew it was a nervous leopard, however the elderly couple who were travelling behind us also pulled into the loop and this was too much for the leopard and it started to move but stopped halfway down the tree to peer at us.

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To be continued


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Lisbeth
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

Post by Lisbeth »

The umpteenth leopard saga ;-) It looks like a very young leopard and maybe it has had some bad experience with a car, because normally they don't even look at them -O-

Some people are just plain stupid 0*\

Hottish eh? ;-)

How old are the girls now?


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Richprins
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

Post by Richprins »

Fantabulous sightings all round,BC! ^Q^ ^Q^

Always healthy to see sable! [O] [O]

And predators galore,4 species in one day! :shock:

Seems that sightings boards and chatting pay off... ..0..

It does look hot! O-/

(Different from the freezing a couple of days before! lol )


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Bushcraft
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

Post by Bushcraft »

Lisbeth wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 1:38 pm The umpteenth leopard saga ;-) It looks like a very young leopard and maybe it has had some bad experience with a car, because normally they don't even look at them -O-

Some people are just plain stupid 0*\

Hottish eh? ;-)

How old are the girls now?
Yes correct Lisbeth, a junior leopard, so very nervous \O

Hawkeyes is 21 in May, Bushpig is 18 and Albert 16 :shock: Time flies 0:


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Bushcraft
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

Post by Bushcraft »

Richprins wrote: Mon Apr 04, 2022 5:47 pm Fantabulous sightings all round,BC! ^Q^ ^Q^

Always healthy to see sable! [O] [O]

And predators galore,4 species in one day! :shock:

Seems that sightings boards and chatting pay off... ..0..

It does look hot! O-/

(Different from the freezing a couple of days before! lol )
Ja, this was a good day RP and the day isn't over ;-)

The sable hang out in that same spot at 1st light -O-

You should try the sighting board stalking, it works :yes:


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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

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28th Talamati to Skukuza continued

The leopard checked us out for a few more seconds and then suddenly bailed out the tree. Once on the ground we realised that this was a small teenage female leopard, and I couldn’t help but wonder where mom was.

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The little leopard cruised back into the riverbed and under its rock ledge, so we said our goodbyes to the older couple headed for Skukuza because it was nearly book in time.

The book in at Skukuza went smoothly and we were soon unpacked and relaxing.

Just before 4pm the Cow’s phone went, it was Hawkeyes from home, she knew that we were booked in at Skukuza and she had got some sighting update that there were wild dogs 5km from Skukuza on the H4-1.

My plan was to head back to the small leopard on the S3, so I wasn’t overly enthusiastic, however Albert loves the dogs, so we decided to check the dogs out first and then if there was enough time go and check on the leopard.

The dogs were about 10m from the road parking off in the shade, so we pulled up where there was a gap in the bush, and I switched off.



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Bushcraft
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

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We could only clearly see 2 dogs, however there were others lying down deeper in the bush which were difficult to photograph, so I was about to suggest that we head for the leopard, but Bushpig suddenly shouted

“LION!”

We now had a lion on one side of the road and dogs on the other, so thanks to Hawkeyes as this was developing into an exciting sighting.

This was a freaky looking lion though as it was wet and dark with mud, however it was clearly obvious that it was very interested in the dogs.

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The lion cruised across the road in front of us towards the dogs and then went in stalk mode.

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I knew the lion was going to go for the dogs, so said exactly that

“It’s going to attack the dogs”

This set the Cow off

“NO, come on dogs, wake up!” “Stuff off lion!”

Suddenly there was more chirping from the back seat

“More lion!”

The rest of the faulty looking pride were coming up onto the road, 7 young males and 3 lionesses and all were wet and darker looking due to the mud.

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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

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The lion in stalk mode was still holding its position, but suddenly a car pulled diagonally between us and the lion partially blocking our view, so I let rip

“WTF, what are you doing!?”

I then realised it was Nadav from latest sighting and know each other. He apologized and reversed.

More lions were now showing interest in the dogs who still had no idea that they were getting hunted.

Minutes went by with no further movement from either party; however, the 1 dog was now starting to sniff the air and then suddenly the one lion charged, the dogs made a strange yelping sound, and the chase was on.

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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021

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