Can a Leopard change its spot?

David Batzofin

November 7, 2013

2979

Can YOU spot the leopard in this shot?
Well, our Ranger TT did !

And, when it sat up, so did we…

We were warned that she was skittish, so we took a round about route to get closer

She did not seem too stressed, and allowed us to get closer than expected.

Posing for the cameras…1

Hold that pose…2

She decided that she had had enough of us and our equipment…

and walked away.

Two of the “Big 5″…

But she was not done with us yet…
As we were about to discover

She had been lying down in the grass…

but decided that a closer inspection was in order.

She was getting so close that I was having difficulty focusing on her…
However, the grass was perfectly in focus.

Closer…

and closer…

This was the best I could do as she stopped less than a metre from the vehicle.
She looked at each of us for what seemed like several moments before moving off.

TT was ecstatic!
He had told us to sit quietly during the encounter,
while he was keeping an eye on the animal…
through his viewfinder!
Once the leopard had decided that we would not make a decent meal,
the collective release of breath on the vehicle could be heard back in camp.
So, to answer the question I posed in the title…
Yes it can…

Joel, who was sitting on the far side of the vehicle, seems to be the happiest.

The story was retold around the camp fire that night…

What an awesome way to end our last day at Macahaba…
Many thanks to Guy, Joel, Ben, TT and Lara for a wonderful adventure.
And not forgetting the incredible staff at the camp…
A big “THANK YOU” to all for you for a memorable experience.