Jamala Madikwe game drive.The elusive leopard.

My camera was NEVER far away…

Sunset at Madikwe Private Game Reserve.
We were on the last part of our evening drive from Jamala Madikwe
Giraffe make great silhouettes…for obvious reasons.

Buffalo always look at you as if you owe them money!
This cow was part of a huge herd that was making its way to a nearby dam.
Which is where our vehicle was headed,
until we heard a call on the radio…

A leopard had been spotted close by.
This was our first sighting of this particular young male.
He was intent on looking for a meal and took no interest in our vehicle

Neither did he stop to pose for us…
He was certainly focused on food.
We were only able to spend a short time with him,
as the bush he was walking through was very thick.
And it was getting too dark to see him clearly.
I mentioned to our Ranger, Lazzie,
that we would see him the following day…
so we headed back to the lodge.
Our final sighting for the evening.
A pair of young Spotted Hyena.
They were close to the leopard,
possibly hoping for scraps, should he make a kill

We begin our morning game drive…

And we bump into a herd of Ellies catching the morning light.

And,true to my word, we find the same leopard AGAIN!

Of the Big 5, this is the most elusive and special for me.

For a moment we thought that he was going to climb this tree

But all he wanted to do was stretch…
and have a look around.

Spotted…

“The look”…

Up close…

“Perhaps, when I open my eyes, they will be gone”

“If they won’t leave, then I will”

One last pose…

And I have to leave.
Leopard sighting are becoming more frequent at Madikwe.
Now if only this fellow would make an appearance
at the Jamala Madikwe waterhole…

To find out more about what this wonderful Lodge has to offer,

please visit their web site:

Carolyn and I on our final evening game drive