When one sets out on morning game drive there are very few things one expects as soon as one exits the gate of the lodge. This is something that you learn from experience as it often takes some time before finding the first few animals. This day was different though, keep reading to find out the connection between a leopard, two impala, a tree, two lions, a few hyenas and later two more leopards.
After a particularly temperamental thunderstorm rolled through the area we woke to a fantastic blanket of near impenetrable mist. As rangers our immediate thought is, oh, this will be fun trying to spot anything, little did we know what was coming around the corner!
I was the last of the three vehicles to set out that morning and as is custom began to pick the radio up in order to request an update if any at all, this would soon prove to not be necessary as upon looking up the runway, not sure what I was hoping to see through the white wall of mist, I noticed both of the other vehicles as well as a prowling hyena.
Not one to miss an opportunity I veered off my intended course in order to join them. This proved to be a wise decision as low and behold the lurking hyenas indicated the presence of a large male leopard, we later identified as Tingana, atop a beautifully forked Marula tree along with not one but two draped Impala! It seemed obvious to us that while we took refuge from the wrath of the previous night's storm others in the area were making use of the opportunity to the best of their abilities!
Later that evening I was able to capture one of the best Astro shots I have ever had the fortune of taking. What made it even better is that Tingana and his two kills are part of it!
The following day started off with Tingana and his kills and then we mosied on with the rest of the drive. Between then and the afternoon drive there was a surprise happening that the following series of images and video highlights better than I could ever describe.
Video below best viewed in full screen mode
Amazing! Two Birmingham males had discovered the kill earlier in the day and we were fortunate enough to be there at the right time to witness the one male pull it out of the tree!
The two males promptly finished off what little was left of the carcass and parted ways that same night.
Much to our delight and amazement the following morning there were not one, but three leopards in and around the same tree all this had been happening around. Tingana was in the process of jumping out of the tree with half of the remaining carcass he had wrested from Thamba who sat perched up high with the other half.
The ensuing scene is portrayed in the following video clip, sit back and enjoy the wonder of nature.
Video below best viewed in full screen mode
Little Thamba was safely ensconced high up in the rickety branches of the very same tree all this started in and while he fed, Hosana sniffed around below hoping for and finding any scraps that Thamba dropped. As you can see even a Hyena made off with a little piece.
Later on in the morning Hosana was seen chasing Thamba off after Thamba had presumably finished off what little was left of the scraps he had managed to spirit away from Tingana. Thamba and Hosana both eventually came to rest in the same tree where they began grooming themselves separately from one another.
All in all, this was a once in a lifetime sighting and the group of guests who were fortunate enough to be along for the experience were able to view the progression of the sighting from beginning to end! The sheer diversity of competition surrounding this one tree not 100m away from the lodge was astounding!
Thank you for taking the time to enjoy this sighting with me and remember, don’t just look through the viewfinder, look around.
My name is Sheldon Hooper and I am a passionate nature lover and photographer who wants to be able to share my love for wildlife through my photography as well as promote the conservation of this beautiful environment. I have been working in the guiding and tourism industry for some time now and have developed my passion for nature and its conservation while doing so.
In my spare time I devote myself to bettering my photography, people, management, social media and guiding skills as well as my knowledge about these topics. Feel free to reach out or contact me on twitter @SHooperWildlife, Instagram @sheldonehooper, or Facebook Sheldon Hooper Photography. Alternatively sign up on my website shooperphoto.com and receive all my newest blogs as well as browse my image galleries or order a print.
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