A guide enters the park in the early morning and for me it’s a thrill daily. As a guide I have always told my guests, whether they are with me for 1 day or 7, we have a different time system in the bush. In the morning 5.30 or 6.00 am to 7.30 or 8.00 am is “Leopard ‘o’ clock” so we will not be stopping for giraffes and zebras and warthogs and impala cuz we can have those all day long. The ideal time to find the leopard before it settles down some place where it is not bothered by the sun and is cool and that is usually invisible from the road where we are. I remember this drive cuz my partner’s family were all in the car, 10 people, more eyes to search the bush with. Driving slowly along in the chilly morning and seeing all the animals I mentioned but no leopard. Then one of the kids called Uncle Arun, look … 3 ‘o’ clock. That is how we tell direction on safari, cuz otherwise people are calling look there there, and nobody knows where. So the car headlights are 12 ‘o’ clock and everything is called from there. Anyway, sure enough at 3 ‘o’clock on a fallen tree was the leopard and her cub.
Such a cute sight with the two of them interacting and grooming and completely relaxed in our presence. There was no bolting or hiding. They just stayed there and were totally chilled out. This is not so common cuz leopard moms are a bit tense usually and especially with cubs they get more so. So to have mom just totally ignore us and carry on with life was a real treat. We just sat there and drank it all in, now that is the way to get you going in the morning. 2 leopards relaxed in your presence. Nothing better.
