CJ guided a group of excited travelers on a Botswana Wildside camping tour in May, this group had some wonderful sightings which CJ has shared with us.

“May is truly a wonderful time in the African bush, it signals the end of the rainy season. The grasses stand tall and proud, trees lush with leaves, temperatures cooler and all animals look fit and healthy.

Driving along on a morning game drive through the Savuti marsh I noticed a breeding herd of Impala tightly bunched together, staring intently in the same direction. When antelope realize the presence of a predator they face the animal as to be able to keep an eye on its movements. This informs the predator that the antelope know of it’s presence and that they no longer have the element of surprise on their side. Predators kill their prey by surprising them. So unfortunately for this predator it was not to be their lucky day. However it was going to be our lucky day as the antelope would be able to provide us with a clue on where to look for the predator.

Slowing the vehicle down to find out exactly what these impala were concerned about we were rewarded with a sighting of a female leopard, patrolling the area and scent marking her territory. She crossed the road in front of us and made her way casually through the long grasses to a fallen tree. Upon reaching the tree she treated us to a loud rasping roar. Hopping effortlessly onto a branch she lay down and slowly went to sleep. As we were quietly watching her one of the clients excitedly exclaimed that there was another leopard. On the ridge behind her was a male making his way down towards the female leopard. He paused to return her earlier roar before disappearing into a cave not to be seen again.”