Leopard Kill, Serengeti National Park
Leopard Kill, Serengeti National Park
Leopard Kill, Serengeti National Park
Africa – the only remaining land with unmatched natural beauty. Visiting it is the highlight of my year, and the serenity in its animals and landscapes is addictive. Chasing this ‘addiction’, I witnessed a sight I’ll never forget, which I’m sharing here.
On 18th July 2013, in Serengeti National Park, I set out for a safari. The land had an electric buzz, as if its wild residents were calling me. Soon, I saw a leopard sleeping high in a tree, resting on a branch, shaded by leaves.
My jeep joined others below, waiting for her to wake. She didn’t. One by one, the jeeps moved on. But I stayed—for almost four hours—hoping to catch that magical moment.
Africa – the only remaining land with unmatched natural beauty. Visiting it is the highlight of my year, and the serenity in its animals and landscapes is addictive. Chasing this ‘addiction’, I witnessed a sight I’ll never forget, which I’m sharing here.
On 18th July 2013, in Serengeti National Park, I set out for a safari. The land had an electric buzz, as if its wild residents were calling me. Soon, I saw a leopard sleeping high in a tree, resting on a branch, shaded by leaves.
My jeep joined others below, waiting for her to wake. She didn’t. One by one, the jeeps moved on. But I stayed—for almost four hours—hoping to catch that magical moment.
After what felt like an eternity, our sleepy leopard finally stirred and woke up from her slumber! She looked at me with dreamy eyes, almost as if puzzled by my presence, wondering why I was still patiently waiting. She was absolutely stunning in that golden hour light, and I eagerly clicked away as she calmly surveyed the vast savannah around her. Her gaze eventually locked onto a Thompson’s Gazelle in the distance, and it became increasingly clear that she was interested in more than just observing. She watched the gazelle intently, her muscles tensing with quiet anticipation, and I found myself completely captivated—her piercing eyes were magnetic every time they met my lens. With her target in sight, she began to descend from the tree, each movement fluid and precise, exuding the graceful elegance and silent power that only leopards are blessed with.
After what felt like an eternity, our sleepy leopard finally stirred and woke up from her slumber! She looked at me with dreamy eyes, almost as if puzzled by my presence, wondering why I was still patiently waiting. She was absolutely stunning in that golden hour light, and I eagerly clicked away as she calmly surveyed the vast savannah around her. Her gaze eventually locked onto a Thompson’s Gazelle in the distance, and it became increasingly clear that she was interested in more than just observing. She watched the gazelle intently, her muscles tensing with quiet anticipation, and I found myself completely captivated—her piercing eyes were magnetic every time they met my lens. With her target in sight, she began to descend from the tree, each movement fluid and precise, exuding the graceful elegance and silent power that only leopards are blessed with.
It was amazing to see that throughout this exercise, the gazelle could not make out the movement of the leopardess, and was completely unaware that it was being stalked by a predator just a couple of hundred yards away from it. Our leopardess settled herself into the grass, and with having the advantage of not being spotted by its prey, it was about to begin its assault.
But alas, that wasn’t to be. Just as the leopardess was about to start her run at the gazelle, a couple of jeeps arrived, and in the commotion, our poor leopard lost her chance at grabbing a meal, for the jeeps had scared away the gazelle. Her quarry gone, she dejectedly made her way back up the tree.
Once she was back on the tree, I noticed, much to my pleasant surprise, that there were two leopards on the tree now! Through my lens, I could see the coat of another leopard, and told my guide so, who refused to believe me! Only after having shown him the exact location through my camera lens did he realize that there were two leopards on the tree indeed!
It was amazing to see that throughout this exercise, the gazelle could not make out the movement of the leopardess, and was completely unaware that it was being stalked by a predator just a couple of hundred yards away from it. Our leopardess settled herself into the grass, and with having the advantage of not being spotted by its prey, it was about to begin its assault.
But alas, that wasn’t to be. Just as the leopardess was about to start her run at the gazelle, a couple of jeeps arrived, and in the commotion, our poor leopard lost her chance at grabbing a meal, for the jeeps had scared away the gazelle. Her quarry gone, she dejectedly made her way back up the tree.
Once she was back on the tree, I noticed, much to my pleasant surprise, that there were two leopards on the tree now! Through my lens, I could see the coat of another leopard, and told my guide so, who refused to believe me! Only after having shown him the exact location through my camera lens did he realize that there were two leopards on the tree indeed!
After what felt like an eternity, our sleepy leopard finally stirred and woke up from her slumber! She looked at me with dreamy eyes, almost as if puzzled by my presence, wondering why I was still patiently waiting. She was absolutely stunning in that golden hour light, and I eagerly clicked away as she calmly surveyed the vast savannah around her. Her gaze eventually locked onto a Thompson’s Gazelle in the distance, and it became increasingly clear that she was interested in more than just observing. She watched the gazelle intently, her muscles tensing with quiet anticipation, and I found myself completely captivated—her piercing eyes were magnetic every time they met my lens. With her target in sight, she began to descend from the tree, each movement fluid and precise, exuding the graceful elegance and silent power that only leopards are blessed with.
It was amazing to see that throughout this exercise, the gazelle could not make out the movement of the leopardess, and was completely unaware that it was being stalked by a predator just a couple of hundred yards away from it. Our leopardess settled herself into the grass, and with having the advantage of not being spotted by its prey, it was about to begin its assault.
But alas, that wasn’t to be. Just as the leopardess was about to start her run at the gazelle, a couple of jeeps arrived, and in the commotion, our poor leopard lost her chance at grabbing a meal, for the jeeps had scared away the gazelle. Her quarry gone, she dejectedly made her way back up the tree.
Once she was back on the tree, I noticed, much to my pleasant surprise, that there were two leopards on the tree now! Through my lens, I could see the coat of another leopard, and told my guide so, who refused to believe me! Only after having shown him the exact location through my camera lens did he realize that there were two leopards on the tree indeed!
I was very delighted and happy to be able to see a mother leopard and her cub together in their natural habitat.
In the photo above, we see the leopardess making her way down the tree. It is important that I now tell you about the preceding events. After having lost out on the gazelle and making her way back to the tree where her cub joined her, the leopardess again spotted a potential meal, this time a Grant’s gazelle. It was heartening and immensely inspiring to see her once again make her way down the tree – failure didn’t deter her, and that is something we as humans can learn too!
This time she was successfully able to stalk the gazelle and make her kill. Though we could not see the actual event, the huge commotion in the grass and her subsequent arrival with the gazelle firmly clamped between her powerful jaws was proof enough! Here’s the photo!
I was very delighted and happy to be able to see a mother leopard and her cub together in their natural habitat.
In the photo above, we see the leopardess making her way down the tree. It is important that I now tell you about the preceding events. After having lost out on the gazelle and making her way back to the tree where her cub joined her, the leopardess again spotted a potential meal, this time a Grant’s gazelle. It was heartening and immensely inspiring to see her once again make her way down the tree – failure didn’t deter her, and that is something we as humans can learn too!
This time she was successfully able to stalk the gazelle and make her kill. Though we could not see the actual event, the huge commotion in the grass and her subsequent arrival with the gazelle firmly clamped between her powerful jaws was proof enough! Here’s the photo!
I was very delighted and happy to be able to see a mother leopard and her cub together in their natural habitat.
In the photo above, we see the leopardess making her way down the tree. It is important that I now tell you about the preceding events. After having lost out on the gazelle and making her way back to the tree where her cub joined her, the leopardess again spotted a potential meal, this time a Grant’s gazelle. It was heartening and immensely inspiring to see her once again make her way down the tree – failure didn’t deter her, and that is something we as humans can learn too!
This time she was successfully able to stalk the gazelle and make her kill. Though we could not see the actual event, the huge commotion in the grass and her subsequent arrival with the gazelle firmly clamped between her powerful jaws was proof enough! Here’s the photo!
