South Africa: An adventure with a history lesson : Day 6

Day 6: Sabi Sands : Leopard day

Sabi Sands is a private reserve with an un-fenced boundary with Kruger National Park, which means, animals are free to roam between the two parks, humans aren't. We paid separate entrance fees for Kruger and Sabi Sands. At Kruger, you are allowed to drive only on the roads, paved or unpaved, whereas in Sabi, vehicles go off-road into the bush. For two and a half days we had driven around Kruger, by ourselves, trying to spot animals. We did go on the guided safaris, but you take whatever you can get. At Sabi, each vehicle has a guide and a tracker and they track animals. Kruger is like going to the market, buying vegetables and cooking the dish yourself. Sabi is like going to a fancy restaurant where the chef asks you what you would like to have and prepare it for you. Each has its appeal. 

Our day started at 4:30 am. We headed out on our first safari at Sabi Sands. We saw some impalas and elephants. Soon, our tracker found us a leopard, sitting on a mound. It was a female leopard. We waited nearby. After a few minutes, she stood up, stretched and started walking. We followed her for a while, through the bush. Then another leopard showed up, a male. The male leopard was a juvenile, not an adult. He hasn't established his territory yet. The male leopard tried to approach the female, but she ran up a tree. He relaxed under the tree, waiting for her to come down. After a while, growing impatient he started climbing up. The female leopard growled at him. It was such a loud, throaty growl. It made my hair stand on end! She also almost took a swipe at this face. The male leopard decided he did not want anything to do with her and got down from the tree and walked away. Once the female realized the male wasn't going to attack her, she came down as well. It was exciting!

The first leopard we spotted.

She is walking away.

Impalas and their young ones

We took a coffee break. It was beautiful - a picnic with coffee, tea and muffins, out in the bush. After the coffee break we continued on the safari, however nothing exciting happened. After we got back to the lodge, Sushanth, the guide and I went on a bush walk. We saw dung beatles, and footprints of a lion, which had probably stopped by the water hole at night or early morning for a drink, rhino poop - it was mainly footprints and poop. It was fun, trying to recognize which animals they belonged to.

Our safari vehicle.

Dung Beatle

Lion paw prints.

After the bush walk, we had breakfast. Just the usual continental fare. After a heavy breakfast, it was time for a nap. The cottage we were staying in was half bedroom and half bathroom. It had outdoor showers and it was great showering in them. The lodge also has an infinity pool and we relaxed in the pool for a while in the afternoon. 

The evening safari brought more excitement in the form of an adult female rhino with her calf, a male elephant,  hippopotamus and her baby - the baby hippo was super cute and still learning to stay afloat in water, and more leopards. After the safari we went to dinner, again to the same outdoor area and we were entertained by the hotel staff with a dance and song performance.

Rhino poaching is a big problem in Kruger and surrounding areas. Their conservation status is near endangered.

Mr. Elephant

This was the male leopard we saw earlier in the day; a juvenile, still a bit playful.

The mother and her cub. They were so close to the same area as the male leopard above. However, by the time they came to drink water, the male had moved on. Lucky them!

An adult male we saw on our way back to the lodge.