The morning started somewhat differently, a rifle in the bag and no one in the vehicle but me. This morning I was on my way to meet up with some ranger friends from another lodge to go on a bush walk. Setting up for Kubu Dam, the morning air was crisp and still, until I gathered speed with my game viewer. I was wrapped up and clothed with most items available to me in my cupboard as it was a freezing morning. It would take me a good 40 minutes to get me to the rendezvous point with my colleague. With watering eyes and cold ears I was scanning the surrounding areas. As I passed preparing my eyes for the walk ahead and at the same time anticipating something, anything.
Upon approaching the Red Syenite outcrop on Kubu drive I looked it over thoroughly, as the rangers had in the past week been spotting a female leopard with two cubs at this exact spot. I for one had in my two and a half years of driving the park not yet had a leopard sighting here.
The sun had just started appearing over the horizon, and the mist blanketed the valleys. As I drove past Red Syenite the sun disappeared behind the mountain mass, and a new shape caught my eye. Something had moved and then disappeared. A shape appeared out of a cavity in the rocks, accompanied by two smaller shapes… by now my heart was racing…..! It was the very same leopard with her cubs!! They where warming themselves with the rising sun. In all the excitement I started talking, not to myself but to my guests I wish I’d had with me on that drive. After a little chuckle to myself and a thought that always crosses a rangers mind, if only I could share this with some guests, and if only all my drives where like this…
Reluctant to leave the sighting I called it in on my radio to the other rangers on drive. I still spent a few minutes watching the cubs stretch their legs, exploring their surroundings and warming up. The cubs are now four and a half months old and will only be protected by their mom for a few more months to come. I also witnessed I Pied Crow dive-bombing the cubs.
After this awesome sighting I left it in order for the other rangers to come and show their guests this amazing sighting.
M. Malan
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