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Leopard in a Tree

 

I broke a rule in The Kruger to get a shot of this leopard resting in the middle of a tree fully populated with leaves. And, I kind of didn’t care because, well, it was a leopard, one of the most elusive, stealth, and stunning animals I have been lucky enough to see only a few times during my seven years of trolling around southern Africa. Many cars were parked at the site, inhabitants gawking upwards directly outside the Lower Sabie entrance, so I knew something special was in the tree. Except, I couldn’t see it, and I wanted to it, so I stared and scanned in between the leaves and the branches until I recognized the spotted tail hanging to one side. Gold!


One problem! Many roads in The Kruger are no-trespass roads - poacher patrol roads, ranger roads, admin roads, washed-out roads, all roads where civilian vehicles are not welcome. The best angle for the photo was down one of those roads so, I lost control of my manners, calculated where and how I needed to get there, and drove in for the photo.


I only needed to edge in a little way to position my car to see this beauty hidden from the main road where everyone else was straining their eyes to get a glimpse. Once in position, I negotiated a U-turn, stopping midway for 30-seconds to capture this image before continuing on, pretending I had not done anything wrong. However, when I looked away from the tree, in front of me was a game vehicle with a ranger in it, giving me a stern look with arms crossed in an X at his chest. Oops! 


I might have shouted, “Oh, right, sorry, I had to make a u-turn.” So, not only did I break the rule, I lied. And, I am pretty confident he didn’t believe me. At all. Damn tourists!!!


Others tried to follow my lead, saw the ranger, and backed off. He was there to stay. But I got the shot. Okay, at the expense of my integrity, but hey, it was a leopard! 



#leopardlove #elusiveleopardinatree #breakingtherules #thekruger #oopssorryaboutthat #igottheshot #writing #personalessay #lastdaysinsouthafrica

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