A hearty hello once again, and just back in civilisation for a few days before heading back to the bush again.

Still no rain, but what it does mean is that the predators are having a field day at the moment. Game is struggling and are having to take more risk’s to get to water and food and the big cats of Africa are cashing in. Leopards in particular, as so it would seem as on our last safari,as we managed to see at least 1 every drive and 1 managed to nearly put me on her menu…On a morning game drive we had just left a massive herd of elephants after watching a leopard feeding on common Grey Duiker and as we passed one of the last few pans that hold water I spotted a African Rock Python in a tree. Due to the terrain I couldn’t get as close as I wanted so I hopped off the vehicle and approached the python on foot.

My guests started to film and as I turned around to address them I just saw the head of a leopard pop out from behind the vehicle. Needless to say I got a massive fright, the leopard got a massive fright and started running, in my direction. A few expletives that should never be repeated were caught on camera as I broke the cardinal rule and imitated Usain Bolt as I covered the 10m between me and the vehicle in breakneck speed. In hindsight she wasn’t running directly at me but more across me towards the closest bit of dense bush in the area, which so happened to be over my shoulder. We all calmed down and had a lovely sighting of one of my old favourites in the Timbavati the Rockfig Female and had a chuckle at the PG rated language I had used earlier to describe her.

Live to guide another day!