On Thursday – the second day of our current “expedition” to Namibia – my beloved and I had our lifetimes’ most exciting (to date) close-range encounter with a wild carnivore.
The featured image’s leopard is coming back down from the tree in which she had just stashed “the kill” she had made that afternoon.
(Photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken at 6.41 pm on 03 November 2022 in Okonjima)
As foreshadowed, lengthy Pelican Yoga posts are an impossibility for most of this month.
From circa December 1 you can expect a flood of mostly wildlife-centric or landscape-centric posts.
This is yours truly’s third visit to Namibia; it confirms what I already knew – if you love wild places, Namibia is one of “our” planet’s most rewarding destinations.
At very close quarters, we watched this leopard “deal with” the Hartebeest calf that she had successfully ambushed a short time before we came along.
We did not share this experience with umpteen other vehicles, jockeying/racing; throughout, no other vehicle was in view, and the leopard was not stressed/distressed in any way.
The next morning (today’s, Namibian time, as I type) – again, with no other vehicle nearby, and with the leopard not at all bothered by us – we witnessed the literally bone-crunching sequel; it starred the same leopard…and tree… and recently-deceased Hartebeest.
Brilliant. Fantastic photo and story. Enjoy and keep well. Annette
Fantastic experience