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Crazy eyes

It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. It is said that eyes can tell a story. Some eyes you can gaze into for hours on end. However, some eyes are simply known as crazy eyes.

We are very fortunate to encounter leopards that are completely unfazed by the presence of our vehicles. Every so often, we do come across some leopards with a more skittish nature. We might get a quick glimpse of them and then they take cover.

Recently we were rewarded with a highly interactive sighting with a skittish male leopard called Homelite. When we found him he was in a tree feeding on his kill. Not only did we manage to see this elusive male, but he provided us with some great photos too.

Homelite-1

To add to his elusive and mysterious nature, Homelite has some dark and deep-set eyes. Locking eyes with this spectacular beast can be quite a harrowing experience.

Homelite-2

As it usually goes, some hyenas arrived on the scene. After completing most of the kill, Homelite started to shift around in the tree. He must have miscalculated his movements and knocked the kill out of the tree. The hyenas wasted no time and grabbed the carcass and took off.

One hyena stayed around and waited for Homelite to leave the tree. The leopard showed his displeasure and snarled at the hyenas and then at us. He quickly maneuvered down the tree and ran away as is common practice for this male.

Homelite-3

Written by: Cal Butler

Torchwood is back

It is always exciting seeing familiar faces. This saying could not be truer for leopards that cross our borders for whatever reason.

The Torchwood male leopard left our area over a year ago. He was born around 2011 and left us as a healthy, young, up and coming leopard. His chances for survival were high as he very easily adapted to his environment. He would catch a variety of animals including porcupine, warthogs and even muddy catfish during the 2015/2016 drought.

We got word over a month ago that he was slowly making his way back to our side. When he returned, he greeted us with a wonderful sighting.

Torchwood

Hoisted in a tree, just off the road, lay a slayed warthog with a very healthy looking leopard tucking in. It was confirmed that Torchwood is back. He is now in his prime years and looks better than ever.

Torchwood

We do hope that he reclaims some of his old territory and hangs around for a few more years to come.

Torchwood

Written by: Cal Butler

Lions and hyena with a python kill

Plans don’t always go according to plan. Even on game drive plans can change in an instant.

Ranger Cal and his tracker, Mowell, were heading down to some lions not too far from the lodge. On the way Mowell spotted a hyena in a clearing. He suggested we quickly view the hyena and then head off to the lions. As we approached, Mowell said, “I think it is eating something”.

We approached the hyena and nobody could believe their eyes. In its mouth hung a large African Rock Python. We don’t know what killed it.

Hyena with python kill - Cal Butler

To add to the spectacle, some impala started alarm calling in the immediate vicinity. We knew they weren’t phased with the hyena. We decided to go investigate as the lions were not too far from the area. As we drove through the block we spotted two Mhangene subadult lions hiding in the grass.

The two felines waited patiently until the hyena moved off. They approached the kill with great caution and eventually tucked into their meal.

Lion with python kill - Cal ButlerLion with python kill - Cal ButlerLion with python kill - Cal Butler

This was the first time that both Cal, Mowell and our guests had ever seen this type of sighting.

Written by: Cal Butler