Witnessing something packed with action, that’s jaw dropping and puts you on the edge of your seat while out on safari doesn’t happen quite as often as pictures might convey. It can either be a case of right place at the right time or it can be a culmination of understanding animal behaviour, movements and patience. But in all honesty there is a large portion of luck involved as well.
Patience, perseverance and a little bit of prediction was on our side one early, lucky morning. We left camp in search of any sign of leopards in the northern parts of Londolozi. We were fortunate, as before too long a young male leopard (the Hosana male) was found making his way towards a pan (small temporary waterhole) he had previously been spending a fair amount of time at.
The Hosana Male arrived in mid-2018 and is now dominant over Othawa, rarely seen on Londolozi's western boundary.
As he approached the pan his body posture lowered and he slunk around the edge of the water. Behind us we realized there was a herd of impala. Was he interested in hunting or was he looking at quenching his thirst out of sight of the grazing antelope? When he walked past every drinking opportunity and nestled up in a thick bush only meters from the most used and freshest water point, we had a good idea as to what his intentions might be.
The Hosana male leopard cautiously approaches a water filled pan he has been seen at regularly. Eyes search on what could be lurking around the pan. Is he interested in drinking or hunting?
We drove around the pan in search of a shaded spot where we could keep cool and see every animal approaching the water, as well as the bush the leopard lay low in. We got comfortable and enjoyed a lovely packed breakfast while talking about possibilities. Distance was kept from the pan as not to disturb impala nor leopard, yet allowing us a clear enough view of what could potentially unfold.
A large giraffe bull approached, yet it never saw the leopard lying low. It quenched its thirst and moved off. A herd of wildebeest as well as zebra tentatively approached the water thereafter, seeking to quench their thirsts as the sun heated the land. With a number of animals drinking we presumed the impala would deem it safe to do the same and they wandered down for a drink.
They were very nervous in their approach. Had they experienced an ambush in this exact place before? Could they smell the leopard crouched low ready to pounce?
After a number of spooked attempts they eventually committed to the pan. Our cameras were lifted and ready as we set focus and shutter speeds on the drinking impala. Fingers were ready to capture any bit of energy exploding from the bush. As the impala gathered en masse and sucked up the water, the now peaceful scene exploded in a blink of an eye.
The young male leopard burst out, tearing towards the impala; one impala in panic dashed for the muddied pan and the leopard followed. Covered in water, with paws bogged down in the mud, his pace slowed and the impala ran for its life. The leopard scampered out of the pan and slunk away, right past our vehicle, as the impala gathered in a tight group, alarm calling.
He had missed! So many impala right at his claw tips yet he was unsuccessful. A few meters away he settled down, grooming his muddied coat before slipping out of sight.
In the blink of an eye the Hosana male burst from his hideout, scattering the impala and zebras in every direction. On closer inspection his left paw is inches away from a young impala.
His eyes were locked on one individual as he hurtled towards it.
Changing angles of attack at such high speed is never easy as the impala he was after veers towards the muddied pan.
Tractable claws like that of a cheetah, which may act in the same fashion as runners spikes, would be beneficial in changing direction quickly. The protractile claws of this male leopard on loose soil don’t serve the same benefit, as he slips when changing direction. A vital mistake in success vs. failure.
A missed attempt; the Hosana male lowers his posture and slinks away out of sight of the alarm-calling impala.
Lowered ears and an expression almost of disappointment, he scurries a few feet past the vehicle and into a well covered drainage line.
This entire experience lasted a near two hours. It was a culmination of patience, calculation and luck. Although fingers remain crossed, it’s a scene I’m unlikely to see anytime soon and one I had the fortune of being able to capture, to relive and retell over and over again.
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Wow! Great action shots. Incredible experience.
Incredible sighting and amazing sequence of photographs Alex. Great to see more and more sightings of the Hosana male!
He’s a male leopard called Hosanna not the Hosana male, just putting that out there.
Fantastic pics!
The excitement of it
What an explosion of action! Your fabulous images tell the complete story from beginning to end. You even caught a image of Hosana in the middle of the frightened fray and expressively slinking away. The two hour wait was well worth the gift of a rare, lifetime memory. I’m very happy for you, Alex.
A fortuitous experience needless to say. What a great morning for you and your guests.
I’m interested to know what settings you made in anticipation of the encounter between the leopard and impala.
Perhaps the leopard’s inexperience led him to chase the impala into the muddy water – not a good idea for a big cat!!
Hosana, my favorite leopard…have watched him since he was 6 wks old on Safarilive. His sister,Xongile, has not been seen in a long time…the guides on SLive believe she is no longer living. So Hosana, needs to keep away from the Anderson male….because he needs to carry on his mother’s (Karula, Queen of Djuma) genes! Great photos….
I think you should charge the guests extra for that type of experience (tongue in cheek)
Alex, What an amazing set of images! We can only imagine how your hearts were racing! Very exciting to have a new leopard in the mix!
What a sighting! It is wonderful to see our young Hosana doing so well! Thank you for the update and the photos were fantastic!
Magnificent pictures, Alex. One has to feel sorry for poor Hosana young male. He looked so disappointed and embarrassed. I know it’s anthropomorphism to say so, but who can prove it wrong!!
Wow Alex! What INCREDIBLE shots!! Well done! Wendy M
Love, love, love your photo Alex! I have several people interested in a copy and I have pm’ed you. Fantastic image of ‘our’ beloved leopard.
Alex,
What a sight to see!! My fingers are crossed that I too will be able to see Hosana when I come in late October. He is one of my favorite leopards. Thank you for sharing this incredible story and pictures with us.
Amazing action shots
Love this boy! He looks totally frustrated. He will be something when he matures!
Great story and photos, Alex. Your patience for getting the photos surely matches that of the leopard waiting for a meal. You have proven the adage that patience is a virtue. Thanks, for the great reporting!
Such an unbelievable sighting and photographs!! Almost defies belief!
You at Londolozi are luck to have Hosana there. These are the kinds of moments he provided all the time at Djuma on Safari Live.
His name is just “Hosana” without the word “the” in front. It means Little Chief. Adding the word “The” in front of his name implies that he was named after a place called Hosana.
Hi Linda, a number of people have made the same comment.
At Londolozi we believe that to use too much of a pet name is to trivialize the animals’ wildness, which is why the names we give to our leopards are purely territorial references and have “the” in front of them.
It’s the way we have always done it and will continue to do so, but of course we respect other lodges’ choices to name the leopards on their properties in different ways.
Regards
Thanks for the response. I understand. ?
Fantastic pictures – really show off the qualities of the D850!
Wow, Alex, that made me sit on the edge of my chair just reading it! And your photos are phenomenal! Thanks for starting my day off right!
At present Hosana Male Leopard is back on Djuma where he was born, sharing his father, Tingana Male Leopard’s territory with him. All the while, he’s providing incredible sightings, as he seem to be permanently camped out at the small dam where there’s a camera set up. He’s been filmed regularly interacting with his father Tingana, his sister Thandi Female Leopard as well as her nine month ago daughter Tlalamba.