Not one but TWO!

Sighting Leopards can always be somewhat of a challenge, given their solitary shy and secretive nature. Its true that in some areas of the Mara they are known to be somewhat more habituated to vehicles and are thus seen more often. In the area we are currently in they tend to be a little more illusive. The population here is unknown but given the plentiful riverine forest and luggas the area is sure to hold a very healthy population and still remains a great place to view these amazing animals. Most nights we hear leopard (often more than one) but very rarely do we get to see them for any length of time and often it is just a fleeting glimpse. BUT... yesterday was the exception! To keep it brief we came across a leopard in a tree, some 100metres from our track. It  was tucked happily in the fork of the tree and also dangling across the branch was the remains of a kill (what looked to be a Thomsons Gazelle). At first glance it looked to be a male given the size of its head, but on closer inspection a few 'vitals' appeared to be missing so we concluded it must be an older big female. There was a cool breeze and the remains swayed in the wind, the plains were silent and it made for an eerie and mysterious atmosphere. We had a unhurried amount of time to absorb this truly beautiful cat resting in its lofty retreat. However, its relaxed behaviour was soon shattered when all of a sudden to our right  a SECOND Leopard appeared on the ground, coming through the long grass. TWO leopards...we could not believe it! It's distance from the track and the grass height proved hard to enable us to accurately deternine the sex, but given the thickness of its neck and general build it appeared to be a young male. The second leopard was only 75 metres or so from the base of the tree, with the agility that only a Leopard can possess it shot down the tree and a very brief but aggressive interaction took place between the two Leopards.  It appeared to be more noise than actual contact. Their encounter with each other was then rapidly interrupted by a hyena that advanced toward both Leopards, all of a sudden the Leopard that was originally up the tree was now back up the tree for the second time! In this moment we lost sight of the other leopard, which we think darted into the thickly vegetated lugga. The Hyena had also vanished. So here we were back again watching a leopard up the tree. Some 40 minutes or so then passed as we watched it scan the plains below, the sun was increasing in its strength and the tree provided little shade, so upon deciding that the area was safe the Leopard descended down the tree. This was quite a comical moment at first as the Leopard decided to edge down gradually backwards, looking quite awkward, but then deciding that a forward facing leap was possibly a better idea! As soon as it was on the ground we lost sight immediately. We looked at our watches....had we really been with this leopard for TWO hours?,  what an unbelievable encounter! Whilst the whole sighting was some distance away (these are sometimes the best sightings!)  it probably goes down as one of our favourite leopard encounters given the time we had to take the whole experience in, and not to mention seeing the interactions between the other leopard and also the Hyena.

Also that morning we came across 4 of Notch's boys, relaxing under a tree. Later in the afternoon they were still under the same tree and were doing what Lions do best....sleeping! After leaving them for a while we also came across Notch and another of his boys a few kilometres away, once again sleeping peacefully and no doubt building up some energy for their night patrols. Given we have not seen all the boys together for some time (and since a reported fight and increasing tensions) its possible that they are starting to split. Perhaps they feel that 'dad' is becoming a liability? Howver, given his current good condition he certainly has some mileage left in him yet! Shortly before sunset we returned to the 4 boys, as the sun began to disappear behind the escarpment we watched them gradually awaken, stretch and scent mark. Mobilising with military precison  they sauntered through the long grass up and over a hill, disappearing out of sight.

Another great day in the Mara Triangle?...... I think so!