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Mating leopards: A big surprise even for an experienced ranger

  • May 02, 2018 | Rhulani Safari Lodge

For many guests of Rhulani Lodge, a safari with us is a «once in a lifetime experience». You see so many unique, new and amazing things as you would not have imagined before. At the same time, one wonders whether the experienced ranger, who drives you through the African bush, perceives all this just as a boring routine, or whether he is fascinated again and again by the wonders of nature. The second is the case. And there are very unique sightings for them as well, as it happened two days ago.

Mating leopards: a "once in a lifetime experience" even for an experienced ranger

Similar to lions, the male bites the females in the neck

Typically, rangers do their job not primarily to get rich or to make a career. They simply follow their passion: the bush and its wild animals. Nature is full of surprises. Despite many regularities and predictable events, nature always behaves differently than expected, so that the tension remains intact. A ranger often says in case of unexpected animal behaviour: "Unfortunately the animal did not read the book I read about it". Thus, it is not a problem for a ranger to get up before five o'clock every morning, say hello to the guests and start the engine with a smile, and look for the unexpected.

Ask Sean, Riaan, Alasdair or Tsholo, the four Rhulani rangers, if they've ever seen a lion kill, or if they ever got into a dangerous situation on foot, or if they even have a permanent scratch or a snake bite. You will see that the answer comes relatively calm with a simple: "yes". That seems to be comparable to a normal office routine here.

But two days ago, something happened that was a first experience even for all our rangers. The two who were out in the bush at the time - Sean & Alasdair – discovered two mating leopards. Soon, a couple of WhatsApp messages with photos and videos, provided also by our guests were sent around and made available to us.

Sean writes: «The leopard sighting this morning was awesome, because it was my first time I have seen leopards mating and I was the one who fopund them (smile).”

Once again, we are thrilled with the unique environment that surrounds us and the enthusiasm it brings to us every day.

The spectacle is over ... or maybe pausing