Bayala - final part

afternoon of 13 October

The afternoon game drive provided us with more encounters with lions

an Oxpecker on a Rhino

Black-bellied Kohran

and more elephants - this group coming really quite close as we watched them slowly making their way through the bush.

As they were disappearing Garrick's radio came alive and I heard just one word clearly - that word was Leopard ! Trouble was the light was already going and the area where one had been spotted was a good 20 minute drive. We headed off.... could it be we'd get there in time and would it still be there ? my mind was alive with numerous possibilities.

We arrived near a dam with little light left to hear that the Leopard was still present but there were two vehicles watching it. With the "don't crowd the wildlife" protocol in place we had to wait till one of the vehicles left. A nerve filled few minutes ensued as I watched the light going. I had my camera at the ready but the iso was already at 12800 so any pictures were going to be a real challenge, if the Leopard was even still there. Then a vehicle came out and their guide gave directions to where it was last seen (yes last seen) and wished us luck. We drove in ! I immediately saw it sitting by the edge of the damn. I alerted Sam Tom and Garrick to where it was and we edged a little closer. There is was, a Leopard, I was shaking with excitement. I fired off a few pictures but it was so dark I reverted to video which copes with low light levels much better. And then we just watched it as it stalked around the dam occasionally disappearing into the adjacent bush, to emerge several meters further.

This was my first picture.

After some post production with shadows and exposure in Lightroom I was able to retrieve these images.

The Leopard seemed to have an innate stealth about it as it suddenly disappeared from view and then re-emerged. The camouflage working in conjunction with this stealth made it so absorbing to watch, this was a secretive and solitary animal a true "cat of the night".

With no other vehicles waiting to come in we had a good 15 minutes with this fabulous animal. It was then truly dark. We returned to the lodge though I don't recall much about the drive back.

Dinner was as ever tasty and while Tom got stuck in I was a tad distracted wondering then if I'd be able to edit my near dark pictures to get a decent image. The combination of my Sony camera and editing programmes produced a shout of "blimey it's ok" as I looked at the new image on my laptop - I think I was half way through the starter when it happened. So laptop away and enjoy the great food on offer. Tom certainly did !

14 October - our last day and it started with some good sightings of more Lions a Striated Kingfisher and Broad-billed Roller.

A Black-bellied Korean was next

A snake Eagle living up to it's name

We stopped for our early morning coffee and rusks

Crowned Lapwing

Moving on a Crowned Hornbill was added to the list and more Zebra. I wanted a particular picture of a Zebra which I managed - more on why later.

This was the pic I was after (below) -

We came across a Giraffe chewing some bones. They do this to extract small quantities of minerals such as phosphorus and calcium which they need for their own bone development by sucking and chewing them. They don't swallow the bone just drop it when they've had enough of the minerals.

We finished our night time game drive with several sightings of Slender Mongoose.

Tomorrow was the early flight down to Cape Town so our time at Bayala had come to an end. I'm not really sure I have the correct adjectives to express how superb our time had been. The big five nailed and done so in a eco friendly, non rushed and quiet fashion. The lodge staff had been wonderful, the food superb. Tom had enjoyed the trip far more than I thought he would which also made the trip for me and Sam was delighted also with everything to do with this African adventure. I can highly recommend Bayala for a relaxing and exciting safari.

And here's what Sam did with that Zebra picture.......... ( now on sale in my shop! )

Next up - Cape Town