https://www.timeslive.co.za/su...as-tourists-slumber/

Link has video.



WATCH | Leopard stalks, kills prey in middle of camp as tourists slumber
19 October 2018 - 11:25
BY STAFF WRITER

If guests peeked out of their windows in the wee hours of Sunday morning, they'd have witnessed an incredible sight - a leopard hunting right outside their rooms.

The leopard was caught on camera stalking the hapless nyala in the grounds of the Idube Game Reserve lodge, in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve near Kruger National Park.

Field guide Camz Engelbrecht told Traveller24 that he spotted the leopard on the lawns of the lodge leading up to the guest rooms at around 5.20am. That's when he started filming.


In the minute-long clip, the leopard can be seen sneaking up on its prey from behind a rock then pouncing to take down the hapless nyala. The animal fights for its life, but its over in seconds as the leopard pins it to the ground.

The female leopard is well-known by the lodge staff and is named Scotia, who is mom to a 9-month old cub. As they knew it would return for the kill, Engelbrecht and his colleagues dragged the carcass about 400m outside of camp.

His advice for anyone coming across a similar scene? Keep your distance, and ensure you have an escape route.

This is not the first time a kill has taken place within the relative safety of a camp. In June guides were woken up to the sounds of 14 hyena taking down a kudu - inside the foyer of a luxury lodge.

"His advice for anyone coming across a similar scene? Keep your distance, and ensure you have an escape route."

Yeah, because you're going to outrun a leopard.

Seriously, love that vid, especially on how the leopard keeps the tree trunk between it and the impala until the last moment. That was great!

Incredible! Amazing how the leopard keeps in line with the tree until the very last moment.

I thought that was a female kudu and not a Nyala.

Same lodge behind the kitchen from November 2017.

They water lawn year round and have resident Nyala and Warthog wander through camp daily.

https://www.newsflare.com/vide...r-national-park?a=on

The fence around only restricts Elephants. Nice camp, amazing place to see Leopards close.

Great!

Thanks, Kathi.

That will make the guests think twice about sunset walks around the grounds.

Kind of hard to keep leopard out even with those big fences.

Saw that on a different site a few days ago. Great example of how great the leopard is at hunting.

Mark