Watch the Sighting:
Sixty-three-year-old field ranger Gerrie Smit was on a leisurely Sunday morning game drive with his wife to visit the De Laporte waterhole in Kruger National Park. This watering hole is always a wildlife hotspot, but Gerrie was seeking out one individual in particular.
The Legendary De Laporte Leopard
A famous leopardess routinely frequents this specific waterhole and is well known for the way she has perfected the hunting of unsuspecting and thirsty animals. This particular leopardess had been sighted at the waterhole over the past three days before Gerrie’s encounter, lying and waiting for her perfect opportunity.
Gerrie knew it was only a matter of time before she would secure a kill, so he wanted to try be there to witness the magnificent moment. What he didn’t expect, however, was the intense battle that would follow.
A Deadly Waterhole Trap
Upon arriving at the sight, Gerrie and his wife immediately spotted the famous female leopard, who was waiting calmly as two impalas approached her on their way to the waterhole. She was perfectly camouflaged in the tall grass and well hidden behind a dead tree.
Eventually, the impalas were within striking distance and the leopardess seized the moment to attack. She launched herself in the air in an amazing display of acrobatics, grabbing onto one of the impalas and flipping three hundred and sixty degrees in the air!
Gerrie and his wife gasped and shouted in surprise as the magnificent hunting display unfolded before them!
The Uninvited Guest
Unfortunately for the female leopard, her display caught the attention not only of the safari-goers at the sight but also of the nearby predators, who were just as hungry as she was.
A menacing hyena quickly made its way onto the scene hoping to claim the meal for itself.
Initially intimidated by the hyena’s size and ferocity, the leopardess backed off, leaving her meal unattended. But she couldn’t sit by and watch for very long; after all, she had been waiting at least three days for this meal.
A Fight for a Feast
The leopardess made her initial charge, briefly scaring off the hyena. But the battle wasn’t over yet!
The hyena had enjoyed a piece of meat and was now more determined than ever to secure a meal. It charged back, growling fiercely, which sent the leopardess running yet again.
Frustrated, she knew she would have to take a smarter approach for her next attempt. The leopardess hid in the nearby bushes, out of sight of the hyena.
This drove it into a frenzy. The hyena knew that the leopardess was near but couldn’t locate her.
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Finally, it ran off in another direction in search of her, and with the carcass now unguarded, the leopardess was able to quickly snatch it up and drag it into the bushes to enjoy — victory was hers.
An Amazing Encounter
Gerrie and his wife were ecstatic to have experienced this thrilling hunt and the subsequent battle. It was a reminder that even the most skilled predators can’t afford to let their guard down, and that survival belongs to those who refuse to give up!
He reflects on their sighting:
“I know people say it often but it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. We were at the right place at the right time!”