Pilanesberg/ Sun City – Visitors on a game drive in the Pilanesberg National Park next to Sun City were treated to a rare daytime sighting of a leopard on Friday 11 March.
Most sightings of these beautiful big cats are reported at either dusk or dawn, but this normally elusive animal was unusually content to walk along the road in front of the vehicle in broad daylight.
Mankwe GAMETRACKERS field guide Tarryn Rae said: “Sometimes you just happen to be at the right place at the right time, but not much beats coming around the corner and finding a leopard walking on the road.
Not only did the guests on the morning game drive from Sun City get to share this sighting, but so too did guests that had just flown overhead in a hot air balloon safari.”
“We don’t see leopards all the time, but that is what makes ‘spotting’ one so exciting. Wildlife studies teach us that leopards are nocturnal, but those in the Pilanesberg prove otherwise.
In the 10 years that I have worked in the park, I have often encountered leopards during the day, and I am not talking about a few spots in a tree or a tail flick in the grass.
The area doesn’t have many large leafy trees that leopards are usually fond of relaxing in, so most of our sightings are of them walking around or relaxing on some rocks, which makes for nice photo opportunities.”
Recently, conference organisers attending an early evening event at Sun City spotted a leopard taking a leisurely stroll across the Gary Player Golf Course. Wildlife experts from the park have advised that the species is known to be extremely shy, and the animals will usually flee as soon as they see people.
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