African Leopard

The leopard is a solitary cat with males weighing up to 175 pounds, females 70 pounds. These spotted cats vary in color significantly over their range and can be black (although this is rare in South Africa, but more common in India see our black panther gallery). The leopard is not the largest of cats, but is none the less an efficient hunter. After making a kill, they often move the prey up in a tree to protect it from lions and hyenas. I've included some shots of a leopard at the bottom of a tree and then in the branches with a full grown impala. Even more amazing is the photo of a warthog lying across a branch. So assuming that even African "pigs can't fly", it must have been put there by the large male lying in the shade about 25 yards away (the warthog photo appears after the suspected leopard). The majority of cats in this section were found and photographed in Sabi Sands Reserve and Kruger Park, both located in the Republic of South Africa, and most recently in
Etosha Park Namibia. Some of the leopard shots were taken within 5 feet of the animals. (We were in a vehicle at all times, sometimes, an open vehicle!!) Most photos were taken early in the day, or early in the evening. Some were taken after dark with the aid of a spot light. I've really gotten to like the effect of the spotlight. Hope you enjoy.