A Touch of Africa

Awarded Top-10 Wildlife Travel Blog 

on Terra Incognita, 2018.

It was a moonless African night with a countless number of stars – there are much more of them in the South hemisphere than in the North. No human habitation in tens of miles away: just several tents around a little campfire.

Rangers are quietly talking to each other in one of 11 local languages. One hour more – and they will put the fire out and leave me alone with this night. “Just don’t forget to turn on your torch before going to the toilet: if you see someone’s eyes – better wait a bit.” – Shaba, a massive guy with a low voice, sounds a bit scary even if when he doesn’t say such things. Toilet in the bush camp was, in fact, a hole in the sand surrounded by a piece of sipped tarp. But what shall I do if I notice someone on my way back from the toilet?… For some reason, I was too embarrassed to ask.

Silent. Dangerous. Magnificent. Meet the Leopard!

🐆 I am an epitome of stealth. I can arise from nowhere and vanish to nothing. I can even snatch a sleeping dog without being detected. And of course, non-sensitive two-legged creatures are able to see me only if I had a nice supper and am too lazy to move from my place. And if they stay windward and their smell and sounds don’t disturb me.

I am a simply perfect creature. I am a strong swimmer and, unlike other cats, I like water. I can run with the speed up to 58 km per hour,  leap 6 meters forward in a single bound, and jump 3 meters straight up. Having feline grace, I am the smallest and strongest from the big cats. Once I was spotted dragging a 100 kilograms young giraffe into the heavy brush to hide it.

How long are lion’s claws?

“Remain in your seats! Speak slowly! In no case leave the car!’ - our ranger whispered the instructions that all of us already knew by heart. "We are extremely lucky! You see - all the pride is resting on the road!" - Leo couldn’t help expressing his emotions. He deserved his fame as one of the best big cat finders - people tell that it is because of his name. 

Lions were enjoying a sunbath and didn’t pay any attention at us. “It is only until you are keeping