As soon as all the formalities were done, my ranger Ralf announced a surprise. Normally it would take about ten to fifteen minutes to get to the lodge. But if I had my camera ready, we could take a small detour. Of course, I got it ready right away—and off we went.
Ralf had received word that a leopard was resting on a tree branch with its prey. We didn’t want to miss the chance. We drove to the reported spot, and sure enough: there it was, lying calmly on a branch.
What an impressive creature! I could have watched him for hours up there, so relaxed on his branch. This was my very first animal photo in South Africa—and it happened before I’d even arrived at the lodge. What a way to start!
After snapping a few pictures, we continued our drive. At the lodge, I was warmly welcomed and offered a welcome drink. There was then a little time to check out my suite, freshen up, and get my camera ready for the next shots.
After that, it was off to High Tea. After such an unexpected detour, I was all the more curious to see what the rest of the day would bring.