Part 2: Inyati Safari – Unbelievable

As mentioned, Inyati is a small lodge with only 11 chalets and 5 safari vehicles. Our second day, only 2 of the chalets were occupied (by us and Peter/Dawn) – it felt like our own private lodge. It gets busy again on Valentines Day.

Now for the final two of the “Big 5” – the leopard and the elephant.

First the illusive leopard. We come to Sabi Sand because it has the highest number of leopards of any protected area surveyed in South Africa. We asked why Sabi Sand area has more leopards than the rest of Kruger National Park. We were told that since Sabi Sand area only has private reserves and thus very few vehicles, it is the preferred area for the solitary leopard.

Unlike Kruger National Park, the rangers in the private game reserves can “off-road” which makes for excellent viewing. The private reserves limit the number of vehicles at the sightings (maximum of 3) plus vehicles are the same colour tones and relative size, so the leopards are more “relaxed” when a safari vehicle approaches.

Even though there are more leopards in the Sabi Sand area, finding them can be difficult – its a mixture of knowledge, skill and yes good fortune. We had all three working for us this visit!

There is one very large leopard who they have named Ravenscourt (this is the leopard that was filmed walking through Inyati in the 2021 documentary “The Year the Earth Changed“). Although last year our ranger tried to find Ravenscourt, it was not to be…so this year we were not expecting to see him.

It was the morning drive and as we came around a corner Qolani jumped back in his seat (which is on the front bumper). We didn’t know what it was, but then Larry looked down and there was Ravenscourt staring up at him – he was so close. It was a “wow” experience that Larry will not forget (similar to your leopard experience Todd).

Territoriality is a key aspect of leopard social behaviour. Each adult leopard establishes and defends its own territory, marking it with scent and visual cues.  An Inyati Ranger witnessed one of the other male leopards (Thamba) trying to take over Ravenscourt’s territory. Thamba did eventual retreat, but when we sighted Ravenscourt he was focused on marking his territory with his scent – this made for great viewing as we could follow him.

Ravenscourt was not our only leopard sighting. We spent time with a young female who was now old enough to leave her mother (about 2 1/2 years old). She was very timid now that she did not have the protection of her mother.

Just to add to our amazing leopard encounters Qolani sighted a female with her cub. We saw her during the day and also at night.

Leopard cubs remain with their mother until about two years of age wherein they learn all the necessary skills from their mother – to hunt, forage, feed and survive in the wild.

Mommy was relaxing in the tree, but also looking up periodically to make sure her cub was close by.

As mentioned, we also saw the mom and cub at night. The mother had made a kill, and was resting while the cub was eating. The cub did struggle, and at one point dropped the kill on the ground (which startled us as it dropped close to our vehicle). The cub struggled it get it back into the tree. Thankfully there were no hyenas or wild dogs around or the meal would be gone. The photos do show the kill, but it is part of their natural way.

Now last, but certainly not least, the elephant. Again, so many wonderful viewings with these huge animals. The young ones were enjoying the water as it was a hot day.

We love seeing the “Big 5”, but there is so much more. Part 3 will feature the other animals we spent time with.