The dominant male leopard from 2018 onward; the Split Rock male was a source of constant awe during the 2 years in which I was able to view him.
When the lodges were operating at full capacity with multiple safari vehicles out on game drive he was an easy leopard to find. He was always on the move, marking his territory and we often found him thanks to the revealing alarm calls of antelope nearby. During the Covid19-induced lockdown of 2020, with fewer safari vehicles out, a sighting of the Split Rock Male became a much rarer commodity, his constant marauding made a very difficult leopard to find.
When the lodges were operating at full capacity with multiple safari vehicles out on game drive he was an easy leopard to find. He was always on the move, marking his territory and we often found him thanks to the revealing alarm calls of antelope nearby. During the Covid19-induced lockdown of 2020, with fewer safari vehicles out, a sighting of the Split Rock Male became a much rarer commodity, his constant marauding made a very difficult leopard to find.
Split Rock: The Marauder
Onward
Split Rock: The Marauder
This was a perfect afternoon during lockdown: We had finished our game drive and were stopped near the lodge to watch some kudu feeding calmly as the sun began to set.
We had tried to find a leopard that afternoon, but with no luck we had decided to stop and listen - this is always a good idea; you never know what vocalisations or alarm calls the sound of the car's engine is hiding from you.
Suddenly we heard it, 100 yards to our left: the crisp, coarse, rasping call of a leopard. The kudu stood to attention and began barking their alarm call, looking in the direction of the potential threat.
We drove to where we thought we had heard the rasp emanate from and that's when we found him; walking toward the road with intense purpose; focused only on his territory which lay ahead of him: Split Rock, the marauder.
I shared this stunning sighting, with my beautiful wife, Tanya.
This was a perfect afternoon during lockdown: We had finished our game drive and were stopped near the lodge to watch some kudu feeding calmly as the sun began to set.
We had tried to find a leopard that afternoon, but with no luck we had decided to stop and listen - this is always a good idea; you never know what vocalisations or alarm calls the sound of the car's engine is hiding from you.
Suddenly we heard it, 100 yards to our left: the crisp, coarse, rasping call of a leopard. The kudu stood to attention and began barking their alarm call, looking in the direction of the potential threat.
We drove to where we thought we had heard the rasp emanate from and that's when we found him; walking toward the road with intense purpose; focused only on his territory which lay ahead of him: Split Rock, the marauder.
I shared this stunning sighting, with my beautiful wife, Tanya.
Onward
When you are searching for a leopard, and you're about to give up; it is always a good idea to listen to that little voice in your head which says: "Check that last road."
Of course, if you are the only vehicle looking one could easily counter-argue that there's an equal chance the leopard is further down the road you were already on, but we won't delve into the statistics thereof.
We decided to take a right turn down toward the Sand River and just like that: we found the Split Rock male walking through the river bed. He eventually popped up onto the main path and we were able to watch him walk straight towards us; the vegetation behind him ablaze with the last glow of the setting sun.
We lost sight of him soon after this photograph was taken, as he walked back into the dense reed beds of the Sand River and continued his evening patrol.
When you are searching for a leopard, and you're about to give up; it is always a good idea to listen to that little voice in your head which says: "Check that last road."
Of course, if you are the only vehicle looking one could easily counter-argue that there's an equal chance the leopard is further down the road you were already on, but we won't delve into the statistics thereof.
We decided to take a right turn down toward the Sand River and just like that: we found the Split Rock male walking through the river bed. He eventually popped up onto the main path and we were able to watch him walk straight towards us; the vegetation behind him ablaze with the last glow of the setting sun.
We lost sight of him soon after this photograph was taken, as he walked back into the dense reed beds of the Sand River and continued his evening patrol.
The Long and Winding Road
Dawn Walker
The Long and Winding Road
This was one of the last sightings we were able to share with guests; before the 2020 lockdown hit. It was a rain-soaked morning at andBeyond Kirkman's Kamp, and yet the amount of wildlife activity was mind-blowing.
The Split Rock male had been trapped in a Marula tree by two male lions; however, when the lions' attention was moved to a brave, young spotted hyena which ventured too close; the Split Rock male descended the tree and made a hasty escape.
I snapped this photograph later on as he continued walking, seemingly unperturbed by his morning's experience. He crested a small ridge and the road suddenly sprawled ahead of him into the distance, perfectly lined by trees and grasses and creating a dreamy scene.
This was one of the last sightings we were able to share with guests; before the 2020 lockdown hit. It was a rain-soaked morning at andBeyond Kirkman's Kamp, and yet the amount of wildlife activity was mind-blowing.
The Split Rock male had been trapped in a Marula tree by two male lions; however, when the lions' attention was moved to a brave, young spotted hyena which ventured too close; the Split Rock male descended the tree and made a hasty escape.
I snapped this photograph later on as he continued walking, seemingly unperturbed by his morning's experience. He crested a small ridge and the road suddenly sprawled ahead of him into the distance, perfectly lined by trees and grasses and creating a dreamy scene.
Dawn Walker
This image was another result of the tried and trusted method: stop and listen.
Before starting our morning safari, we listened for 15 minutes as the South African lowveld woke up around us.
A sudden explosion of impala-snorting led us straight to the Split Rock male, as he was slowly sauntering up the road.
This path formed a major route through his territory during the years 2018-2020, though leopard territories are always shifting and by now that would have changed.
Have a look at The Long and Winding Road (photograph alongside), the end of the road in that photograph is probably the exact spot where the above image was taken.
This image was another result of the tried and trusted method: stop and listen.
Before starting our morning safari, we listened for 15 minutes as the South African lowveld woke up around us.
A sudden explosion of impala-snorting led us straight to the Split Rock male, as he was slowly sauntering up the road.
This path formed a major route through his territory during the years 2018-2020, though leopard territories are always shifting and by now that would have changed.
Have a look at The Long and Winding Road (photograph alongside), the end of the road in that photograph is probably the exact spot where the above image was taken.