Big cats hog the spotlight at a lodge named after a famous dog
“Leopard!” fellow Jock Safari Lodge guest Jesse exclaims excitedly. Jesse and his lovely wife Julia are sitting in the second row of the Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4, and the newlywed honeymooners from Colorado can barely contain their delight.
On their first visit to the African continent, this is their first leopard sighting. I almost give myself whiplash to see where he has spotted this elusive creature. After leaving the lodge on our afternoon game drive not even five minutes earlier, guide Ike requested that, in the absence of a tracker, if anybody spots anything he might have missed, to tell him to stop.
Feline groove
Ike had hardly started traversing the dry riverbed, which seems to be a favourite place for him to spot animals and birds, when he gently brings the vehicle to a stop. He turns off the engine, and we sit in wonderment and take in the beauty of the female leopard, affectionately known as Mahogany, glaring at us through slanted eyes. She has secured a comfortably shady spot along the edge of the riverbed, with overhanging greenery to protect her from the heat of the sun.
All of a sudden, UK-based couple Nick and Holly (also on honeymoon), who are sitting in the back row of the game drive vehicle, alert Ike to the fact that there are elephants further up the riverbed. Ike thinks for a moment. “That will not do – the elephants will disturb her and she will run away,” he tells us. He engages the 4WD and puts the vehicle in reverse. We are now heading backwards towards the culprit that might flush the leopard out, a young bull elephant. He sees us approaching and stands his ground, albeit on soft sand. Eventually, he realises that walking around the vehicle is the longer way to go, and he heads up the riverbank.
We now have to get back to the leopard to see if she is still there. We all breathe a sigh of relief as she’s exactly where we left her, but she’s sitting upright, in tune with a rustle coming from beyond her vantage point. The elephant is moving through the bushes, causing enough commotion to make the cat vacate her indentation in the sand and head up the riverbed to ascertain where the noise is coming from.
Following a leopard on the move is exhilarating, and sharing the experience with first-time safari-goers adds to the element of excitement – we all realise what a rarity and privilege it is to be in her company. She moves through the tall grass, pausing on a termite mound while inspecting her surroundings. Stopping by a tree, the question beckons – will she scale it, keeping herself safe for the night? Mahogany looks up, and then, as elegantly as only a leopard can do, she leaps up the trunk of the tree and positions herself on a branch, where she enjoys a well-deserved catnap.
Sitting a few metres away from her, Ike tells us that her name was derived from where she was found as a cub.
Lie in wait
Situated in a private concession spanning 6,000ha, Jock Safari Lodge offers a luxurious and authentic stay. With only 12 tented suites perched with views overlooking the seasonal Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers, it’s not uncommon to observe a variety of passing wildlife from the comfort of your daybed.
The Sabie Suite has all the creature comforts guests could possibly want at a safari lodge and a few more thrown in for good measure. Think a spacious bedroom, a lounge area, a large bathroom, a dressing area, an outside deck with an outside bath and a plunge pool.
Lunch beckons and meals are enjoyed in the main restaurant next to the sparkling pool. The cuisine is delicious and menus are crafted with special consideration for guest preferences. A highlight is dining in the dry riverbed, where tables are beautifully set up and decorated with lanterns and silver service.
Pride of place
On one of our morning game drives, Ike sees what he thinks is the outline of an animal. It is far in the distance and as we get closer, we all appreciate just how eagle-eyed Ike is. Sitting on top of a rock, the most majestic lion comes into view. As a young male, he knows not to draw too much attention to himself and faintly starts vocalising to the shy and skittish female that has now disappeared into the tall grass.
He looks around to see if there is any reaction, but she is doing a great job of staying out of sight. He gets up from the rock, stretches cat-like and starts walking. We are now in hot pursuit of him, wondering where he might lead us. Is he perhaps part of a bigger pride? He veers off to the right, and we all hold our collective breaths as what we witness is a scene straight out of The Lion King. He approaches a rocky outcrop, stops momentarily and looks straight at us. Then he starts his ascent, cat-footing it to the very top, where he sits overlooking the valley below. This is definitely Mufasa, we all agree, the King of Jock Safari Lodge.
Text and photography | Heléne Ramackers
For more information or to book a stay, go to jocksafarilodge.com.
