Yesterday’s afternoon game drive was beyond expectation despite the storm.
First it was the double cross pride playing with their young ones (probably trying to keep themselves warm). Everyone was up and in a jovial mood playing except the old Manes. Well, one of them was busy doing what most would be doing in such weather (making babies. Well if you can feed them, go right ahead😇🤣) but the rest two old manes were all miserable.
An hour later, a mini crossing at Olaro Rock River and unconfirmed news of a leopard had us rushing to the scene. Upon arrival, Gnus appeared to be tense and no more crossing the Mara River. This piqued our attention and we decided to scout the area… and voila! We spotted large male leopard staring back the gnus.
Who will blink first?! At a glance the old male leopard lacked stamina that the herd had in the event of flight…. Well, you are in and yes indeed at HOME OF THE CHAMPIONS… Kenya!! He gave up and started working along the riparian land heading towards MARA BUSH ⛺. We kept our eyes him until he disappeared into the nearby bush….. Just when we thought it was a mere sighting of the rare cat, the Gnus being gnus, went around the same bush in what appeared as a search of the leopard (kinda damn right?)
As the Gnu herd was mid crossing… Boom!!! The old fellow rushed into scene riding jokey on a juvenile Gnu. Poor Gnu couldn’t hold his weight (On average a male leopard close to 80kg.) As expected the young gnu collapsed and the leopard closed in for he kill sinking his canines into the jugular. The young gnus trek to Tanzania officially terminated.
The Leopard moment of triumph is short lived as three lionesses come running into the foray chasing down the gnus down the river. The entry of the 3 lionesses sends the old leopard into a panic, and he doesn’t hesitate abandoning his kill to seek refuge behind the bush not to return.
As fate would have it, the three lionesses hadn’t spotted the leopard or his kill, their intent was on making a kill of their own, which they did with meticulous precision.
The pattering rain and commotion attracted scavengers, a noisy bunch of hyenas were as usual seeking a free meal. And there on the banks of the Olaro River lay the carcass of the young gnu, a meal ready to be devoured.
Few meters part, oblivious of each other’s rival presence the lionesses and the hyenas fed to the steady pattering of the rain over the MARA.
It’s a jungle, the winner takes all.
Yours,
Gk
#HaveFunWithGk
