Guests At South African Lodge Get A Surprise Visit From A Leopard

Visitors enjoying a quiet breakfast at the Singita Ebony Lodge, a luxury hotel in South Africa's Sabi Sand Game Reserve, were treated to a rare encounter with a leopard in early September 2020. The handful of guests watched in awe —and a little trepidation — as the majestic animal, who appeared to be searching for a tasty morsel, calmly explored the various areas of the restaurant. Fortunately for the humans, nothing on the "menu" seemed to catch the leopard's fancy, and it left as abruptly as it had arrived.
Erika Wiese, who captured the footage of the leopard walking through the restaurant, told Kruger Sightings that she and the other guests were alerted to the predator's arrival by the alarm calls sounded by surrounding vervet monkeys. Also known as savanna monkeys, the smart mammals communicate the presence of each of their four-known predators — leopards, eagles, baboons, and pythons — with a unique call, allowing other members of their species to respond accordingly. For example, the short tonal call signaling a leopard is nearby cause the monkeys to scramble into trees, while the low-pitched grunts, indicating the presence of eagles, warns them to keep an eye on the skies.

The leopard, however, was not interested in the monkeys, but instead appeared to be in search of a bushbuck, or African antelope, that it had been stalking in a nearby riverbed earlier in the day. Wiese says, "The sighting ended with the leopard strolling calmly away from the deck area and out of sight towards the bushbuck who you can hear alarm calling at the end."
Wiese says that thanks to the lodge's well-trained staff, who are experienced at dealing with wild animal visits, and the strict safety rules in place, the guests all remained calm. She gushes, "We felt complete awe, reverence, respect, and gratitude. What a rare experience to have such an encounter with a leopard. The situation proved that wildlife and people can live and interact with each other in harmony and respect."
Located adjacent to Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve is home to a wide variety of animals, including over 144 mammal, 500 bird, 30 amphibian, and 110 reptile species. However, the area's main attraction is the presence of the Big Five — lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos — which roam the game park in abundance.
Resources: Krugersightings.com

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442 Comments
- peepsterSunday, January 17, 2021 at 8:07 amThat would be amazing also plzzz follow me I have NO followers.
- darkstormtroopeFriday, January 15, 2021 at 12:26 pmi like how the guy filming was just chill if i were there i would curl up into a ball and die
- lollFriday, January 15, 2021 at 11:15 amidk? at least the leopard didn't! that would be bad.
- lollFriday, January 15, 2021 at 11:08 amit was a good thing that no one got hurt!
- coolshadowgrlThursday, January 14, 2021 at 8:27 amthis is cool but why didn't the leopard eat the humans?
- vawipujo-159726009245Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 6:26 pmi know right
- lollMonday, January 11, 2021 at 3:23 pmThat's soo cool
- rapafeme-160083225966Monday, January 11, 2021 at 9:45 ami........dk how the leoperd did not eat THEM IDKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!
- mayedaguccisingMonday, January 11, 2021 at 7:10 amwow this is amazing! how does the people get close to the Leopard. it must be scary.
- fluppyFriday, January 8, 2021 at 8:19 amSo cool that those people could encounter that.