| 1. Dine in a renovated and unique sheperd's | | | | bush that camouflaged them well. We would |
| cottage - Bushmans Kloof - Unforgetable | | | | thoroughly recommend a visit to Phinda to any |
| Ambience! | | | | Leopard enthusiast as the opportunity to observe |
| This has to be the most romantic dinner venue in | | | | Phinda Private Game Reserve's leopards with a |
| South Africa. A good half hour drive from the | | | | specialist ranger and tracker team is an absolute |
| main lodge at Bushman's Kloof this location is | | | | gem. Leopards in the Phinda area and nearby |
| isolated and evocative. The sweeping vistas of | | | | conservation belts are protected but once these |
| the surrounding Cedarberg Mountains encase this | | | | cats step over the line onto privately-owned |
| little piece of paradise. | | | | game and livestock farms, of which there are |
| The original shepherd's cottage has been | | | | several surrounding Phinda's boundaries they are |
| renovated and soft lantern lighting and candlelight | | | | heavily persecuted. |
| warms the atmosphere. When my husband and I | | | | This specialist safari offers a fabulous opportunity |
| visited we experience the sense of vulnerability | | | | to gain an insight into the research carried out at |
| on the mountain side the weather had set in and | | | | Phinda. The team track the movements of the |
| the windows rattled in the wind. The roaring fire | | | | collared Leopards in the region. Recording their |
| and thick stone walls encasing our soiree offered | | | | habits, frequent haunts and ultimately building a |
| the true sense of warmth and protection from | | | | profile of behavior of these elusive animals. We |
| the elements outside. These memories I will never | | | | were very fortunate that our stay coincided with |
| forget. In addition to all the drama of the storm | | | | one of the leopards' collars to be replaced. We |
| outside I have fabulous recollections of the | | | | shadowed the team as they lured the cat to a |
| exemplary red wine and a four course meal | | | | specific area with raw meat before they sedated |
| cooked to perfection this really was - wilderness | | | | it, carried out into the open away from the |
| and indulgence of the senses! We were assured | | | | thicket bush where the vets had a 20 minute |
| that with clear skies the star gazing from this | | | | window of safety to take physical measurements. |
| point is incredible. | | | | It was intriguing to watch them collect DNA, blood |
| 2. Leopard Tracking and Research at Phinda | | | | samples and tests to establish the overall fitness |
| As we left camp after coffee and muffins over | | | | of the cat. All the time it's vital signs we |
| the embers of last nights campfire there was a | | | | constantly monitored, along with (of course) it's |
| stark air of excitement as we set out with our | | | | level of consciousness! Finally the collar was |
| Specialist Guide into the African Bush. Every now | | | | replaced, the team jumped back in the vehicle |
| and then our guide would stop to check the | | | | and we pulled away a few yards to watch the |
| telemetry kit to see if we were headed in the | | | | cat's recovery. |
| right direction. We felt as if we were sneaking up | | | | This was an insightful and unforgettable part of |
| on them, once we knew their rough coordinates it | | | | our trip, one of our most memorable wildlife |
| was down to our tracker to pinpoint them, which | | | | experiences and a must for any cat enthusiast! |
| was no easy feat as these cats love the thick | | | | |