Photo Ops

I always try to get to the helicopter much earlier than I need to, just in case. I've had a couple of unforseens that turned a mellow pre-flight into a mad scramble. Dead batteries, broken fuel drum wrenches, and black mambas on the trail to name a few. So I'm in the habit of getting everything ready to go long before. I'd rather be chillin' and feel ahead of the game than to rush through pre-flight and miss something important(it's all important.)

So the other day on the way to the heli, I spotted a freshly-killed impala. We took a good look around and found the leopard that had done the deed resting in a thicket. He came out and pulled his lunch into the bush while we watched. As far as commutes go, I reckon that one will stay on my Top Five list for some time.

After the flight, I joined an afternoon game drive and got to see the group of nine lions known to the guides as the "tree-climbing" pride, two males that hunt together as part of a coalition until they're able to get some honeys of their own to do the hunting for them, and the leopard. He had climbed up a tree, the impala left for the vultures.

I've been living out of a bag recently and my camera charger didn't make it. The lioness on the branch was the last photo I was able to take. Bummer cuz the pride got really active after that, but I think you'll agree, that it was a good one to end on.