In search of the leopard

Our safari driver, Asela, picked us up, together with our guide/driver, Tissa, at 1445 and took us to the park in the safari vehicle.

We passed the crocodiles, sunning themselves, on the way.





















These domestic animals were wandering around with tattoos showing their owners









The jeeps gathered together at the entrance to the park while the drivers collected the tickets and then drove into the park and along the rough road at high speed. It is necessary to hold on at all times !

It was probably too early to search for leopards, and so we were looking for birds initially:

Clockwise: kingfisher, egret, painted stork



























As we drove on, there was a rustling in the bushes and there, just a few feet from us, an elephant, fortunately friendly:





















A black robin, a chameleon and a a spotted dove.





























A malabar pied hornbill. There was a large group sitting some distance away. Individuals appeared to jump into the air at regular intervals and there was a lot of squabbling.













Bird of paradise flycatcher













By now, evening approached and the jeeps were flocking together ready for the great chase .... would we see our leopard?

The jeeps set off, surrounding an area that the leopard might be in. Asela had been watching the tracks, making hand signals to other drivers and monitoring his phone.














We would sit quietly for while, then suddenly, Asela would start up the jeep and move to another spot. Tissa was also watching and would stamp his feet to tell Asela to stop when necessary.

Asela had clearly seen bushes shaking because suddenly, he shot forward and stopped right in front of a clearing. The bushes shook and the we saw the first signs of an animal .....

























Then it disapppeared into the undergrowth












Asela started up the jeep and moved on. For some time more we circled the area, Asela in constant touch with the other drivers. All the jeeps were darting around in various directions. Asela parked at a spot which all the other jeeps were leaving, suddenly Tissa stamped on the floor. High on the rocks above us













Then the leopard rolled over to scratch his back














Mission accomplished. Other jeeps arrived and we left the scene. Then it was the race to leave the park before the gates closed at 6 pm.

The team!














So now it was back to the hotel, dinner and packing ready for to trip to Galle the next day.


- Pat and John on tour