After having a very leisurely morning, and taking our time to leave the Serena, we set the pace for the day. Winding our way through the park on an exciting game drive that included lots of wildies & zebras, we barely made it to the Naabi Hill Gate at a decent 'lunch time'. But, it's a vacation, right? And who is really in a hurry to eat those nasty lunch boxes we are all issued?
We stopped at Oldupai Gorge to show Jamie the Cradle of Mankind, as well as I just had to show him those washrooms built on the edge of the cliff. Someday I can see myself making a wrong turn coming out of the ladies & ending up at the bottom of it! After meandering through the highlands, after the gate, we stopped for a breathtaking view of the crater - it really never fails to take my breath away. And, so there we were, driving along the rim road on the way to the Sopa area for Lemala Camp, when Daniel yesll "STOP!. Leopard!" And indeed there was, walking right along side of the road! Before we could get our cameras ready though, he jumped into the bushes on my side of the road. Peering deeply into the tall grass, Daniel spotted him again. This time we all had our cameras and were busy taking pictures of him peeking through the grass. Just as we all heard the very low growl start, Daniel quietly asked me to please shut my window. I turned towards him to ask him to repeat what he just said, as I didn't quite get it, when suddenly Jamie leaned over and slammed my window shut, just as the leopard's growl became very loud and he lunged right at us! My heart stopped - wow!!! Lunged at by a leopard! He stopped just short of though, I don't think he was going to jump in the window; he just wanted us to think that. I think. He disappeared back into the bush, and exited a few meters up the road, walking away from us - probably shaking his head saying 'stupid tourists'.