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Okavanga β€” Umbrella Tree with Zebra and Leopard

#acacia #tanzania #tarangire #tree #zebra #leopard #wildanimal #wildlifephotography
Published: 2016-01-27 14:14:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 1707; Favourites: 60; Downloads: 32
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Description Acacia tortilis

At Last, The Leopards!This is the last in my Tanzanian series of photo essays.
When we embarked on our Tanzanian safari in late October last year, I desperately wanted to see and photograph a leopard (Panthera pardus). I had seen one at Sabi Sands in South Africa years ago in the pre-digital age when I had little photographic gear, and certainly no long lens. Despite repeated attempts in various game reserves over the years, including two days tracking at Phinda Vlei, no further leopard had entered the viewfinder. An experienced guide, Dan Mackenzie, I met on RedBubbleΒ http://www.redbubble.com/, where I maintain an alter ego, gave me the useful advice to keep especially sharp eyes around the kopje in the Serengeti. This turned out to be admirable advice. He might also have mentioned to keep an umbrella handy - as we shall see! In fact, we ended up seeing at least seven (7!) leopard, possibly a record for a small party, and this was in very large part because of the remarkable abilities of Alfred the Gr
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Comments: 40

KeithPurtell [2016-09-04 20:11:48 +0000 UTC]

Excellent.Β 

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Okavanga In reply to KeithPurtell [2016-09-05 06:28:05 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks, Keith.

David

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WagmoreBarkless [2016-07-04 00:17:52 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful.

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Okavanga In reply to WagmoreBarkless [2016-07-26 06:06:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, Goodwin.

David

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WagmoreBarkless In reply to Okavanga [2016-07-28 23:44:05 +0000 UTC]

Always a pleasure, David.

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Doctorwholovesthe80s [2016-05-31 06:12:00 +0000 UTC]

It took me a while to find the leopard. Was his name Waldo? Β 

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Okavanga In reply to Doctorwholovesthe80s [2016-06-01 07:59:00 +0000 UTC]

I doubt the leopard would take kindly to that epithet.

Many Thanks

David

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simply-uriel-2015 [2016-02-02 18:59:07 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful

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Okavanga In reply to simply-uriel-2015 [2016-02-03 07:12:09 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks from me, the leopard and the zebees!

David

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simply-uriel-2015 In reply to Okavanga [2016-02-04 16:24:30 +0000 UTC]

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Scooby777 [2016-02-02 03:05:30 +0000 UTC]

Oh wow, David!!! Β What wonderful framing and content! Β Exceptional, my dear friend!

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Okavanga In reply to Scooby777 [2016-02-02 07:26:08 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much, Sheri. Can you see the leopard?

Cheers

David

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Scooby777 In reply to Okavanga [2016-02-03 02:23:41 +0000 UTC]

No, and I looked super had, don't see it?

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Okavanga In reply to Scooby777 [2016-02-03 07:29:41 +0000 UTC]

OK - look to the left side of the main tree trunk where it curls round and starts to flatten out. There is a tiny curl of dark hanging down, like a hook. If you zoom in you will see that is the tail attached to the body above.

Good luck.

David

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Scooby777 In reply to Okavanga [2016-02-04 04:02:00 +0000 UTC]

I see it!! Β Wow!

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Okavanga In reply to Scooby777 [2016-02-04 09:47:48 +0000 UTC]

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LindArtz [2016-02-02 02:56:19 +0000 UTC]

Wow yeah, the leopards camouflage is remarkable! I had to double click this image just to get close enough to see where exactly it was, it blended right in with the tree!

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Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2016-02-02 07:26:57 +0000 UTC]

Zooming in helps, but one cool cat hidden there!

Many Thanks, Linda.

Cheers

David

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ScorpiiLupi [2016-01-31 01:34:44 +0000 UTC]

Very cool.

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Okavanga In reply to ScorpiiLupi [2016-01-31 07:48:11 +0000 UTC]

Yes, that's what the zebras thought until they saw the leopard in the tree!

Many Thanks

David

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ScorpiiLupi In reply to Okavanga [2016-02-05 17:04:35 +0000 UTC]

Β 

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rdungan1918 [2016-01-29 23:37:23 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful image.Β  I was talking to a Amish man who had a Zhorse (sp?), a cross between a zebra and a horse.Β  He said you couldn't train them for farm work because they would forget from one day to the next what they had learned.Β  At any rate the next time we saw him he had sold it because it kept biting people (not good in a petting zoo).

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Okavanga In reply to rdungan1918 [2016-01-30 08:12:06 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks, Robert. Your Amish friend is correct - a zorse is the name of the hybrid - and I'm not surprised at what he said. Zebra are structurally different from horses such that their backs are not able to sustain a rider nor are they readily domesticated. A hybrid is likely to be even more difficult. Also, though they are nice to look at in the wild, and appear very playful and full of energy, they can be quite aggressive to each other and to other animals that get in their way. They bite and have a vicious back leg kick. They are also timid animals compared to wildebeest - caution is the watch word. They will post sentries to look for predators, and if one is spotted then a group of zebra will go watch and stare at the threat - an effective strategy i that big cats need to stalk prey to get close enough to kill.

Cheers

David

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rdungan1918 In reply to Okavanga [2016-01-30 14:25:40 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for response

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BrightStar2 [2016-01-28 13:19:57 +0000 UTC]

wow fabulous shot.....

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Okavanga In reply to BrightStar2 [2016-01-28 13:24:33 +0000 UTC]

Hi Donna - thank you very much!

Cheers

David

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BrightStar2 In reply to Okavanga [2016-01-29 10:54:45 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome dear D......Β Β 

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jennystokes [2016-01-28 04:18:41 +0000 UTC]

I see one very clearly.

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Okavanga In reply to jennystokes [2016-01-28 07:31:28 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear that, Jenny!

Many thanks for looking.

David

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jennystokes In reply to Okavanga [2016-01-28 07:45:28 +0000 UTC]

Always illuminating David.........Pleasure.

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WalnutHill [2016-01-27 23:13:01 +0000 UTC]

I see two tails and a possible third body, David....Β  Β 


J

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Okavanga In reply to WalnutHill [2016-01-28 07:32:35 +0000 UTC]

Two tails and a third body....Yes, of course you do, J....you've not been working too hard have you....?



David

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Amarantheans [2016-01-27 15:03:24 +0000 UTC]

Wow that is one sneaky leopard.
This is a beautiful shot.

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Okavanga In reply to Amarantheans [2016-01-28 07:33:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much, Anita, I'm very pleased you like it.

Cheers

David

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Amarantheans In reply to Okavanga [2016-01-28 13:40:40 +0000 UTC]

You are most welcome

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Eruanna17 [2016-01-27 14:49:25 +0000 UTC]

Ahaa! I had to zoom all the way in to find the leopard, but I found it eventually
Nice one!

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Okavanga In reply to Eruanna17 [2016-01-28 07:35:10 +0000 UTC]

Yes, it certainly helps to zoom in, and once you do see it, your eyes know where to look the next time.

Cheers

David

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Placi1 [2016-01-27 14:43:49 +0000 UTC]

Congratulations David, excellent series!!

LΓ‘szlΓ³

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Okavanga In reply to Placi1 [2016-01-28 07:35:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much,Β LΓ‘szlΓ³.

Cheers

David

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Placi1 In reply to Okavanga [2016-01-28 07:56:20 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure, David.

LΓ‘szlΓ³

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