Watch the exciting hunt as a leopard catches an impressive impala and then battles a hyena that tries to steal it.
There is a leopardess that visits De Laporte Waterhole once a year, every year, in July. Only 6 kilometers separate this waterhole in the Kruger National Park from the Skukuza camp. Because she has mastered using the thirsty and unalert animals for her hunting, she has become famous.
The De Laporte Leopard waited for the ideal opportunity for three days straight while lying down. Finally, on the third day, she was conducting a flawless ambush when two impalas approached her. A competing hyena challenged her claim to the impala after she pounced furiously on one impala and caught it in midair.
Gerrie Smit, a 63-year-old Field Ranger for Kruger Gateway Safaris, snapped this mesmerizing encounter while on a game drive with his wife on the H1-1 at De Laporte Waterhole in the Kruger National Park. “It was a leisurely Sunday morning drive, and we stopped at the De Laporte waterhole to see if we could spot the famous leopard that is often seen in the area – but we did not expect to see a battle there as well!” Gerrie recalls to LatestSightings.com. She was calmly waiting for two impalas to approach her from behind while hiding in the grass. As soon as one of the impalas came within striking distance, she seized the chance to attack.
“Unfortunately, there were other predators around, and a spotted hyena quickly grabbed her kill. The female leopard persisted in her fight with the hyena until both animals fled with a piece of flesh, showing no signs of letting up on her well-earned kill.
Although it is frequently said, the sighting was certainly once in a lifetime. We were in the ideal situation at the ideal time.