Natural Instincts

The last few days have been extraordinary.  This posting is one example.  Our Ranger thought we should follow a hyaena he spotted in the grass, since he was sure it was following a scent.  The hyaena led us to a leopard with a kill, an impala.  There was a spat when it encountered the male leopard (which I wasn't able to catch since it happened so fast), which made the leopard look for higher ground.  The Ranger explained that the leopard would probably look for a tree to hide the carcass.  Sure enough the leopard dragged the impala up a tree trunk with his powerful teeth, until it was wedged safely behind a branch.  We saw the entire encounter.  It was absolutely amazing.  I've included a wider shot of the tree, as well as the hyaena from the jeep.  (Sorry if the image is a bit gruesome - I think I've become hyposensitized after being here.)
It's always comforting to return home tomorrow, but it will take a few days to come down from the high we have been experiencing here in South Africa.
Thanks for following along.  I look forward to catching up with your journals soon!