Every safari drive holds the potential for a surprise, no matter how many times you’ve ventured into the bush. Recently, I had one such unexpected sighting that still amazes me—a rare encounter involving hippos, a leopard, and even a lone dagga boy (buffalo bull). The unpredictability of nature is what makes each drive unique, but this particular experience was something else.

It was the final drive of my guests’ 3-night stay at Buffalo Camp. They had enjoyed six drives with me, and while they had seen plenty of wildlife, they hadn’t had the chance to spot a leopard. They had also only seen hippos submerged in the water, with just their noses, eyes, and ears poking out. Knowing their time was running out, I decided to take a last-minute detour to a dam where I had seen hippos that morning, hoping they might be out of the water enjoying the sun.

As we approached the dam, I noticed two hippos standing outside the water, with a few more still submerged—a rare sighting at this hour. I was already pleased with this moment, but what came next was truly remarkable. 

After watching the hippos for a minute or two, one of my guests suddenly exclaimed, “Leopard!” Sure enough, there he was—a large male leopard named Hleketa, which means “Think” in Tsonga. He was casually lounging on the concrete overflow of the dam, not the least bit concerned about the hippos just 20 meters away.

What happened next still leaves me in awe. Hleketa got up and started walking toward the hippos. As he veered off at about 5 meters, I expected some reaction—a territorial stand-off or a retreat by the hippos. But to my surprise, neither happened. 

The hippos remained completely unbothered, simply watching the leopard stroll by as if they were thinking, “Who does this guy think he is?”

Hleketa then took another rest behind a bush, just a few meters away from the hippos. As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one morning, we also noticed a dagga boy resting behind another bush nearby. Oblivious to the leopard’s presence, the buffalo didn’t move a muscle. It was as if all the animals were in a peaceful, unspoken agreement to share the space.

Eventually, the leopard moved off into an area we couldn’t reach from our vantage point, and we stayed a little longer to watch the hippos before heading back to camp.

After years of living and working in the bush, these kinds of unexpected moments never cease to excite me. No matter how late in the drive, there’s always a potential surprise around the corner. It’s this unpredictability that makes every safari a thrilling adventure, not just for our guests but for those of us lucky enough to call the wild our workplace. 

Experience the Unpredictable at Kapama
Join us on a safari at Buffalo Camp, where every drive brings the chance for an unforgettable encounter. The bush has its own stories to tell—sometimes, you just have to wait for the right moment to witness them. 

www.kapama.com/kapama-buffalo-camp/

Story and images by Mark Volker – Buffalo Camp Guide