Leopards are a premium sighting in the Serengeti. They are elusive creatures, mostly active during the night. But on occasion, they are spotted during the day and usually draw a crowd after guides radio their location. We were fortunate, as we saw leopards every day we were there.

On our third morning, only 5 minutes after leaving camp, we spotted this one on a rock surveilling the area. We sat here for approximately 15 minutes watching the watcher. 98% of the time, it was looking off in the distance to its left. It was not concerned with us and was far more interested in a troop of baboons making their way closer to our position. Occasionally though, it would casually turn its head and look directly at us. It had our undivided attention for 15 minutes while giving us only moments of the same.

Situated about 10 feet above us, the composition was almost equally divided between the bright, hazy morning sky and the neutral stone perch. Of course, there were colorful grasses, trees, and birds just out of view, but zoomed in on a 600mm lens, they all disappeared. Later in the day, after viewing the LCD image on the back of my camera, our guide commented on how unusual it was that a leopard is the most colorful object in a scene.

As the baboons approached, the leopard descended into the long grass for cover. We thought there may soon be a chase, but either out of luck or innate sense, the troop changed direction and avoided confrontation. Aware the opportunity was lost, the leopard disappeared into heavy brush.