Leopard takes the trunk road. Ruaha Nat Park- TZ

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marc

marc

Well-known member
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One of the highlights of a return green season trip to Ruaha was the descent from this giant baobab of this female leopard.
The structure of the unique baobab trees gives plenty of toe-holds for these agile expert climbers Note the damage to the base here, caused by ele's stripping the outer layers.
I love the way this back view gives such a clear look at the straining muscles and the varying skin patterns.
I was fortunate to capture the whole sequence from start to the landing. What a sighting!!
This is the female known as "Furaha" which is Swahili for joy..................and what a joy it was to witness this rock-wall like descent.

Ruaha NP-Tanzania

Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/320s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

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Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/320s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

D3S_1341BCG.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.





Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/400s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

D3S_1343BCG.jpg
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Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/500s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

D3S_1349BCG.jpg
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Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/640s
ISO4000@ 240mm

.
D3S_1359bBCG.jpg
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Cheers
Marc
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
marc said:
One of the highlights of a return green season trip to Ruaha was the descent from this giant baobab of this female leopard.
The structure of the unique baobab trees gives plenty of toe-holds for these agile expert climbers Note the damage to the base here, caused by ele's stripping the outer layers.
I love the way this back view gives such a clear look at the straining muscles and the varying skin patterns.
I was fortunate to capture the whole sequence from start to the landing. What a sighting!!
This is the female known as "Furaha" which is Swahili for joy..................and what a joy it was to witness this rock-wall like descent.

Ruaha NP-Tanzania

Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/320s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

View attachment 7568




Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/320s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

View attachment 7569




Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/400s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

View attachment 7570





Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/500s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

View attachment 7571




Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/640s
ISO4000@ 240mm

.View attachment 7573

Cheers
Marc
Click to expand...
A great sequence Marc, very cleanly captured --- interesting the way she spreads the load on the forelegs as she descends gripping with the front paws and claws.
 
Member's gallery
Thanks Callie

Callie said:
:love: 👍Love them all! That last one, did she jump just after this? Could still be 4 m or more down I estimate
Click to expand...

As we're limited to a 5 image post, (out of the over 100 I took) I chose what I felt were the more interesting rock-wall descent images over what was a fairly "standard" final
descent. There were another 7 frames until she touched down. ;)
Unfortunately there was no final big leap, which would have done this total descent justice. :cry:

D3S_1365BPN.jpg
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Cheers
Marc
 
Member's gallery
Thanks Gordon
gordon_g said:
They really are such gorgeous creatures.... Really enjoying your photos Marc! and living vicariously though your photos... Hopefully someday I get to visit such a place.
Click to expand...

@gordon_g
I'm sure you would love this part of Africa Gordon, there's very few people I know that have told me they'd only visit once. ..........It does get in your blood (y)
 
Member's gallery
marc said:
Thanks Gordon


@gordon_g
I'm sure you would love this part of Africa Gordon, there's very few people I know that have told me they'd only visit once. ..........It does get in your blood (y)
Click to expand...
So Ruaha National park in Tanzania Is a must see... got it! I can definitely see how it would get in your blood just by seeing your photos. I’d be thrilled with one or two of yours ... @Steve You need to do a trip to Tanzania in like 3 years Hint hint....
 
Member's gallery
gordon_g said:
So Ruaha National park in Tanzania Is a must see... got it! I can definitely see how it would get in your blood just by seeing your photos. I’d be thrilled with one or two of yours ... @Steve You need to do a trip to Tanzania in like 3 years Hint hint....
Click to expand...

@gordon_g
Not just Ruaha Gordon, there are so may other beautiful places in Africa, @Callie would also atest,

you could visit Africa every day of your life for the rest of your life and still only scratch the surface. ;)
 
Member's gallery
marc said:
One of the highlights of a return green season trip to Ruaha was the descent from this giant baobab of this female leopard.
The structure of the unique baobab trees gives plenty of toe-holds for these agile expert climbers Note the damage to the base here, caused by ele's stripping the outer layers.
I love the way this back view gives such a clear look at the straining muscles and the varying skin patterns.
I was fortunate to capture the whole sequence from start to the landing. What a sighting!!
This is the female known as "Furaha" which is Swahili for joy..................and what a joy it was to witness this rock-wall like descent.

Ruaha NP-Tanzania

Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/320s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

View attachment 7568




Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/320s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

View attachment 7569




Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/400s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

View attachment 7570





Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/500s
ISO4000@ 240mm.

View attachment 7571




Nikon D3s
Nikkor 80-400 AFS
f/5.6
1/640s
ISO4000@ 240mm

.View attachment 7573

Cheers
Marc
Click to expand...
Magnificent shooting!
 
Member's gallery
gordon_g said:
So Ruaha National park in Tanzania Is a must see... got it! I can definitely see how it would get in your blood just by seeing your photos. I’d be thrilled with one or two of yours ... @Steve You need to do a trip to Tanzania in like 3 years Hint hint....
Click to expand...
We're working on it :)

We did a scouting trip to the Serengeti last year, but didn't like the safari group. We have a new group we were supposed to check out earlier this year, but Covid and all. We're hoping to head there in March for scouting and if all goes well, we'll offer trips the following year (2022) and forward.
 
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