Our morning pack-up and game drive got us on the road to Seronera. It was sad to say goodbye to the camp staff; they were wonderful. It was a three hour ride back to the Seronera where we checked-in and rested up for the afternoon game drive.

An afternoon drive in Central Serengeti is tough to beat. Golden light on the kopjes and storm clouds behind with a few lions thrown in! Then it was leopard time. The girl cub was alone in a tree a kilometer from the mom and son. It took a while for Othmanni to get us to the right spot because he didn’t trust me. He couldn’t see it so he wouldn’t stop. We got in position for when they came down and went to the girl’s tree where the kill was. First it was back light as the mother ran full speed straight for us. As she crossed the road I knew where she was going to take a breather. She stopped right outside our window as the most golden light poured all around her; it was a dream come true.

She called to her son. He came out to join her and together they walked into the tall grass. Next stop was a fallen log but they never faced us. We raced ahead and I told Othman to stop where there were no vans. I knew he didn’t get it but he said “I trust you Toddi.” There was a dead tree in perfect light 15 feet from the car. They emerged from the tall grass and climbed it right in front of us. What an end to the day!

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