Leopard drinking

My photo tour group and I were having an early breakfast at our lodge in South Africa before our morning safari. The lodge was built above a waterhole, and suddenly we saw this leopard come to drink. We instantly forgot about breakfast, grabbed our photo gear, climbed into our Land Rover, and drove around the back of the lodge down to the waterhole. Amazingly, the cat was still there and it didn't move as the vehicle approached. Because we were able to park so close to the water -- about 25 feet -- the angle of shooting was not as low as I like. So, I hung out the side of the Land Rover to get as low to the ground as possible. I took this shot with a 400mm focal length, and the settings were 1/500, f/8, and 1000 ISO. The leopard drank for at least 6 minutes giving us ample opportunity for wonderful pictures.

2 Comments

Mar 23, 2026, 10:40:00 AM

Bob Miller - What a shot! I just love it! taken while hanging out of the side of a land rover !! Dawn and I will have to schedule a trip sometime with you!

Mar 21, 2026, 4:36:51 PM

David Lewis - I love your photography unfortunately for me I was born 40 years too soon so ism completely lost with digital I have won a lot of contests in the past past president of the Hamilton camera club had to quit I would watch slides then have to drive from Hamilton back to Oakville I won the land scape four years in a row became a master in prints once and twice for slides I am quitting happy with my Panasonic 2.8 wide too 600 mm my main camera back then was the Nikon Fe2 I won best in ford motor cop wit an old super improved folding camera cost me $70 others had Nikons hassled Lucas lingos etc ! I tell people that say to me you must have a good camera!? I say that is like saying to a painter you must have good brush’s I was on the front cover of Lorraine monks Ontario a loving look competing with al the top pros in Canada ! Any way it was micro brag I am still fairly active I am 91 thanks for letting me see your wonderful photos if I was younger I would go o none of your tours, excuse th one finger typing God bless

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Leopard drinking

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