Mid-morning, 13 June 2023. We find ourselves watching a lioness hidden in grass at the foot of a thorn tree near the edge of the Ondongab natural waterhole in Etosha National Park, Namibia. Only the top of the lion's head and its ears are showing. Behind the lion and the thorn tree, the massive Etosha pan stretches to the northern horizon.
A large number of thirsty springbok, gnu, and zebra inch closer to the waterhole from the west. The animals at the front are hesitant. They sense something is amiss. Maybe they even know there is a lion somewhere in the grass. But they are constantly joined by more animals from behind with no appreciation of the danger. As a result, and driven by thirst, the animals inexorably come closer and closer to the waterhole. Before long, the first springboks are dipping their muzzles in the water. They are followed by the gnus and the zebras. All are within striking distance of the lion.
But nothing happens. The lion is distracted.
A sudden movement high up in the thorn tree betrays the presence of an animal. Another movement as the animal rises to its front legs. It is a fully grown leopard, hitherto hidden in complete stillness among the foliage at the very top of the tree. The lion is evidently aware of its presence, but the leopard seems to think it is now safe to descend as the lion's prey animals swamp the waterhole.
Slowly and deliberately the leopard makes its way to the ground and begins to move away from the tree and the lion. However, it has barely moved 50 meters before the lion rises and immediately begins to follow the leopard. Then the lion breaks into a trot, which almost immediately becomes a sprint. The leopard, realising the danger, explodes into a sprint of its own. It is now running for its life with a fully grown, healthy, and infinitely stronger lion in hot pursuit. Miraculously, the leopard manages to circle back towards the tree and reaches safety with the lion barely a few feet behind. The speed of both animals is shocking. The chase was over in seconds.
After casting a few glances at the leopard, now back in the tree, the lion plants itself in the old spot under the tree, and once again turns its attention back to the waterhole. But by now all the game has absconded. The lion remains in the grass under the tree for another couple of hours, then slinks off in the opposite direction to the waterhole. Before long, it has disappeared behind one of the small dunes that line the edge of the Etosha pan. The leopard, taking no chances, remains in the tree for the rest of the day.
Etosha at this time of year is bone dry. All animals are forced to visit one of the park’s few waterholes at least once a day to drink. This is why the predators hang out here. And as long as they don’t fall over each other, as they did on this day at Ondongab, they have excellent odds of scoring a meal.
End