The one that got away.

The African ground squirrel here was feeding on a sausage tree in the grounds of Tena tena bush camp as we returned from our morning bush walk at about 10.30am. After six kilometers in the growing morning heat we were fairly tired, so I retired to the bar for a Mosi (Zambia's main brand of beer). 

Here, whilst sat chatting about our walk with the guides, we were stopped in mid sentence by the sight of a leopard walking calmly down the main track of the camp, just 20m away.

In a silent fluster of arms, legs and camera equipment we  abandoned our drinks to see where it would go, only to lose it as it passed like a ghost through the staff tents and off into the bush.

Sadly the picture of the squirrel, taken just ten minutes earlier is the only record of that exciting morning, my pictures of the leopard showing nothing but long grass or blurred trees and legs.

The problem with safari holidays is it's difficult to relax as you never know what the bush will reveal next or when.