Snapshot Sunday #1-Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
The elusive Leopard of Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Welcome to the first of our Snapshot Sunday’s.
We have come to the conclusion that we might be posting just a little often with seven days a week. So to give people time to catch up on our posts from the week, we are giving you all a break from our ramblings and offering up a photograph from our favorite moment of our week in travel.
This was definitely a highlight not only of this week in travel, but probably our entire ten years in travel. We actually spotted a rare site in Sri Lanka’s, Yala National Park. The elusive leopard.
The Leopard doesn’t make an appearance for everyone and as we can attest, not all people had the privilege that we had. A guide spotted a leopard’s tail in a tree across the river. Several jeeps waited a very long time for it to climb out of the tree or even move.
We almost didn’t believe that it was there.
We even joked that it was probably a stuffed tail put there to make tourists happy. Many people gave up and drove away, but our guide was persistent. Only a few jeeps remained, when our leopard climbed out of a tree, gave a big stretch, a look in our direction and then he walked slowly to a tree stump in long grass.
By the time other jeeps arrived he had laid down and disappeared. Only a patient few witnessed the moment.
We looked at the defeat in other tourists eyes and we couldn’t bring ourselves to tell them what we had seen. What luck!
16 Responses to Snapshot Sunday #1-Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
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Hi,
I’ve been following your posts for a while now and they are very interesting. How much was the cost of the national park?
Hi Ahmed,
We did a half day safari that included everything from the jeep rental and all of our fees and it cost us 4000Rs/pp.
That is simply incredible! Absolutely incredible that you got to see this so up close…and looking right at you. A stunning shot and what a rare treat to see it out in the wild like that, just doing it’s leopard thing rather than locked up in a cage. There is a wee bit of travelers jealousy running through me right now
What a wonderful moment!
.-= Shannon OD´s last blog ..A Little Cozy…Peat Fireplaces, Rugged Ireland, & Something Special =-.
Thanks Shannon,
It really was a rare treat as there are not many left in the wild that you are able to see. It looks closer than it really is, I have a good zoom, but it was still not terribly far away. We were lucky that is for sure. Oh and we had a great guide as well.
Beautiful! I am green with envy
Nice to know that patience does pay off. I’ve never been patient enough to find out….
.-= Johnny Vagabond´s last blog ..Vagabond Travel Tip #2 – Never Trust a Monkey =-.
Hey Johnny,
Plus our guide wouldn’t let us leave anyway. We have him to thank:-)
Thanks for the compliment. Yes it is true patience does pay off and so does persistence
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Love that photo of the leopard. You will have to have that framed when you arrive home. Dad and I would like to have one of the leopard too. Very impressive. Love Mom and Dad
You got it mom! When we get home we will frame it. We have a bunch of Dave’s framed photos in storage too, if you are looking for stuff to put on your new walls. Better up in your place than sitting in a storage locker for nobody to see:)
Awesome. Great way to kick off Snapshot Sunday! Great idea.
Thanks Dave and Bran! You two are the best. Thanks for stopping by every once in a while.
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Patience paid off! Glad you guys got the great reward. Amazing picture.
.-= Amy @ The Q Family´s last blog ..Family Travel Tips: How to Survive 4 Hours Delay at the Airport =-.
All I can say is “wow” – I’m so glad you were able to capture such an amazing moment on film, and so beautifully. When I think about all of the creatures that have become extinct just in the span of the last few hundred years, the chances are good that leopards will not exist for your grandchildren to see (or those humans born in the next couple of generations)…and how ironic that what makes this such an amazing treat is the fact that these beautiful animals may be doomed….
I love the idea of “Photo Sundays” – your photos are always so phenomenal!
.-= Trisha Miller´s last blog ..How To Manage Your Blog While Traveling =-.
Thanks for the comment on the photos Trisha. Dave always appreciates it! I just love his stuff. It is so sad to see how so many animals are becoming extinct. People may argue that going to seek them out at a national park may do more harm then good, but then again, it is the national parks that are keeping them safe from poachers and alive. I just don’t understand human nature.
I want to go to Yala N.P. and “spot” some of Sri Lanka’s Wild Cats – including the Leopard!
.-= jen laceda´s last blog ..Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Tel Aviv =-.