Tourists on safari in South Africa were treated to a comical sighting when encountering a leopard awakening from a nap alongside a road. It was obviously unaware of the hyena sneaking up on it.
The incident, which occurred at Sabi Sands Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park, was captured in video by safari guide Jason Joubert, 33, who shared his story with LatestSightings.com.
“As we watched the leopard wake up and groom, we noticed a male hyena walking down the road in our direction,” Joubert told LatestSightings. “I assume he was following the leopards’ scent.
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“We watched and waited as the hyena carefully approached the leopard, taking a step closer and closer each time and the leopard seemingly oblivious of its sniffing visitor while it groomed its paws. We did not expect the hyena to walk straight up to the leopard and we thought that the leopard would have sensed the hyena right away, but this was not the case.
“The leopard slowly got up, almost still in a sleepy daze, and realized with a jolt that the hyena was now almost face to face! It jolted up in defense and jumped back, snarling and growling, warning the hyena to keep a distance.”
The tourists in the vehicle all laughed at the encounter.
The hyena, realizing there were no leftovers to scavenge on, continued on its way. The leopard growled some more and then went back to grooming, Joubert said.
Photos courtesy of LatestSightings.com.