14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Leopard Spotted-Kruger National Park, South Africa

My husband and I were on a mission to see one of the world’s endangered creatures- the leopard. After trekking all day in Kruger National Park and losing all hope of finding a leopard we heard a crackle up on a tree and looked up and saw movement on the tree branch. This creature was not immediately visible and camouflaged. Then we saw the tail and spots and knew we found a leopard. I could not see right away so I got my camera to zoom in and saw this beautiful leopard with a warthog up on the tree. The leopard noticed my movement and looked right at me. I thought I was going to die, I stayed as silent as possible and captured this image. Amazing beauty.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2015
Date Uploaded: 11.2016
Photo Location: Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Copyright: © Georgina Panahi