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<\/p>\nThrough social media I noticed that a woman was recently attacked by a beaut of a leopard in the Matopi campsite in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and there is a bit of a hype amongst campers at the moment.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0As usual there are a lot of accusations flying around on the how, why, do\u2019s and don\u2019ts.\u00a0 I want to stress that we have camped in the wilderness for the past 20 years and never ever had any incident\/accident while camping in an unfenced campsite in Africa.\u00a0 We encountered hyenas skimming our tent in Moremi, a shy leopard watching us from the dark behind our tent in Central Kalahari, elephants stepping over our tent ropes in Mana Pools, hippos grazing on the green grass in front of our tent in Nkasa Rupara and monkeys trying to steal our food In Hwangwe, but nothing turned out as a bad situation.<\/p>\n
If you follow some basic rules you will be safe.<\/p>\n
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The first and foremost rule of thumb is you are in their territory. \u00a0RESPECT them.\u00a0 You are the visitor in their home.<\/p>\n
Wild animals will very seldom just attack you at random.\u00a0\u00a0 If they do that, they are either provoked, feel threatened, is sick or has completely lost its fear for humans.\u00a0 So, ZIP UP your tent.\u00a0 Always.\u00a0 This is not even negotiable.\u00a0 Sleep with an unzipped tent and you will encounter trouble.\u00a0 Leopards, lions and hyenas are hunters!<\/p>\n
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It is very tempting to put out bait to have a up close and personal experience.\u00a0 Remember if you do it you create CONSEQUENCES for future visitors to the same spot.\u00a0 This forms an association and expectation of food when it encounters humans and eventually they lose their fear for humans.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Trouble.<\/p>\n
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STOW your food in secure containers in the back of your vehicle.\u00a0 Baboons and monkeys are known for their acute smell and will rip open tents with their capable paws to get to your stash.\u00a0 On various occasions we had to scare away baboons or monkeys from fellow campers\u2019 food stash while they were out on a drive.\u00a0 Why would they hunt if the food storage is easily accessible for them?\u00a0 Lock up.\u00a0 Always.<\/p>\n
Do not think if you visit the bush once a year for a week that you are a bush expert!\u00a0 Listen to what weathered, well-travelled and experienced people tell you to do. Guides are trained to know the bush.\u00a0 This was a rare and unfortunate incident that spoiled a dream vacation.\u00a0 Your chances of being hit by a car is bigger than being attacked by a wild animal in the veld.\u00a0 TRUST them.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding this incident, I wish the lady a speedy recovery as this must have been a horrific experience to her, her family and friends.<\/p>\n