A leopard, four lions, and a perfect escape – a tale from Lamai Triangle

One afternoon, we set out for a short game drive in the Lamai Triangle, hoping to see some elephants and, if we were lucky, maybe a few cats. We drove slowly along the Kenyangaga drainage, scanning the bushes and trees, and finally reached the wide open Kampikampi plains. There, we spent peaceful time watching a small herd of elephants feeding and moving gently through the golden grass.

As the sun started to dip toward the horizon, we decided it was time to find a nice spot for a sundowner. One of us pointed out a good looking tree in the distance where we could stop, stretch our legs, and enjoy a drink while watching the sunset. We began heading in that direction, but something caught my eye in the distance, about a kilometre away. High up in a tree was a shape that didn’t quite match the branches.

I picked up my binoculars and looked again, yes, it was a leopard! That changed our plan immediately. The drinks could wait. We turned the vehicle and slowly made our way toward the tree. As we got closer, something felt unusual. The leopard was sitting calmly in the branches, looking composed. That was strange because the leopard we usually see in this area is very shy and skittish. It doesn’t stay in the open for long and usually disappears at the first sign of a vehicle.

Then we looked down and everything made sense. Beneath the tree were four lions, lounging in the shade, waiting. They had trapped the leopard up in the tree, hoping she would make a mistake and come down. That explained why she was so still and careful and why she wasn’t running away.

We waited there quietly, watching the scene unfold. The sun dipped lower, casting golden light across the land. The lions seemed relaxed but alert. They knew the leopard was up there, and they weren’t going anywhere.

But then, as the light began to fade and shadows stretched long across the ground, the lions got up and started to shift positions as the signs of waking up ready for the night. In that brief moment of movement, the leopard saw her chance. And what happened next was pure magic! Without a sound, the leopard slipped down the tree. It was so silent, so quick, that we barely noticed it, just like water flowing gently in the deep sea. In just a blink, she touched the ground and vanished into the thick grass, out of sight from the lions and from us.

It was one of the most incredible moments of our safari. We didn’t get our sundowner, but we got something far more special, a true lesson in stealth, patience, and survival. Watching a female leopard outsmart four lions in total silence was something we will never forget.

That’s the magic of the wild. You go out looking for elephants and maybe a drink under a tree and end up with a once-in-a-lifetime story.