Take extra caution if you are in Khwai, especially with children.
source: Andy - DrivebotswanaOne thing we wanted to let you know about, so that you could pass it on to the relevant authorities, is that when we stayed in Khwai campsite, we had a very close encounter with a leopard. We think the animal has got habituated to people and could be dangerous to others, particularly those with children.
Just after dusk, I was returning with the kids from the toilet block, when our 10 year old son (who was lagging a few steps behind the group) turned around and locked eyes with a leopard stalking him, just a few metres away. Fortunately, the leopard backed off, so we sent our youngest two kids into a tent whilst we started rearranging our sleeping arrangements to put an adult in each tent. I then spotted the leopard crouching under the landrover, only a few steps away from us. It again backed off when I shouted, but it stayed in the vicinity for the next half an hour, until I spotted it a few metres away creeping up on him. I frightened it away, wielding a spade, and we beat a hasty retreat to our tents for the night.
We are pretty seasoned safari people, and we have never seen a predator so fearless around people. We believe that our son was lucky to have turned around and spotted it when he did.
