Mutambo Films

High noon. Nobody blink.

Back at camp, all attention turned to the skinning shed. A crocodile skin can only be as good as the work that goes into preparing it. It’s a process that takes time, and one that can’t be rushed if you want the best possible result. As the natural fats and oils work their way back through the underside of the skin, the team will flesh it again… and again… and again. Only once they’re satisfied is it ready to be salted and preserved.

With no time for even a sandwich in camp, we grabbed a bite on the drive and headed straight for the blind. We were expecting our cat at any moment.

It’s impossible not to admire an animal of this size. From a distance, it’s difficult to gauge just how immense they really are. But standing beside one, with Vic lifting the tail, and he’s no small man himself, the sheer scale becomes almost impossible to comprehend.

Every armored scale, every scar, and every inch of muscle tells the story of an apex predator that has ruled Africa’s waterways for many, many years.

Lake Cahora Bassa has earned its reputation as one of the finest crocodile hunting destinations in the world, producing truly exceptional Nile crocodiles year after year. Moments like these are a reminder of exactly why.

It was time to act. Everything finally lined up. Felipe was arriving that day, and our leopard was officially back on bait. The opportunity was there, now it was time to get everything ready.

The blind was built, the final details were checked, and we settled into position for our client’s first evening sit.

Hardus shares some great insight into one of the most important parts of a successful leopard hunt: building and positioning a proper blind. From concealment to wind direction and comfort, every detail matters when you’re trying to outsmart one of Africa’s most elusive predators.

The stage was set. Now all we had to do was wait.

Cat Crack. If there’s one bait that consistently gets a leopard’s attention in Niassa, it’s baboon.

Baboons make up a significant part of a leopard’s natural diet here, and time and again we’ve seen just how difficult they are for a big tom to resist. Every area is different, but in this corner of Niassa, baboon has proven to be one of the most reliable baits we can hang.

Some places are difficult to describe. The Eastern Cape and the Karoo are among them.

It’s a landscape of endless horizons, rugged mountains, open plains, and an incredible diversity of wildlife. Every valley, ridgeline, and river system tells a different story, making every day in the field feel unique.

As Jeff explains, it’s one of those places you simply have to experience for yourself. To truly understand its beauty, you have to stand in it.