Leopard in a Sausage Tree

"Amazing! Hurry, Hurry! A lioness has just chased a leopard up a sausage tree." Like a jungle telegraph, word spreads to various safari groups. Within three minutes we were on the site.

Unfortunately we had missed the spat, but here were the two fiercest African cats. The lioness was sitting on her haunches under the tree staring in all directions, ready to take on other comers. Her thrashing tail reflected her excitement which we later found was caused by the presence of her family of kittens only a few yards away.

The leopard was up in the tree, posing with dignity among the dangling 'sausages'. This long, wood fruit resembles a large, beige salami, but it is inedible to all but starving elephants.

After showing proper unconcern, the leopard glided through the branches without effort or sound. He instantly blended with the convoluted limbs. The coolness of his attitude in his green, airy world reminded me of the atmosphere of a tropical cafe, complete with potted trees and on old ceiling fan . . . exotic and relaxed.