Dick, I used Helm's "Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania". I guess in Kenya and Northern Tanzania it's still more in circulation than the new "Birds of East Africa".

Hi

Interesting theory this "scan right to left", business. Must try this.

Often when on a safari having sharp eyes makes a difference. I regularly go out with a specialist tracker in Yala, Sri Lanka looking for leopard, which you will agree is one of the most elusive creatures to spot. It is unbelievable how the tracker spots them. Recently while driving down a jungle road he non chalantly asked me for my binoculars, something he very rarely does. Passing them to him I asked "what, have you seen a leopard?" so he mumbles softly "I think so". Well I just applied the brakes and stopped the jeep to allow him to see with the binos and he says "yes, the goods are there!". I struggled to spot it. It was just a teenie weenie speck on a rocky outcrop very very far away and could not understand how he had spotted this. Even with the binos it was very tiny. Eventually we got closer and saw the leopard better.

I think the tracker spotted the leopard by sensing some subtle movement on the distant rock. There is no way anyone could have seen it otherwise. Perhaps he was scanning right to left - must check this out quietly on my next trip.

All this experience is based on Sri Lanka but the same would apply in Africa.

On another occasion with the same tracker I was driving quite tired and weary after an unsuccessful long morning run. Suddenly he goes - "Leopard! Leopard!" Stopping the vehicle, and looking out, leaning forward I ask him "where? where?". He is litterally climbing onto my lap now and says "there! there!on your side, look outside your window!" I look out my driving side window and still it took a moment to spot the fellow - a huge beautiful male, full of arrogance, he was sitting on the grassy verge at the edge of the rough gravel road and was right beside my window and looking up at me. I could have literally reached out and touched him! In the rush of adrenalin I did not know whether to reach for my camera or to wind up the window. Next moment the leopard got up and all the time looking at me over his back, he just melted away into the scrub. So moral of the story here like Hari says "look right in front of your vehicle".

Well at least for us who cannot make it to and African safari today, we can reminisce about the old good times, isn't that one of the best things in life, the lasting good memories.

Regards
Mohammed
Yala photos - http://www.abidally.com/mp/Yala

Mohammed,

How far of a drive is Yala NP from Colombo? 4 nights a good amount of time there? do they also have nature walks and things besides the drives?

Thks
Hari

From Madras, it should be what only an hour's flight more or less?

Mohammed,

Stop this Yala Park talk. You are going to give me another must see destination. Hari is making reservations as I type.

I'll check the photos later.

You are right, Lynn....from his pictures i can tell that Yala is going to compete with SSGR for leopards!!!

Hi
Hari, Colombo is 45mns flying from Chennai and Yala is a 5 hour drive from Colombo, reasonably good roads. Need more info pls let me know.

Lyn, you gotta come to Sri Lanka one day.

Nice pictures! The leopards are calling me. Some day I'll get to Sri Lanka. Thanks for sharing your experiences.