OK, so hands up … these photos WERE taken in the UK … but wouldn’t you just love to see a leopard like this in its own habitat ?

The world-famous private game reserves and safari lodges near the Greater Kruger Park offer possibly the best Big 5 game viewing opportunities to be found anywhere, with lion and leopard tracking a particular speciality.

These lodges are either located within one of a handful of concessions in Kruger itself, or in one of the neighbouring private game reserves (such as Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Balule, Klaserie, and Manyeleti) on the western side of the Park, or in one of the nearby fenced reserves such as Thornybush and Kapama.

The land is privately owned, so the game viewing vehicles are not restricted to the road network and it is therefore possible for the experienced guides to follow the wildlife through the bush and to get extremely close to the animals.

Oh, yes … back to the photos … these photos were taken by a photography student at the Santago Rare Leopard Project in Hertfordshire , England. The brave little mouse apparentely appeared just after the keeper had dropped in the meat for the leopard.

Seemingly totally unaware of the huge leopard, the mouse scampered right up to the meat and started eating away.

The leopard, Sheena, stood and looked on in amazement at such boldness. After a few minutes, she tried to gently push the mouse away with her nose, but the mouse refused to budge, and stayed munching until he was full.

Simply amazing !!

For most people the idea of spending the night under canvas surrounded by the sounds of the African bush brings to mind the romance of a bygone age of adventure.

Fortunately there are dozens of tented safari camps all across South Africa where it is possible to recapture this magic.

From Bayethe Lodge (Shamwari), Lalibela Tree Tops Lodge, and Gorah Elephant Camp in the Malaria Free Eastern Cape, up to Savanna and Hamilton’s in the Greater Kruger Park there is some outstanding 5* tented accommodation available with many ‘tents’ boasting air conditioning, luxury bathrooms, and even private plunge pools!

For guests travelling on a more modest budget, lodges such as Gomo Gomo and Kwa-Mbili offer less extravagant accommodation, however the large tents all still have proper double or twin beds and ensuite bathrooms…it’s still along way from most peoples idea of roughing it!

Our top 10 tented camps in South Africa are:

1 ) Bayethe Lodge
2 ) Tree Tops Lodge
3 ) Mkuze Falls Tented Lodge
4 ) Gorah Elephant Camp
5 ) Gomo Gomo Game Lodge
6 ) Savanna Private Game Reserve
7 ) Hamilton’s Tented Camp
8 ) Chapungu Luxury Tented Camp
9 ) Kwa-Mbili Game Lodge
10 ) Entabeni Wildside Tented Camp

This listing is ranked on the number of nights guests have spent at each lodge based on recent bookings made by Travel Butlers.