Couple trapped by leopards in Kruger

WHAT was meant to be a wonderful experience in the Kruger National Park for a couple turned into a nightmare after they gate-crashed dinner for two leopards in the park.

The car they were in got stuck in the sand and they couldn’t leave to get help and had to spend the night under a tree, with the leopards overhead.

The couple had left the designated road to get a better view of leopards in a tree.

Their car then got stuck in the sand, leaving them trapped inside with the leopards watching.

Tour guide Peter Craig-Cooper, who found the couple, said: “We came across them early the next morning.”

They had been travelling along the S 86. They got themselves stuck in thick sand because they left the road supposedly to get a better view of the leopard kill.

Craig-Cooper said his party could not help the couple right away because the leopards were still feeding on their kill.

“There were a few additional vehicles that arrived at the same time but we could not assist as one of the leopards was still eating the remains of the kill.

“Eventually the one leopard carried the head of the duiker down the tree and sauntered off down the dry river bed.

“We followed it for 50m to see where it was heading but lost sight of it.”

Then they crossed fingers hoping the second leopard would follow suit, which it eventually did.

After having a good look around and with the help of a friend in another vehicle, who had a tow rope, they managed with some difficulty to pull the couple’s vehicle out of the soft sand.

Kruger National Park rules states clearly that vehicles should never leave the road.

Craig-Cooper said he was certain that the couple would now always remember that particular rule.

“We are sure that this will be a lesson well learnt. Read the rules of the park and do not leave the road.”