Friends of our Jonathan Rossouw and his partner G invited us on a very special expedition to see an animal that it is estimated less than 200 westerners have ever seen alive. We were off on our quest to see a Snow Leopard, the Grey ghost of the Himalayas. At 4000+m and at temperatures of -30c or more this was something I was not used to. Whilst Monique thrived in these conditions I was hospitalized with Altitude sickness.
Apart from this minor setback the trip was truly mind-blowing. Sitting perched staring from one 5000m peak to another even larger one we spent our time scanning for an animal that seemingly disappeared into the wisps of vapor that trailed off the summits that surrounded us. I did not really think we would see this animal and was content to just be where they roamed, but amazingly we did see the Grey Ghost and watched one for more than an hour , and what an hour. A large male ploughing chest deep through the snow up along a ridge whilst above him a herd of blue sheep anxiously watched his every move. As he powerfully moved forward his vaporized breath could be seen silhouetted against a setting sun and we sat mesmerized, some including Monique crying as this phantom of the peaks strode confidently through his white and grey world.
2011 really was an amazing year for us with the world’s great cats and I dare say we were fortunate enough to join an elite group of people who have seen all the world’s great Cats belonging to the Panthera family, amazingly we would be lucky enough to see all these super cats in one year. 2011 would go on to include: The Great cats Snow Leopard, Leopard, Lion, Tiger, Jaguar. Then a few other cats as well such as Cheetah, Ocelot, Jaguarundi, Caracal and African Wild Cat. What a great privilege to see these remarkably beautiful animals.
On the marine side the great Whites made a surprisingly early arrival back at Seal Island, catching us without pre booked guests and doing half full trips as we tried to figure out the early return. I would have to speculate that the incredible amount of SE winds made for abnormal up welling in False Bay leading to decreased Sea Surface Temperatures which happen after protracted blows and then the resultant was fish and other sharks moving out of the bay leaving the great white only the seals to feed on, who really knows but maybe.
