When I went to Kenya in 2016, I was quite disappointed that I didn't see my favourite of the big cats, the African leopard. I made up for it last night, when I went on an African safari holiday in a dream with my family, including my dog, Beibei. I was staying at a luxury holiday villa in the bush, with views of surrounding wildlife, although I didn't know it at the time. I thought I was in a secluded hotel on the coast. I was in the garden, looking over a fence into the distance between some trees when I saw a leopard emerge. I quickly fumbled for my phone and tried to take some photos, but as always happens in dreams, I could not get the lens to focus quickly enough. Whilst I struggled to take photos, some spotted hyenas entered the shot.
The leopard began to prowl closer to the villa, attracted by the barks of my dog. I picked him up and carried him inside, then went about locking doors and windows. I'd heard about leopards entering homes to snatches pets and children. I saw that the leopard was carrying a dead animal in its jaws, a bird or small mammal. After trying unsuccessfully to enter the house, it eventually wandered away, scared off by a large group of people at the door. They were extended family (whom I didn't know) and wanted to pay a visit. I apologised that it had taken so long to answer the door, explaining about the leopard. Lots more African animals entered the scene, walking through the lush villa grounds. I tried to photograph a herd of giraffes, but again, my phone camera was not up to the task.
