In a spot of trouble! Nerve-racking moment photographer finds himself face to face with a hissing leopard cub after it comes to take a closer look

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This is the moment a wildlife photographer found himself ambushed by a curious leopard cub after it sauntered over to check out his boot.

Game ranger Dillon Nelson was filming a mother leopard and her young daughter when the inquisitive cub decided to get a closer look.

The 10-month-old cub climbed down from a termite mound in Sabi Sands nature reserve, South Africa, and ended up inches away from Mr Nelson.

The photographer froze as the young leopard investigated his boot before staring him down and letting out a defensive hiss.

Mr Nelson, 25, said: 'I work in the area as a game ranger or nature guide and take people out on safari and bush walks.

'We were following a resident female leopard and her 10-month-old cub as they moved through a very dense monkey orange and bush willow thicket.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/09/14/22009548-7772129-image-a-9_1575901906185.jpg
At first the leopards are not bothered by the safari tourists and sit on a termite mound in Sabi Sands nature reserve, South Africa
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Then the curious cub decides to get a closer look at Mr Nelson's boot, venturing away from its mother and moving just inches away from him

'She was presumably taking the cub on a walkabout, teaching her some skills about hunting and stalking prey.

'The adult went up on to this termite mound to get a better look at her surroundings, with the youngster following right behind.

'With the cub being quite young and inquisitive she came to investigate what my shoe might be, possibly thinking or hoping it was a scrub hare or squirrel.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/09/14/22009554-7772129-image-a-1_1575901045717.jpg
The cub nibbles on a blade of dried grass and seems to be in a non-threatening mood as it looks directly into the camera lens

'I was quite nervous but more excited than anything else. It's hard to describe how it felt during the sighting because I was trying to keep calm and take in what was happening.

'As I saw her approaching I already knew it was too late for me to move. I thought I should just keep still and allow her to investigate.

'She saw what she needed and then proceeded on her way. Definitely a thrilling experience, and one not many people get to have.'

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/09/14/22009550-7772129-image-a-3_1575901057735.jpg
But then sensing the possibility of danger it lets out two hisses aimed at Mr Nelson
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Mr Nelson said he knew it was too late to retreat so stayed put
The cub suddenly lets out two hisses aimed at Mr Nelson, who does not flinch
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/09/14/22009546-7772129-image-a-11_1575902560718.jpg
Because the cub approached quickly Mr Nelson had no time to retreat back to his group

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