MUFANA

The crunching of bones rings out the sounds of success. Their hunt had brought down an adult Nyala buck - nothing easy to take - and the young leopard took his first taste.

Mufana means “boy” in Tsonga.

Aware of approaching apex predators, the young leopard hastily enjoyed his first bite at the meal. The short cackling laughs of the hyenas revealed their growing numbers nearby and with time running out, he had to move. But he couldn’t resist, taking this moment to lick the enticing meat, all the while keeping a cautious eye on his surroundings, including me.

Before long, his mother, a renowned female leopard of the territory named Saseka, appeared on the scene. Her hissing urged him to finish his meal quickly. Without hesitation, she then seized the kill and effortlessly dragged it to the base of a nearby tree, just a few feet away from her young maturing cub. As Mufana, the boy, held the hyenas at bay momentarily, Saseka swiftly ascended the tree, using her experience to clamber up to a large fork near the top of the trunk. There, she safely stored their food, ensuring it would be available for them over the next few days.

When we first encountered him, the young leopard was nameless. His reputation as a hunter was already established, but his ability to secure the kill in a tree was questionable. In recent months, he had frequently dropped his prey, unintentionally giving access to other predators like lions and hyenas to an opportunistic meal. So, for now, his mother took that responsibility. Hunting, though, is no easy task, with a success rate as low as one in ten attempts. These crucial moments demand a great deal of energy, and nature requires these and other predators to treat such achievements with the utmost care. Tonight, he triumphed and, with Saseka’s help, his future for the next few days looked promising.

RAW AFRICA COLLECTION

Welcome to Africa - the wise, the restless, the life giving.

This soulful land of dreamers gives rise to the underbelly of a beautiful gentle beat that is only heard by those who listen for it. This photographic journey explores, profiles and captures what I hope is the heart and soul of Africa's true wilderness kingdom. From its deep bush to its dry savannah and desert, Africa remains a place where life is represented by timeless vistas that are distilled into moments to treasure.