Peek-a-boo - It seemed like a game the little leopard enjoyed playing, but it was anything but play.

Nhlori means “spy” in Tsonga.

He hesitated. The raucous laughter of hyenas nearby had inadvertently spotlighted his location, but fortunately, his prize was securely perched high within the fork of two branches. Yet something else seemed to captivate his cautious peek towards the horizon. A gentle southerly wind blew, carrying whispers of the unfamiliar. A few moments later, a crash in the underbrush nearby revealed a hyena making its way to the base of his tree. Its eyes searched upwards, sniffing the scent of fresh prey. It paused as it spotted the prize and the leopard just above.

The young leopard became statue-like but diverted his attention from the hyena to the source of an approaching commotion of bellowing and grunting. Ignoring the hyena placed below, he leaned against the main trunk, his focus on a large, tumbling cloud of dust raised by buffalo that were edging closer. After some time, reassured of their non-threatening nature, the leopard returned his attention to the meal, the lure of the fresh aroma reminding him of his early morning catch. Settled by his kill, he began to gnaw off some indigestible parts, dropping them to the ground below. The hyena, who had patiently waited, seized the opportunity, snatched up select scraps, and loped off into the thickets to devour the reward of his patience.

As I left the scene, I cast a final glance at this young leopard, now a silhouette against the ascending sun. In those moments, I witnessed the quintessence of the wild - majestic, untamed, and sovereign - it was a fleeting glimpse into a world that I wish we could all experience, even if only for a moment.

Raw Africa Collection

Welcome to Africa - the wise, the restless, and 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 to 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.

Comment

This photo was taken in rather difficult circumstances with strong morning light and the sun rising up behind the subject. With the tree above me I took the shot looking to balance the white contrast of the overexposed sky with an underexposed subject. In post, I was able to bring out the subject a lot more and the burnt out (white) sky actually gave the composition a lovely balance in the end.

Settings: ISO 160, 125 mm, F5.6, 1/500 second.

Equipment: Sony A1, Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS

Location: Undisclosed due to poaching, time: 07H03.