Nwana

Sony A1, FE 20-200mm GM OSS II, FL: 157mm, S: 1/1000s, A: F2.8, ISO:100

The members of her herd stood by the edge of the lake, savouring the refreshing sustenance of life.

Nwana means “drink” in Tsonga.

There is nothing more beautiful than a herd of elephants by the water's edge. That was my thought as we moved past the sighting on our way to a female leopard we had been tracking that morning. As we passed the elephant herd, the sound of their snorting and trumpet-like swish could be heard clearly across the watery divide between us. We stopped and watched in silence as the sunrise took on a new hue of coppery-brown, brushing the landscape and its kingdom in the tones only the African bush displays at this time of year. For some time, the family gingerly stood in line alongside each other, sharing in the delight of the bountiful shore. As they quietly splashed and drank, the matriarch looked up occasionally to ensure all was well and remained well aware of our presence on the other side.

Suddenly, the sound of the radio transmitter cackled. Our guide took the call in a hushed voice speaking the local language, exchanging information on the whereabouts of the leopard. She had been spotted but was now moving quickly westwards - the direction we were headed for already. He checked in once more, and moments later he indicated we were to continue to move forward along the same path, heading to our intended sighting. And with that, we left this small, beautiful scene of the elephant herd to their peace and watery world of fun and headed to find our elusive leopard of the morning.

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.