RUKA

RUKA 🐾

With his tail back and first grip, the leopard bounds up the tree away from danger.

Ruka means “jump” in Swahili.

The amber pink grey of the sky wrapped the African bush in its evening shades. Its touch was marked by a pool of light at the base of a tree where the leopard had arrived. Dragging its kill towards a place of safety, the big cat had chosen its spot well. With a silent turn, it looked up and measured its strength to carry the massive buck upward. Its mind shifted, its eye catching ours from a fair distance to its left shoulder. But it was not bothered with us, as it grasped the kill in its powerful jaws and, in one fell leap, went upwards, hurtling without hesitation to the branching trunk much further above.

The setting was incredibly African: somewhat mysterious, quiet, sombre, yet energetic and touching. We had tracked this male leopard for a while, observing its journey from the more open veld where it had made its kill earlier to this place in the thickets adorned by thorns and protected by acacia trees. It had made its tracks towards one of the larger trees in the area, one that it must have known, as it dragged its buck between its powerful forepaws with purpose and direction. As it settled in the tree above, it lay back, slowly licking what was to be its meal for the next day or two, leaving us with just a silhouette of its muscular shape and a soft flicking of its tongue as it went about its business for the night. Another day in Africa had come to an end.

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 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.