SHIMO 🐾

The melted dusky brown and golden colours of a hyena and two pups lie under a thorny tree stationed over an entrance to the pack's den.

Shimo means "den" in Swahili.

As the baking rays of the African sun began to fade into the late afternoon, a surrogate hyena mother and her two pups lay outside their den. They were patiently waiting for the return of their pack, which was out on a hunt. The mother hyena's devotion to her young is a testament to the fierce maternal instincts that define her species. Despite being a surrogate, she had taken on the role of mother, ensuring that the pups were well-fed and protected. With the last rays of the sun finally sinking below the horizon, a sound of distant laughter and excited yelps signaled the return of the pack. Reunited with their mother, the pups joined them, eagerly feasting on the spoils of the hunt.

With nightfall arriving across the African savanna, the hyena pups settled in for the night, safe and content in each other's company. It was a beautiful moment of familial bonding to watch, and a testament to the strength and resilience of these remarkable creatures. One that I couldn't help but feel privileged to have witnessed at this moment in the wild.

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.