Wisa
She lay quietly, her attention drawn to the approaching hyenas, whose cackling laughter could be heard in the distance.
Wisa means “rest” in Tsonga.
The first rays of dawn pierced through the dense thicket, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow upon the African bush. The previous night had yielded a successful hunt, and now, sated but watchful, Wisa reclined gracefully. Her powerful legs hung over the remnants of a marula trunk, a once-proud tree toppled by the relentless passage of hungry elephants in search of nourishment.
Though she appeared at ease, her senses remained keen, attuned to the world around her. Nearby, her young cub, still in the process of maturing, gnawed on the remnants of their hard-earned prey. Wisa, the ever-watchful mother, scanned the horizon for potential threats. Suddenly, her ears pricked up, capturing a distant sound that sent ripples of alertness through her lithe frame. The distinctive laughter of hyenas reached her and our ears, a sound both ominous and enticing, indicating the approach of these opportunistic scavengers. Yet the hyenas were not yet close enough to warrant confrontation. Wisa knew the delicate balance of life in the wild. She had to choose her battles wisely. In the stillness of the African morning, interrupted only by the soft crunching of her cub devouring their meal, she maintained her watchful stance.
The previous night, they had hoisted a portion of their kill into a nearby tree as a precaution against scavengers. However, as the new day broke, a significant portion of their prize had fallen to the ground. This was an invitation that these hyenas could not decline, and the clock was ticking. Soon, the inevitable occurred. The two hyenas, their keen noses drawn to the scent of opportunity, approached with a nervous, skittish gait. Their eerie laughter echoed through the bush, a language of excitement at the sight of the remains yet tempered by a wary respect for the leopards lurking nearby.
Wisa, ever the vigilant mother, rose gracefully from her makeshift throne on the fallen marula tree. With a slow and deliberate hiss, she confronted the encroaching hyenas. It was a moment of bravado, a display of her territorial authority. In that fleeting instant, she provided her cub with precious extra moments to drag a portion of their remaining meal up the tree to safety.
The hyenas, recognising the danger posed by the leopard matriarch, seized what they could – shards of bone and scraps of meat – and loped away into the bush, their prize clutched tightly in their powerful jaws. Wisa watched their departure with a discerning eye; her role as protector was reaffirmed. The circle of life in the African wilderness continued, a delicate dance between predator and scavenger, all under the watchful gaze of Wisa, the indomitable leopard.
Scenes like this are relived every day here in the wild. The African bush is a place of sanctuary for the remaining inhabitants of our continent. It has its own rules and its own rhythm. It also sets the pace of how the circle of life must be lived, and its rules ensure the survival of the strongest, yet its balance remains and is shared by the diversity of species. Our ecosystem would flounder if we lost any of these precious animals that are so intricately woven into the tapestry of this natural world. And so, like with Wisa, we must continue to protect and partake in both life’s demands and requirements and, in doing so, ensure the continued and more delicate balance between mankind and nature. After all, what would we be without it?
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.
