Yima

He paused, waiting, his golden leopard eyes locked on the hyena beneath.

“Yima” means to wait in Tsonga.

The choice was simple. He needed to move on. The remains of his catch lay high above, but the fast-approaching sound of lions had disturbed him. A hyena had been waiting patiently below for some time now, but even he was skittish. His head kept turning from the hanging meat above as he sniffed occasionally towards the east, where the approaching growls could be heard.

For leopards and hyenas, it's a common encounter to be seen together. In many cases, the leopard has its prey in the tree, while the hyena awaits below for the opportunity to scavenge bits that the leopard tears and drops. Their mutual interests do not necessarily conflict; sometimes they even work together to catch prey and share in the bounty. This mature buck had been caught earlier, but the leopard had managed to drag it high into the acacia tree, away from the hyena. However, its fresh scent was spreading far and wide, helped by an easterly breeze that shared its whereabouts. The lions had become aware and were coming. Lions will kill hyenas and leopards where they have a chance, and these particular lions had also learned to climb trees. They could take on both the hunter and the hunted, so the leopard knew it was in some danger, and the time to move was now.

Below, the hyena, sensing the impending arrival of danger, promptly departed. With seconds to spare, the leopard then descended, pausing for a moment to check its measure before leaping to the ground and swiftly darting into the dense vegetation nearby. His timing was crucial, as only moments later two large lionesses appeared and made their way to the tree, their attention fixed briefly on the direction the leopard had taken. But the aromatic attraction of the fresh prey above captivated them. Moments later, both ascended up into the tree and claimed their appropriated meal.

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.