A young elephant sprays water into his mouth using his trunk.
A herd of elephants is approaching a watering hole on an overcast day in Pilanesberg National Park. One is testing the air with her trunk, while others mill around, waiting for her approval to go to the water. An impressive sight!
A young elephant bull on a black background. I know it’s not for everyone, this style of low key editing called ‘black photo’, but it’s what I love. It brings out dramatic contrasts between dark and light in an almost chiaroscuro style.
A close up view of a male lion walking past. It was so great to spend some time last January with a pride of lions that had just devoured a zebra. They were lying around, then getting up, lying down again, until they finally moved out of sight into the thickets. While female lions are beautiful, it’s the males that really stop my heart!
A full body view of a brown hyena standing in the grass, watching me. Brown hyenas are nog considered the most beautiful animals, with their straggly hair and their slanting backs. They are also quite shy, so getting a good picture of one is a feat in itself. This brown hyena was on its way to a zebra carcass that the lions had just left, ready to eat any meat and bones that were left over. In case you are wondering what’s that next to his nose, yes, it’s a spider.
It’s a wet morning, but this male lion has nothing to complain about, really. His belly is very full after his pride caught a zebra. A male lion needs about 7 kilos of meat per day to stay in good shape, but when a kill is available they will eat up to 30 kilos in one session. This male looks like it did just that…
It’s that weekend feeling!
Rain is one of two female cheetahs in Pilanesberg National Park. Last year she had a litter of four young, of which three still survive. It’s so great to see these youngsters grow and thrive when only 30% of cheetahs born in the wild survive into adulthood!
