I have had the recent privilege to begin my work cycle with a five night Photographic Safari, that took myself, my tracker Life, and my two guests to the most remote corners of the property. We spent many hours exploring the wilderness, patiently tracking animals, sitting with them whilst they slept, groomed and lay. We discussed animals, birds and trees. And we built a personal relationship that allowed us to learn about each other – the foundation of a solid friendship.
I do not like to boast about sightings I have seen. Excitement, however, often gets the better of me and I will run into the Rangers Room to tell anyone who wants to listen. But these five days spent in the bush will go down as some of the best days of game viewing I have had in nearly four years of guiding. The list of animals we got to see and photograph is endless and the interactions and photographic opportunities have rivalled some of the best I have experienced.
In five days in the bush we managed to encounter over seven herds of Cape buffalo, each 300 large. Seven individual leopards, two different pairs of mating leopards, the Marthly male crossing the Sand River at sunset, then crossing back in the dark, four male lions hunting a herd of buffalo, the Tsalala pride, the Sparta pride, a young male cheetah and a female cheetah and cubs. We experienced sunsets and sunrises, cold, mist, warmth and dryness. We spent every morning eating a picnic breakfast in the bush and returning home late after animals had settled for the day. It was an experience I will not forget anytime soon.
Below are some of the images we captured during those many hours we spent waiting patiently for things to happen. I hope you enjoy.
A young giraffe in the open areas.
A beautiful elephant cow.
Always a favourite. A Lilac Breasted Roller.
An aggressive act of passion.
The Mashaba female quenches her thrist after a morning of mating.
Mashaba female and Marthly male during courtship.
All four Majingilane males trailing a large herd of buffalo.
A moment I have waited for, for many months.
The Marthly male crossing the Sand River in the dark.
A seldom seen leopardess, the Piva female.
The Tu Tones male on the approach.
The Marthly Male dismounts the Mashaba female.
The most relaxed Bush baby I have ever managed to view.
A young zebra in the last shimmers of afternoon light.
A kudu bull moves through an open clearing.
A rhinoceros seen on a beautiful winter’s afternoon
The Tutlwa female.
An intense stare from a beautiful male.
The Gowrie male and the Tutlwa female mate.
The Gowrie male, dominating more land in the north.
Some beautiful morning light.
A proud, dominant male.
Written and Photographed by: Mike Sutherland
Awesome photos. Wonderful sightings. Love the pics of the Marthly male in the Sand River. Fantastic leopard photos.
Thanks Marinda, we love Mike’s leopard shots! The bush baby is also a firm favourite.
Great photos of the Gowrie male and his orange-amber eyes. Nice to see the Piva female out and about as well—although I have to admit the bush baby is awfully cute.
Love the leopard in the river.
Fantastic photos Mike! It sounds like you had a wonderful 5 days of sightings and took some amazing photos.
Great pixs, Mike. Did you use the 600 mm fixed lens for the close up on the Leopard face? And where are the cheetah cub pictures??
Awesome shots as usual Mike,love the leopard close up 🙂
It was a great pleasure and honor to participate in this bumper safari
Amazing photographs Mike, I really enjoyed the variety of leopards you captured on camera.
Thanks Mike for these fantastic pictures. My favourite is the Bushbaby, but the leopard pics are stunning.