A male giraffe is silhouetted as he walks through the dawn light.

The Nkoveni Female walking along the water’s edge near Finfoot Crossing was a hugely exciting sighting to be a part of.

The stallion battle. Two zebra stallions battle it out to impress the females by kicking, rearing and biting.

The Nkoveni Female crosses the Sand River. Seeing a leopard cross the Sand River is a rare treat, but seeing this leopard, the Nkoveni female, do so is even more unusual. Her territory traditionally lies in the southeastern parts of Londolozi, far from the river. Is she simply exploring, expanding, or starting to shift her territory northward?

A leaping leopard. The Nkoveni Female leaps across the deeper channel of the river—maybe to avoid getting wet, or perhaps to steer clear of any hidden threats beneath the surface.

Painting with light. A female painted dog stops to listen as they start to get active for the afternoon. Painted dogs’ ‘Mickey Mouse-shaped’ ears help them hear as they run through thick bush.

The Nhlanguleni Female rests on the bank of the Sand River as an elephant strolls by. I love the setting in this scene- the clouds, the greenery and the sand.

Elephants crossing the run way as the sun sets and birds fly over.

The Nkoveni Young Male’s portrait. Watching this young male’s paws grow as well as his character has been leaving us in suspense and awe. He will be a force to reckon with.

Soon after the Makhatini Female jumped off this fallen tree, her three cubs jumped onto the same tree. This is a vital skill that their mother is teaching them. To use fallen over trees to scan for danger or prey as well as to scent mark.

The Makitini female’s cub climbs a fallen marula tree. Cheetahs often jump or climb onto fallen trees to get a height advantage to scan. They will also use fallen over trees to scent mark, as it will be a common site that other cheetahs may use.

A winter sunset. The dust in the air during the dry winters often creates deep reds, oranges and pinks in the sky as the sun sets.

The Nkoveni Female’s stare. Since I did a portrait of her young male cub, it is only fitting to capture a portrait of her to demonstrate her beauty and power, too.

The Kambula Lioness and her cubs huddle for warmth. On a chilly winter morning, the Kambula Lioness rests her head gently on her cubs as they nestle close for warmth. I particularly love how the cub furthest to the right is curled up tightly beside her.

As her cubs approach, the Kambula Lioness snarls—a warning to stay back as she stalks a male impala. At this age, their inexperience often gives away their position, which is exactly what happened shortly after this photo was taken.

The hyena den. As the morning sun warmed the land, members of the clan gathered around the den. The mothers called out to their cubs from the termite mound, while the others greeted one another like a family reunion in the wild.

The Ximungwe Female tries to avoid her cub’s swat. The cub is at an age now where it is constantly trying to stalk and attack Mom. I appreciate the Ximungwe female’s patience as she gets tackled and swatted every time she moves a step.

The Ximungwe Female and her cub leap on their back legs in play with one another. Her cub was stalking her as she came around the corner, which caused them to both leap up in surprise.

The embrace. The Ximungwe Female and cub embrace for a second while mom is actually trying to hold her cub down as he tries to pounce on her.

The Tsalala Female and the Kruger Male begin their courtship. Courtship between lions can be intense—and at times, even a bit hostile.

Calm in the chaos. While attempting a panning shot of a herd of impalas in motion, I noticed how the wildebeest remained perfectly still, in focus, quietly observing the unnecessary frenzy of the impalas around them.

The Nkoveni Young Male waits in a marula tree. With no clear direction in his wandering, the young male often walks aimlessly until he spots potential prey. His stalks are frequently unsuccessful, after which he usually climbs a tree—either to search for his mother or to scan for danger. He’s proving to be an excellent leopard to follow right now, especially if you’re hoping to see one perched in a tree.

The Makhatini Family stare at a herd of zebra that pass by.

The Three Rivers Female drinks in the afternoon light. I was drawn to the way her reflection danced in the ripples of the water—a beautiful blend of movement and stillness captured in a quiet moment.

The same scene of the Ximungwe Female and her cub, but captured in a wider, more landscape-focused shot. With this frame, I aimed to tell more of the story—not just of the leopards, but of the space they inhabit and the quiet beauty of the moment.

The Ximungwe Female and her cub rest on the same branch. As dawn slowly gives way to day, mother and cub share a quiet moment, perched together while the world begins to stir around them.

The Ximungwe Female’s cub stretches as the sun rises behind him. Moments later, he got up to greet his mother on another branch of the tree—a gentle start to their morning together.