Draped in the branches of a strangler fig – a dream sighting for me, the Tinxiya female rests. I love the golden foreground and green leaves behind contrasting with her coat in this photo.

In the same sighting, but from the other side, the blue sky and dappled light create a peaceful image.

We spent many hours over the last few weeks following the Ximungwe female as she moved from boulder to boulder, with each set representing a perfect den for the cubs to be stashed inside.

With the open crests teaming with life, zebra herds and blue skies are always worth a photographic stop.

The two Kambula females, with 6 cubs (bordering on subadults now), have spent most of their time in the northern parts of the reserve, a section we have struggled to access with the recent rains. Finding the pride, lying on top of each other, was an added bonus to the afternoon. Strengthening their bonds through affection, a young cub rests her paw on her mom.

Making a surprising and brief return, the three Kambula Males ventured through the open grasslands, clearly in incredible condition. There is nothing quite like male lions on a patrol with purpose.

Often heard, seldom seen. A beautiful Pearl Spotted Owlet perched just long enough in the spotlight for us to snap a photo. Phenomenal hunters, these tiny owls will prey on anything from grasshoppers and scorpions to rodents and small birds!

An ominous silhouette, two White-backed Vulture perched on a dead knobthorn while the sunset breaks through some moody clouds.

In my opinion, possibly the best looking lion in the Sabi Sands – the Styx Male in full glare. Notice how blonde his mane is. With time, I’m sure it will darken.

A Kambula female panting while on a giraffe kill, stares up at the vultures already starting to circle. The Kambula pride have made a few giraffe kills over the last year, showing some impressive hunting prowess.

Perhaps a slightly late Impala lamb, nevertheless and incredibly cute one. Never easy to photograph as they are always within the herd, this little one popped its head out for just long enough.

With a brief visit from the Msuthlu Pride, a young female lay at the top of this termite mound. We waited for a good 30 minutes until she lifted her head against the blue sky.

Perched against a waxing moon, a Male Giant Kingfisher scans the river below for any unsuspecting fish. Male Giant Kingfishers have the rufous patch higher up on the breast as opposed to females.

A typical summer scene. A young calf tests the wind as scent from the vehicle reaches the herd, and the cow grazes slowly over an open crest.

With the amount of moisture in the air at the moment, a slightly cooler morning saw us driving out into a thick blanket of clouds, mist and rain, then discovering the Three Rivers Female in a marula tree made enduring the weather worthwhile.

A moody sunrise and light breaks through the bank of clouds onto a herd of zebra. The open areas in the South-west of the reserve are possibly some of my favourite places to photograph in at sunrise.

When nature becomes parasitic. What is typically a healthy symbiotic relationship between yellow-billed oxpeckers and buffalo turns parasitic when there is an open wound. These oxpeckers will actively keep the wound open, often drinking the blood, which increases the risk of infection.

Waiting until well after dark, this Gijima Male only lifted his head when it was pitch black. With some help from other rangers and creative side lighting, we were able to get a unique picture.

In long grass, this Buffalo cow lifted her nose to test the wind. Very likely having picked up on the scent of the three Kambula males who had walked through the area overnight.

The Tinxiya female leaps into a strangler fig. By no means an easy feat. While the bark of this tree is soft, the fluted root structure doesn’t make for an easy climb.

The young, inexperienced Shingi male spent hours trying to hunt white-faced whistling ducks. While the reward may be there, he was certainly taking risks with some crocodiles lurking close by.

After mating, males often stand up and shake themselves off, and this was a shot I have wanted to capture for some time. His mane whipped from side to side, and water sprayed out in every direction. I came away with a shot I’m happy with. The droplets are there, the sense of movement is there, and it captures something of the conditions we were sitting in.

The largest and oldest of the Kambula males leads the charge with a not-so-friendly look on his scared face.

Through the bottle-brush grass, mid bite, this cow noticed my camera.

A rare sighting of the Ndzhenga males nowadays. With their canines still in good condition, these males have had an incredible journey over the last six years.

With the late afternoon light peaking through the clouds, two elephant bulls jostling on the airstrip made for a stunning scene.