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Monochrome Monday #69

on Apr 18, 2016

The greatest moments in life are the ones right in front of you. - Matthew Knisely

It is no secret to most of you that have followed my photographic journey as a Field Guide at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve that I am in love with leopards and there are very few places in the world with leopard viewing as good as it is right here in this piece of wilderness. There is just something about these incredible cats that gets my heart going, especially when they allow you to enter into their secret world. We spend so much time with certain individuals in fact, that we get to ‘know’ them quite well and that friends, is a very special relationship. This week I have chosen only leopards as my subject of focus for this installment of wildlife in monochrome. Some of the images are not the greatest that I have in my portfolio by any means, but the context in which these images were taken make them special to me. These were moments right in front of me... I hope you enjoy.

01Mike Palmer Hlarulini 220116

This was my first real glimpse of the Hlarulini female, a leopard that has since etched herself firmly into the number one spot in terms of favourites on the reserve.

02Mike Palmer Kigelia 210116

To me, this was a special moment spent with Kigelia. I have watched her blossom from a tiny cub into an amazing young leopardess, that has overcome all the odds thrown her way to come out stronger than she was before.

03Mike Palmer LBC Cubs 060116 1

One of my first proper sightings of Little Bush’s current litter of cubs, when she made a kill almost outside of Selati Camp. It was an incredible sighting when both cubs were still alive.

04Mike Palmer LBC Cubs 090116 1

Another sighting of Little Bush female’s cubs only days after the first introduction. We were in a riverbed and it still amazes me at how comfortable these little cubs were with the vehicles at such a young age. Pictured here is the young female, still currently alive, and in the image she approached me to about 4 meters!

05Mike Palmer Lisbon Cub 181215

The Lisbon female is amazing in every way, but her son is less than relaxed. It is most unfortunate and clearly a sign that cubs do carry traits over from their parents, unfortunately in this case, he took on the traits of his father. This though, was an incredibly special moment between mother and cub and one of the small handfuls of sightings in which I’ve been able to sit with them without her son running off.

06Mike Palmer WD 130116 1

White Dam female is absolutely stunning, becoming very relaxed over the last few years that I’ve known her. This sighting happened very late in the afternoon so light was a challenge, but I loved the textures within the frame caused by the soft light.

07Mike Palmer WD 130116 2

A leopard’s tail is very expressive and can tell you everything you need to know about the individual’s mood at the time of viewing.

08Mike Palmer WD Cub 130116 1

White Dam’s son is not the most relaxed individual, but he has his moments. Here he was very focused on a meal and so we got to spend extended time with him.

09Mike Palmer WD Cub 122515

This was one of my favourite sightings of White Dam and Maxabeni’s son on top of a termite mound. It wasn’t long after this that we believe he was bitten by a snake. Fortunately, he has survived the encounter and has been seen doing very well.

10Mike Palmer WW 121215 1

An old flame... Warthog Wallow has been all but expelled from the area by the younger Hlarulini female and although it’s sad in a way, I’m excited for the future of the area and the new genes entering the pool.

  • Blog by Mike Palmer (Bush Lodge Ranger)
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