As another year has drawn to a close and we start a new year, I reflect on the time I have spent in this wonderful paradise I have come to know as home. Here are some of my highlights for the past year...

Stealth. The one word that comes to mind when I think of leopards. We’d been searching for any trace of these secretive cats and were about to make our way back to camp when we spotted a shadow lurking in the open plains. We tried keeping up with the Nchila male as he walked down a riverbed and through a thicket of trees, but our effort was not in vain. As we were stopped to find our bearings in the darkness, we heard the crunching of bones. Looking up into the tress we saw our spotted compadre enjoying what looked like an impala.

On a cool, quiet morning we suddenly heard the frantic calling of guineafowls. We headed towards the direction of their sound and found the source of the commotion. We watched Ntsumi as she intently lapped up every drop of water and paused from time to time as though to admire her own reflection.

This year we have been fortunate enough to have awesome sightings of cheetah. Given that there’s so much competition from lions, leopards and hyenas, this female and her cubs have beaten the odds so far. It’s been a privilege to be part of their journey and my proudest moment was witnessing them make their first kill.

There is nothing plain about these zebra...

Four strong. I remember seeing these four young males for the first time. They had mohawks for manes; one of them had a what seemed like a broken hip and the other an injury on the stomach - a beautiful bunch of misfits. Eighteen months later they are still going strong as a coalition kicking down doors and taking names. We have seen them mating with a few females in the area and l hope their offspring will be as resilient as their sires. As for the mohawks, they are fully grown manes that boldly state DO NOT MESS WITH US!

There were plenty of highlights for me, but these stood out. Plenty more to come in 2021 too, without a doubt.