Leopards of the Masai Mara: Enigmatic and untouchable

It's no secret that leopards are my favourite of the big cats.

Here, I round-up some of my images of these enigmatic and untouchable creatures; leopards of the Masai Mara.

‘Elusive Prince’

This image is one of my favourite images from my book EIGHT FEET.

It’s not easy finding a leopard. It’s not easy finding one which is not in heavy cover, then you add good light and being able to get really close and you get this. This big cub was waiting for his mum.

He was staring to the horizon and later we heard that that was where mum was. She may not return till the next day but he is big enough to stay out of trouble.

On this early morning, he waited long enough to see the sun come up then his diligent wait for mum would continue from the bushes.

Shadow

Lurking in the shadows, home for a leopard. When you aren’t there watching an animal but looking at images we are left with the simple aesthetic and whatever our imaginations tell us.

When you see a leopard in the wild your perception of them is transformed. Leopards are my favourite cat.

‘Chui’

Leopards in trees are fun to watch.

You wonder why they don’t fall out, how they get comfy in the branches or envy the cool elevated breeze. It’s their happy place.

But undoubtedly when they decide to climb or descend, that’s badass. Such athletes, such power. Worth the wait.

Leopard in the morning light

Bathing in the morning light this young boy is bold and beautiful.

As relaxed as he was, once he enjoyed the heat of the first rays of sun that was enough public time, he slipped into the gully back into the private world of a leopard.

A leopard cub snooping around

This was taken on my last day in Kenya in 2018 and it was a good one. We had spent so much time with this leopard family, I had to remind myself how difficult it usually is to find these elusive beauties.

With most things, most animals the more you see them the less excited you are to see them the next time. It’s the law of diminishing returns. Could this really be happening with leopards on this trip?

I can assure you not... cats are pretty much my favourite animal and leopards ARE my favourite animal. I never tire of seeing them.

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