A short note of thanks to those out there who make African safaris a truly incredible experience.

Without great guides, trackers, and, of course, the base camp team, no game drives, photography, or capturing the essence of one's dream wildlife shots can be easily achieved. Arriving at a location where these experienced, exceptional people not only manage your stay but also accompany you on each journey, assist in finding great photographic opportunities, provide explanations for what you see, and frequently allow you to encounter scenes and situations that you only dream of is a rare and truly humbling privilege. Our trips this year were all realized solely through the collaborative efforts of our guides and, of course, the wonderful people who exceeded our expectations at each camp. We can't thank each and every individual, but with the year at its end and after some reflection on the purpose of my photography, I thought it important to also take a moment to highlight these behind-the-scenes experiences.

For those of you who have not been on safari, these trips are taken daily, first thing in the morning (around 5 a.m.) and later in the afternoon (after 4 p.m.). Each lasts for a few hours until the sun is up or night has arrived. At both times of day, wildlife is usually the most active as temperatures and light are at their most comfortable. The cycle of life changes from one setting into another as one begins the daily journey traversing the various tracks, with animals appearing and abounding as one moves along. Morning trips usually set the table for getting to see some of the night hunting results and possibly predatory feasting. So sightings of lions, leopards, and other wildlife kills can often occur during these moments. Evenings appear to offer more typical animal activity, whether from animals generally moving into the cooler night to find or search for food before settling in or from the brief appearance of species usually associated with these times, such as thousands of bats silently gliding around, swiftly picking at rising clouds of insects as the setting sun turns into a red-gold hue on the horizon.

As one returns to camp, especially at night, surprising opportunities occur, such as elephants standing dead still in the bush by the tracks, sometimes just meters away, or a leopard suddenly crossing the road ahead, deep in focus on their hunt. The little ones too are all around us, and although we often don’t pay much attention to them, they too create some interesting photographic moments. Among the many are colorful birds landing on a large buffalo, pecking ticks off its battered body, or a small clan of mongoose jittering and calling in alarm at the sight of a fish eagle swooping by. So there are truly lots of stories one can tell, some sad, some endearing, while others are uplifting and beautiful. What you see as you walk through the wild bush paths constantly changes, or time simply stops. There are trips one takes where, for a while, there is not an animal in sight. Just as suddenly you come upon a flurry of activity, from the sight of a hyena attacking wild dogs for their freshly caught buck as black-eared jackals snipe at the remains nearby, to a leopard leaping with its catch up a tree to avoid an approaching pride of lions or a lone hyena that have picked up the scent of their kill. You can never predict or tell what is going to happen next. Each day has its own story. Each journey plays out in front of you like a movie as you move through this natural world and encounter the truly incredible.

Our trips in 2022 included Sabi River Sands and Klaserie Drift River Camps. Both are located in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. On this note, a special thanks must go to their fabulous teams and staff, who were just exceptional throughout our time there. A final word of thanks must also go to our wildlife trip organizer, Craig Reid (Wildest Kruger Safaris), who just blew us away with his exceptional service, professionalism, and guidance in arranging these trips for us (thank you, buddy!).

There is so much more one can tell, of course, but I hope some photos of these typical moments suffice. As they say, "an image is worth a thousand words." This short collection consists of a few photos taken (with no intention of publishing) during a typical late-sunset drive we took in July. Thank you, Africa.

RAW AFRICA COLLECTION

Welcome to Africa - the wise, the restless, the life giving.

This soulful land of dreamers gives rise to the underbelly of a beautiful gentle beat that is only heard by those who listen for it. This photographic journey explores, profiles and captures what I hope is the heart and soul of Africa's true wilderness kingdom. From its deep bush to its dry savannah and desert, Africa remains a place where life is represented by timeless vistas that are distilled into moments to treasure.