RANGI 👣

He swiftly crosses, his powerful paws barely touching the dusty earth of the dry river bed.

Rangi means “pale” or “colour” in Swahili.

It was a surreal moment to witness the interaction between two leopards. The dominant male leopard, Pale Male, swiftly crossed the dry river bed, his confidence challenged by a smaller female leopard nearby. She had hunted a small prey and hoisted it up a tree on the opposite bank.

The encounter was even more peculiar as the female may have been in a romantic courtship with Pale Male, the ruler of the territory. She had hung the kill halfway up the trunk of a large corky tree on the protected side of the bank and started to call out to him. Pale Male emerged from the long grass on the other side of the riverbed and, in a display of authority, made his way to the kill, limbering up the tree almost effortlessly in seconds. As he reached the kill, he suddenly turned on the female leopard, growling fiercely, flashing his fangs, forcing her to retreat uncomfortably. Once she had backed off far enough, he took hold of the kill, dragging it further up the tree, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the female and us. Once at his place near the top, our guide sensed his displeasure as his grimace turned toward us, leaving us with no doubt about our decision to retreat from the scene.

Nature never fails to surprise us. It's fascinating how animals, much like humans, can have their ups and downs. This particular interaction between the leopards reminded me of how our moods can dictate our behaviour. The leopard, who appeared to be grumpy and easily agitated, wasn't always like that. Some days, he seemed content with his life, including the presence of the female leopard and his recent kills. Other days, he was more withdrawn and indifferent to his surroundings. However, on this day, he was clearly touchy and even in an angry state.

This interaction reminded me that animals, just like humans, have their own moods and emotions, which we don't always associate with them. It's a valuable lesson that all creatures can experience good and bad moments, and it's important to respect their space and emotions, just like we would with fellow humans. 

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.