Close Encounter - Zambia
I was on a late afternoon game drive in South Luangwe, Zambia, a super afternoon with lots of spectacular game and colourful bird sightings. As we bounced through the bush, up ahead were two small groups of Thornicroft Giraffe, stock still and alert. They were all fixated on a spot in the bush a few hundred metres ahead. We skirted close to them but their gaze never wandered, something up ahead was clearly of interest them.
As we drove closer to the spot we could make out two prone shapes, just metres apart that we could scarcely take in. Two of Africas greatest predators, a leopard and a hyena were stretched out, completely relaxed in each others company and taking only a casual interest in our group as we approached. Their individual markings so different yet both so well camouflaged in this one setting. We sketched and photographed them together, such a unique sight probably never to be repeated.