Giraffe are an iconic African species. And yet not a lot is known about their behaviour and social structure. They are sometimes referred to as the forgotten megafauna as info has come to light that their number are dwindling. A concerted conservation effort is now underway to turn things around for these magical creatures. Heart moments for me with giraffe bring to mind many a childhood visit to Kruger National Park. Here painted in front of pastel twilight skies 🖤
Young male lions often form coalitions in the time they await their full maturity and master their strength to eventually fight for a pride of their own. I got to know a coalition of brother lions in the Kgalagadi. Black-maned and formidable, this coalition made hunting giraffe their specialty. Here painted in the dawn light on the move along the dry bed of the Auob River 🖤
My little house in the heart of the Okavango Delta was situated right on the edge of a Delta channel. One particular hippo would make his way from the pan on one side of the island each evening to enter the channel near my house by the break of day. This particular Heart moment evening he was grazing calmly but blocking my path home. He left me no choice but to sleep on a deck chair by the swimming pool using a towel as a blanket. I woke to this pastel sunrise as he slipped into the channel with a grunt to make his way round the island to climb out on the other side again that evening 🖤
Cheetah often look for high ground to survey their territory for a potential meal as well as checking for predators. I was privileged to take part in a wildlife conservation research project radio collaring and tracking cheetah in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. A life-changing Heart moment being up close with these incredible cats under rainbow Kalahari skies 🖤
Its daybreak in the Kruger to Canyon Biosphere Reserve. We are with the Elephants Alive team tracking a breeding herd of ellies. The pings of the telemetry instruments become more distinct as we near the dry riverbed. We stop the vehicle and within minutes we are completely surrounded. There could be around 40 elephant of all ages around us enjoying a slow breakfast. We sit in silence soaking in this incredible Heart moment with these magical creatures 🖤