The Ascent
Serengeti National Park,Tanzania
The Serengeti is home to all of the African big cats (lion, cheetah and leopard) as they are drawn to the vast herds and diverse wildlife of this incredible ecosystem. The beauty and power of the leopard is almost unmatched in the animal kingdom. Although mainly nocturnal, leopards can be seen in early mornings and late evenings and even sometimes in mid-day like this image. Male leopards regularly patrol their territories to search for prey, female leopards and intruding male leopards. I followed this male leopard for an hour as he crossed the plains under the cover of tall grasses. Leopards, who are excellent tree climbers, often take their prey up trees for protection from other predators. In this image, the leopard ascends this lone acacia and uses it as a lookout to survey the surrounding plains.
Edition of 250