MAASAI MARA :: KENYA
The enchanting grasslands of Kenya’s Maasai Mara swept me off my feet. It was July 2022, and the landscape was busy with the movement of thousands of grazing wildebeests and zebras making their epic journey—known as the Great Migration—from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains. They were following water and food, and we were following them.
I’d long dreamed of visiting this place, so seeing the wildlife living their wild lives—from hippos congregating in muddy watering holes to hyenas roaming alongside crowded herds—felt like observing beloved A-list celebrities going about their daily routines, shopping and dining out. I was especially starstruck when, one late afternoon, our group spotted a beautiful leopard resting high in a tree. We watched from a distance as it gazed sleepily over the landscape, yawned, then slowly blinked.
I own a camera with a big lens for moments just like this, but I could barely hold it still; I was shaking with excitement. I quickly clicked my shutter and captured a moment I’ll never forget.
When I returned home and began editing my photos, I was delighted to discover new details in every shot. In the photo of the drowsy leopard, I could see the animal’s features vividly: the wiry whiskers, carnassial molars, and even the ridged texture on the mouth and tongue—all juxtaposed against the grand landscape.
Being able to relive my trip and share my experiences with others is one reason I love photography. The images tell their own stories and help convey why WWF works to conserve places like the Maasai Mara—for wildlife, for the communities with whom they coexist, and for people everywhere.
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