Marshlands

I think this is one of my most powerful lion photographs of the past
10 years and a tribute to the skills of Kevin Richardson, The Lion
Whisperer, whose ability to work with these magnificent cats is without
equal. The previous night, the thunderstorms around Dinokeng, South
Africa, were so violent and relentless that sleeping was impossible. My
restlessness was compounded by my excitement about the amount
of flood water that would be building in Kevin’s famous sanctuary.
We often talk about bad weather being an opportunity not a threat,
and the torrential rain in the region offered a chance for us to practise
what we preach. I knew that it was going to be dirty work as, at my
behest, Kevin’s heavy cage would be positioned in the new marshland
at first light. These lions are wild, and the only way to gain proximity
is to use remotes or work from a very heavy cage. Remotes were a
non-runner with the water levels, so it was time for me to get very wet
and suck it up.
The end result made it all worthwhile. I can’t really get more out of an
adult male lion than this, and what a majestic animal he is.