Few people are fortunate enough to get close to Africa’s most fascinating – and sometimes ferocious animals.
However, British wildlife photographer Luke Massey spent three months in Zambia’s South Luangwa national park capturing stunning leopards, giant elephants, and scaly pangolins – one of the most precious creatures in the world.
While staying at Mfuwe Lodge, a luxury hideaway within the park boundary, Massey had daily access to these beautiful beasts.
But that didn’t always go smoothly – the 22-year-old believes he’s spent more than 600 hours in their company, trying to capture the perfect shots.
It took him two weeks of searching to find the female leopard, whom the local guards called Alice, and her two three-month-old cubs.
He then tracked the prowl for three months, witnessing kil.l.ings, cubs frolicking, hyenas at.ta.cking cubs, and battles for territory.
South Luangwa is home to the highest concentration of leopards anywhere in Africa. While elephants are continuing to suffer around the world due to po.ac.hing, they are also thriving in Zambia.
Luke explained: ‘The lodge I’m working at is really famous for its small herd that passes through reception every year on its way to a mango tree.’
He added that he is often amused by the audacity of the baby elephants, who would open their ears and discharge falsely, before fleeing to the safety of their mothers.
A mother’s love: Alice, a female leopard leaps a stream towards one of her young cubs. It took photographer Luke Massey two weeks to find the leopardessAfrican dream: Luke Massey spent three months in Zambia’s South Luangwa National park between May and August, photographing elephants, leopards, and pangolinsIntense stare: Photographer Luke Massey followed the local female leopard and her two cubs for three months to capture these insightful shotsRare glimpse: The pangolin is a rare scaly mammal found throughout Africa and Asia. Its name comes from a Malay word meaning ‘something that rolls up’
Lazing leopard: Massey was able to get up close and personal with the beautiful beasts at home in Zambia’s South Luangwa National parkReady for your close-up? Elephants are continuing to suffer across the world due to poaching but luckily they are thriving in ZambiaElephant lunchtime: ‘The lodge I was working for is actually famous for a small herd passing through its reception every year on route to a mango tree,’ says MasseyMassey was amused by the boldness of the young elephants who would flare their ears and false charge at him before running back to the safety of their mother
Diversity of nature: Artichoke-like pangolins are nocturnal creatures that use their strong sense of smell to find insectsFamily values: Elephants breed all year round and many herds at the South Luangwa National park had little ones trundling along behind themWhile staying at Mfuwe Lodge, a luxury lodge situated within the park boundary, Luke was able to spend much of his time observing the daily life of leopardsAfrican elephant societies are arranged around family units, which are made up of around ten females and their calves and led by an older matriarchPensive: South Luangwa holds the highest density of leopards anywhere in Africa. Massey said that out of all the big cats, leopards are the most difficult to captureA little bit higher: A plucky elephant reaches into the canopy for a leafy snack in Zambia’s beautiful South Luangwa National parkCreatures of the night: Pangolins, also known as ‘scaly anteaters,’ are burrowing mammals which eat ants and termites using their long, sticky tonguesMother and cub: By staying close to the leopardess and her three cubs, Luke was able to capture intimate moments such as this one
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