Camera: Nikon D850

Lens: 70-200mm f/2.8

Aperture: f/2.8

Shutter speed: 1/320

ISO: 640

Description: Two male lions share a tender moment on Paradise Plane

Story from behind the lens: One of the many moments that catch you completely off guard on safari. I was with a client and had spent the afternoon working on landscape images in the Mara. As a result, neither of us were prepared for two stunning male lions to appear out of the long grass as we drove back towards camp. Turning the engine off and pulling over to the side of the dirt track we expected the lions to remain in the grass, instead though they approached us down trek we had just vacated, paused for a drink in a rain-filled hole, before coming directly towards our vehicle. The first stopped directly in front of me, shook the flies from his main and then the other followed, paused to share a brief moment of affection - resulting in this image - and moved on.