Camera: Canon EOS 250D

Lens: Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015

Aperture: f/6.3

Shutter speed: 1/40 sec

ISO: 100

Description: In a serendipitous moment, a mischievous hyena cub playfully interrupts the frame, adding a burst of wild charm to the photographer's shot.

Story from behind the lens: As the sun dipped on Mara's horizon, my yearning for wildlife stirred. Cheetah cubs, lion younglings, or playful hyena pups—I craved a sighting. Across the plains, a clan of hyenas emerged, about 7 in number, their mystique heightened by the setting sun. Guide James orchestrated our closeness, aligning us with these enigmatic creatures.

Among them, the youngest cub held court—a bundle of curiosity darting into earthen hollows. His antics were pure joy; tumbles into burrows, whimsical vanishing acts. Amidst the hubbub, the nurturing mother prevailed, tending to hungry cubs, thwarting attempts at solo cub captures.

Then, as if destiny beckoned, the moment arrived. Patience met opportunity as the cub claimed the spotlight, bathed in a theatrical sunbeam. Swiftly, I seized that fleeting frame, a mental portrait brought to vibrant life. The blend of perfect light and timing painted a masterpiece on the Mara's canvas—a memoir of an enchanting evening.