Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mkii

Lens: 100-400 L

Aperture: f5.6

Shutter speed: 1/1600

ISO: 640

Description: A unique frame of one of the lionesses of the famous Marsh Pride at first light in the morning

Story from behind the lens: As we were approaching the Marsh area at first light in the morning, we heard some deep roars which led us to some lionesses and hyenas. My Guide Daniel positioned the car in such a way that we got the first light of the day facing the lionesses. I could not believe my eyes when I saw one of the lionesses was almost black in colour because she had hunted in the dark mud which had resulted from the rainy season in January. The only thing I could see in the low light were her eyes glistening in the golden light in the morning. Believe it or not, the eyes in this photo have not been edited at all - they were so bright in the golden light. My Guide confirmed this is a lioness in the Marsh Pride called Kaleo. I was so happy with this resulting frame as I couldnt believe that lions could get so dirty!