Camera: Sony A7iii

Lens: Tamron E 150-500mm 5-6.7

Aperture: 6.3

Shutter speed: 1/3200

ISO: 1000

Description: One of the last two Mbilli Bora cheetah (formerly known as the Tano Bora when they were a five) pauses to survey the landscape.

Story from behind the lens: This was shot on my final game drive in the Maasai Mara this year, when we caught up with the two remaining members of the famous Tano Bora cheetah coalition. Once the sun had finally come out from behind the grey clouds, the cheetah rose from their sleepy states to start thinking about their next meal. We watched them traverse the landscape in between herds of suspicious wildebeest, stopping at each tree to leave their scent, claw at the bark and assess their hunting options. This cheetah paused after scratching its claws down the side of the tree, looking around to think about their next move just long enough for me to press the shutter a few times - I'm extremely happy to have captured him in this strong pose. Not long after this, the pair accidentally roused a sleeping hyena who, quick to realise they were in hunting mode, started to slink behind them at a distance hoping they would do the work for them. As extremely skilled and savvy hunters, the Mbili Bora didn't serve up lunch for the hyena on this occasion.