Oliver & Laura Zeid

Camera: Nikon D500

Lens: Tamron SP 150-600mm, F5-6.3, Di VC USD

Aperture: f/6.3

Shutter speed: 1/1000

ISO: 1400

Description: Notorious male leopard "Shujaa" striking a pose right before sunset on the banks of Mara River.

Story from behind the lens: November 2022. Male leopard Shujaa - famous for his injured left eye - was hiding in a thicket right at the banks of mara river being busy mating with a shy female. Hours passed and we didn't even get a single shot of Shujaa. Eventually, we decided to call it a day and drove back to camp. Just a few minutes later - by intuition - we stopped, consulted briefly and finally decided to get back to the scene. Literally one or two minutes after returning, Shujaa majestically walked out of the thicket into the open and positioned himself facing towards us with the beaming light of the setting sun illuminating his face. Perseverance pays!