Camera: canon R5

Lens: Canon rf 100-500 F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

Aperture: f7.1

Shutter speed: 1/1000

ISO: 500

Description: Female leopard pauses for a drink

Story from behind the lens: Towards the end of an afternoon game drive we spent some time watching a female leopard known as Queen of Kaboso and her cub. They were resting in the undergrowth near the Talek River. After a while Kaboso made a move up the river bank, leaving her cub hidden in the undergrowth. Mike, our guide, anticipated she would cross the river in search of prey so he drove the jeep ahead of her and onto the other side of the river bank. Kaboso did exactly as Mike had predicted; she moved slowly along the bank and then down into the river bed where she stopped for a drink. I crouched low in the jeep so that my camera would be at eye level with her. Kaboso then momentarily paused, lifted her head and looked directly at me - that was when I pressed the shutter button. It was such a magical moment for me when this beautiful animal and I made direct eye contact; I even get a tingle down my spine thinking of it now.