The Maasai Mara brings images to mind of lush green grasslands and endless plains of abundance. It surprises people to see scenes of scorched earth and seeming devastation however each year an area of the Mara Triangle is burnt on a rotational basis. This allows other areas to grow and mature – the fires burn away grass and bush, stimulating a new flush of fresh grass for the purpose of improved grazing. I was struck by how beautiful the light was with the fires burning – the lone topi completed the scene. I photograph a lot of landscapes so I asked my guide to stop so that I could get some images. I can still hear the crackling on the wind and smell the eye-watering smoke when I look at this image.

By Tracy Miller in aid of Mara Elephant Project