30/12/2024
My day started on a high note, as usual, editing photos and teaching guests how to use cameras to capture amazing images. I firmly believe photos are lifetime memories. The previous day, I had incredible sightings with my guide Vincent. A big thank you to him for making it possible. We encountered a leopard near Faulu, marking my first interaction with this particular one. What stood out about this leopard were its beautiful eyes. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get great photos since it was in a bushy tree.
On our way back to camp, we stumbled upon the fresh carcass of an elephant. It was the first time I had witnessed such a sight. We also saw a male lion from the Topi pride relaxing with a full stomach after feasting on a hippo. Back at the camp, I shared the details of the sighting with my colleague Moses Letura, an amazing individual from whom I’ve learned so much. I want to take a moment to celebrate him.
The next day, yesterday, we drove back to the scene to observe the Topi pride feeding on the elephant carcass. My camera was ready to capture this unique sighting. One striking thing about elephants is their intelligence. I saw on Instagram that other elephants came to mourn the loss of this one. I managed to take stunning videos and photos, which I’ll share on my socials soon.
Later, we received news that Faulu the leopard had been spotted again. With our fantastic guide Festus, we quickly drove to the location. I was thrilled when we arrived and saw the leopard in a tree. Huge thanks to Festus for positioning me perfectly for the shots! My wish was to see the leopard descend from the tree in a silhouette, and finally, it did. However, my excitement turned bittersweet as my camera’s battery was low and began shutting down.
At that moment, tears welled up in my eyes. The last time I cried like this was when I saw my uncle Paul Amungo’s body in a morgue in Mombasa, one of the most painful moments of my life. That experience taught me to appreciate life and every moment. My colleague Moses understood the pain I felt missing that perfect shot of the leopard in silhouette. Thankfully, he captured it—a rare and priceless photo for any photographer.
As 2024 draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank myself and everyone who has supported my career. Special thanks to John Wambugu Fredrick Ochieng Canon, my family, and friends. This year, I faced challenges, including my camera being destroyed by floods, but the biggest lesson I learned is that life is the most valuable thing—everything else is replaceable.
As we step into 2025, may it be the year where all your dreams turn into reality.
