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04/05/2026

Happy International Leopard Day! 🐆

I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph leopards over the years, but the cats in Kenya’s Laikipia Conservancy are special. While I was there to find the famous black leopard, Giza, this handsome male kept walking into the spotlight - literally! He was a master opportunist, often caught tracking Giza through the night hoping to snag an easy meal from her hard work. And he was successful. Poor Giza had to feed him, two large cubs and herself every day.

While they are incredibly adaptable, leopards are currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. They’ve lost up to 75% of their historical range due to habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict.

Protecting wild corridors in places like Laikipia is the only way to ensure these remarkable animals have a strong future.

09/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day! As I was looking through photos of some of the amazing women I've had the privilege to photograph over the years, this image from my recent journey to Benin, West Africa, tells quite a story.

This is the Amazon Monument in Cotonou—a 30-meter, 150 ton, bronze tribute to the Agoodjie, the real-life all-female army of the Kingdom of Dahomey. They were famous for their extreme discipline, "win or die" motto, and for being more effective in combat than many of their male counterparts. For over 200 years, these warriors were the backbone of their nation’s defense, proving that strength and leadership have no gender.

This massive monument is a reminder that women have always been at the heart of history’s greatest battles and triumphs -- in the midst of battle as well as behind the scenes.

Here’s to all the remarkable women who have made history, and those writing and rewriting it today!

19/02/2026

Batonu horsemen galloping together in the dusty early morning light. In northern Benin, these rides reflect discipline, lineage, and continuity rather than competition. Thanks to and for this fantastic experience!

18/02/2026

Happy Lunar New Year — the year of the Fire Horse

The Batonu (Bariba) horsemen of Northern Benin are among the most visually striking and historically important cultural figures in northern Benin. Their horsemanship is not pageantry—it’s a living history rooted in precolonial times. For centuries, Batonu identity has been inseparable from horses.

We were fortunate to have a group perform for us on a dusty soccer field in a small village. This young rider and his fiery horse were fantastic. Seeing the bond between the brightly adorned horses and riders was an experience I won’t forget.

05/01/2026

Hold on - even when things get prickly!
Brown lemur in the spiny forest, Madagascar. Imagine climbing these thorny giant euphorbia trees just to eat the little leaves.

04/01/2026

Hold on!
Black and white ruffed lemur in Madagascar.

22/12/2025

Giza, the melanistic leopard of Laikipia, Kenya, resting in the shade with her two cubs—one male and one female—at about 10 months old. Unlike their mother, the cubs are not melanistic and show the typical spotted coat. Adult leopards are mostly solitary, but at this age they remain closely bonded to Giza, staying near her and frequently interacting with her. We were fortunate to watch them grooming each other with diligence and signs of affection. She is still feeding them, so her nightly hunts are critical to feeding them. Her strong maternal care is vital to their survival as they continue to grow and learn to fend for themselves.

20/12/2025

Laikipia surprised us many times with rare wildlife sightings. In the fading light one evening, we were lucky enough to glimpse three leopard cubs only weeks old — a sight rarely seen in the wild as mothers keep their cubs well hidden for many weeks after birth. Cuteness overload!

By the next day they were gone, their mother having moved them to a safer, hidden place, away from the safari paparazzi. Moments like this remind me how delicate these lives are, and how privileged I have been to witness such brief, extraordinary moments in the wild.

12/12/2025

Giza Mrembo, whose name means Beautiful Darkness in Swahili, lived up to her reputation as a skilled huntress. Her exceptional night vision—around six times better than a human—gave her a clear advantage as she moved stealthily through the dark.

As a single mother with two large, hungry cubs, every hunt counts. She often has to make several attempts each night, using her strong depth perception and ability to spot movement in near darkness to close in on prey. The pressure is constant, especially with a dominant male nearby who often steals her kills.

What an honor it was to spend time watching and photographing this Beautiful Darkness.

10/12/2025

Giza, a melanistic leopard photographed in Laikipia, Kenya. Her dark coat —caused by a genetic mutation that causes an increase in melanin—is rare in African leopard populations. In direct light the rosettes emerge, revealing the pattern beneath the darkness.
This is the kind of wildlife encounter you plan for years… and still can’t quite believe when it happens.

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Laikipia Rd
Nanyuki
10400

Website

http://www.rockskipper.net/, http://www.rockskipper.com/

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