... from playful big cats to baby elephants reaching for mangoes
While staying at Mfuwe Lodge, a luxury hideout within the park boundary, Massey had daily access to these beautiful beasts. But
it wasn't always straight-forward - the 22-year-old believes he spent
more than 600 hours in their company, trying to capture the perfect
shot. It took him two weeks of searching to find the female leopard, who local guards call Alice, and her two three-month old cubs.
He
then followed the prowl for three months, witnessing kills, frolicking
cubs, hyena attacks on the cubs and territorial battles. South
Luangwa holds the highest density of leopards anywhere in Africa, and
while elephants are continuing to suffer across the world due to
poaching, they too are thriving in Zambia. 'The
lodge I was working for is actually famous for a small herd passing
through its reception every year on route to a mango tree,' explained
Luke. He
added that he was often amused by the boldness of the young elephants
who would flare their ears and false charge, before running back to the
safety of mothers.
Scroll down for video
A mother's love: Alice, a female
leopard leaps a stream towards one of her young cubs. It took
photographer Luke Massey two weeks to find the leopardess
African dream: Luke Massey spent three
months in Zambia's South Luangwa National park between May and August,
photographing elephants, leopards and pangolins
Intense stare:
Photographer Luke Massey followed the local female leopard and her two
cubs for the three months to capture these insightful shots
Rare glimpse: The pangolin is a rare
scaly mammal found throughout Africa and Asia. It's name comes from a
Malay word meaning 'something that rolls up'
Lazing leopard: Massey was able to get
up close and personal with the beautiful beasts at home in Zambia's
South Luangwa National park
Ready for your close up? Elephants are
continuing to suffer across the world due to poaching but luckily they
are thriving in Zambia
Elephant lunch time: 'The lodge I was
working for is actually famous for a small herd passing through its
reception every year on route to a mango tree,' says Massey
Massey was amused by the boldness of
the young elephants who would flare their ears and false charge at him
before running back to the safety of their mother
Diversity of nature: Artichoke-like pangolins are nocturnal creatures which use their strong sense of smell to find insects
Family values: Elephants breed all
year round and many herds at the South Luangwa National park had little
ones trundling along behind them
While staying at Mfuwe Lodge, a luxury
lodge situated within the park boundary, Luke was able to spend much of
his time observing the daily life of leopards
African elephant societies are
arranged around family units, which are made up of around ten females
and their calves and led by an older matriarch
Pensive: South Luangwa holds the
highest density of leopards anywhere in Africa. Massey said that out of
all the big cats, leopards are the most difficult to capture
A little bit higher: A plucky elephant
reaches into the canopy for a leafy snack in Zambia's beautiful South
Luangwa National park
Creatures of the night: Pangolins,
also known as 'scaly anteaters,' are burrowing mammals which eat ants
and termites using their long, sticky tongues
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