Stunning images capture intimate moments in African wilderness

... from playful big cats to baby elephants reaching for mangoes

By Emily Payne for MailOnline

Published: 20 August 2014 

Few people are lucky enough to get this close to Africa's most fascinating - and sometimes ferocious - animals.  But British wildlife photographer Luke Massey spent three months in Zambia's South Luangwa National park in the company of stunning leopards, enormous elephants and scaly pangolins - one of the world's rarest creatures.

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.

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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

Mother and cub: By staying close to the leopardess and her three cubs, Luke was able to capture intimate moments such as this one
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