The Week in Pictures: In the Eye of the Beholder

We’ve all heard the saying “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder”, which indicates that beauty can not be judged objectively, and that each person might posses their own idea of the concept. When it comes to nature, it is no different. Some wildlife-lovers are drawn to the silky, intricate details of a spider’s expertly woven web, while others find the unique rosettes adorning a leopard’s fur the most beautiful feature of safari. Sometimes the most common member of the bush – perhaps the humble impala, or the lilac-breasted roller – imprint our memories most significantly, while other wildlife seekers find the most beauty in the golden eye of Africa’s king cats. In this edition of the Week in Pictures, we acknowledge favourites across the board in our search to portray the photographic celebrations of the wild.

nThambo Tree Camp, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger Park

Still water capturing the reflection of a lioness on the move

Slow and silent, a giraffe is silhouetted in the last of the burnt orange sunset

A leopard in its element, relaxing in the vast boughs of a mature marula tree

The prolific impala - a proud ram in the midst of rutting season

 

Africa on Foot, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger Park

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

A flurry of activity at the chaotic site of a kill

The first moments of light after a dangerous night in the dark

Reigning from the trees, Bundu surveys his surroundings

Ezulwini Game Lodges, Balule Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger Park

Nature's perfect patterns captured in detail

Reassuring contact between herd members - a relatable moment of emotional intelligence

A European roller shows off the cinnamon dusting on its wings as it perches in wait of an unsuspecting insect

A quiet moment at the waterhole - a nervous moment for the prey species of the Kruger

Umkumbe Safari Lodge, Sabi Sand Wildtuin, Greater Kruger Park

Siblings entertain one another in the golden glow of the sunset

Mxabene, confident in his safety as a leading predator in the Sabi Sand wilderness

Never to be underestimated as docile bovids, the buffalo is perhaps the most dangerous animal of the bush

A herd of zebra meets its reflection in the surface of a waterhole