Michael Wilkins
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A series · 16 photographs

Pumba

A week at Pumba Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, in December 2022. It rained most of that month, and the animals simply got on with it, so I did too — wiping the front element between showers and working from the vehicle. The white lions are the reason I carried the long lens all week, but the week kept offering other things: cheetahs in the wet, a nyala at the forest edge, a zebra half gone into shadow.

A giraffe stands on a wet dirt track in falling rain with its tongue out, a second giraffe feeding in the bush at right.

Giraffe in the Rain

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 1 of 16

Two impala rams face each other on a grassy ridgeline beneath a deep blue summer sky.

The Standoff

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 2 of 16

Black and white photograph of an elephant seen from close behind and to the side, deeply wrinkled hide filling the left of the frame, one tusk and the edge of an ear visible against pale sky and scrub.

Hide and Tusk

Pumba Game Reserve, South Africa · December 2022 · 3 of 16

A white rhino stands in profile on green grass with oxpeckers perched on its ear and shoulder.

Rhino with Passengers

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 4 of 16

Close portrait of a cheetah with rain-spiked fur and amber eyes, tear lines running dark down its face.

Cheetah in the Rain

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 5 of 16

A cheetah bares its teeth in a snarl, ears pinned back, eyes fixed directly on the camera.

The Warning

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 6 of 16

Four hippo heads break the surface of water blown out to pure white, one with its pink mouth wide open.

Four Hippos, White Water

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 7 of 16

Photograph of a male greater kudu standing in profile in dry scrub, head raised, its long corkscrew horns rising in a double twist above thin white stripes on its flank.

The Spiral

Pumba Game Reserve, South Africa · December 2022 · 8 of 16

Black-and-white photograph of a male lion walking head-on through long flowering grass, mane blown to one side.

He Walks

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 9 of 16

Close photograph of a male lion resting in grass, facing the camera, his face and muzzle marked with old scars and his heavy dark-edged mane framing the head.

The Ledger

Pumba Game Reserve, South Africa · December 2022 · 10 of 16

A white lion walks in profile through green forest, framed by dark branches, mouth open mid-pant.

Through the Forest

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 11 of 16

A white lioness stands on a wet, puddled dirt road and looks back over her shoulder, mud dark on her chin.

She Looks Back

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 12 of 16

A male white lion with pale blue eyes stares straight at the camera through a gap in out-of-focus thornbush.

White Lion, Watching

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 13 of 16

A white lion lies on dark ground beneath trees at dusk, front legs stretched forward, pale blue eyes catching the last light.

Blue Eyes at Dusk

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 14 of 16

A nyala bull in profile emerges from a black background, spiral horns and white face markings catching thin light.

Nyala from the Dark

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 15 of 16

A zebra stands against a black background with its head turned back over its shoulder, stripes dissolving into shadow.

Zebra, Undone

Pumba Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa · December 2022 · 16 of 16

Photograph of an empty road with a white centre line running straight toward a wall of snow-covered Southern Alps peaks in winter, snowy tussock flats on both sides and two distant campervans far ahead.

The next room

The Southern Alps