Waiting for Mama

During a month-long safari in northern Botswana in 2017, my travel buddy and I came upon a mother leopard feeding on a gazelle in a tree. Hidden in the brush nearby were two leopard cubs, probably two young to join in the feast directly. We slowly maneuvered our Land Rover into a position to photograph the cubs without alarming anyone. We heard the next day from a tracker that an old mama lion that had been hunting nearby might have gotten the youngsters. I hoped not, but such is Africa. Painting this little one brought back found, bittersweet memories.