MELANIE MASKE

IG: @africanmamaske Nikon D850

Nikon 200 – 500 mm lens

MELANIE WRITES: I took this photo at Piper Pan in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana. It was our first time in the reserve, and on our first day we had sundowners at Piper Pan. There weren’t many animals around, other than a springbok or two, and then we saw why: These lionesses sauntered down to drink. It was a magical moment. There was no need to do any editing other than a crop. The golden hour in the bush is wonderful and gives you all the magic light you need for a great capture.

TOAST SAYS: I get goose bumps just reading this account! Having a true appreciation for nature means you’re perfectly fine simply being where you are – and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a great place to be. Sightings almost don’t matter.

But, sometimes, time seems to stop. Things click into place. From nowhere, a lion arrives. No, four! They drink, they look up, they drink some more, they leave.

Even if Melanie hadn’t managed to get a photo of the scene, it would have been burnt into her memory forever. But thank goodness she got a shot because now she can share her experience with us.