Photography by Valji Varia
www.natural-variation.com
Big cats sleeping in Botswana, South Africa, India and Kenya.
Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve shares a 50km unfenced border with the Kruger National Park this private reserve is second to none in terms of wildlife encounters. Due to the high degree of habituation the reserve offers outstanding photographic opportunities, particularly of the elusive leopard. The valuable water source supplied by the Sabie and Sand rivers ensure that this diverse land sustains one of the highest concentrations of animal species to be found anywhere in Africa.
Ranthambore National Park Situated in southeast Rajasthan the park lies on the edge of a plateau and consists of deciduous forests, gigantic banyan trees and several lakes surrounding the historic Ranthambhore fortress. This is one of the best places to see the majestic tiger, which can be found patrolling Padam Talao, largest of the lakes or resting in the sandstone Jogi Mahal. Several resident tigers including Macchli and Broken Tail have been the focus of BBC documentaries and helped raise awareness of poaching and human-tiger conflict.
Masai Mara National Reserve. The Mara is the northern most section of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, which plays host to the great migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle in search of fresh pasture. The terrain is primarily open grassland dotted with the distinctive acacia trees, drainage lines, and the Sand, Talek and Mara Rivers. Game viewing is outstanding in the reserve with dense concentrations of herbivores, carnivores and avian species make the Mara the prime safari destination.
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Tuli Block This hardveld area consists of rocky outcrops and huge Nyala and yellow barked fever trees along the banks of the Motloutse and Limpopo rivers. Sheer basalt cliffs and deep gorges carved into the ancient granite rocks by seasonal rivers and springs structure this wild terrain, which is one of the best places in Southern Africa for ornithologists.