Green Season – Private MalaMala Photo Tour with Daniel Bailey
The first safari of the year always carries a sense of excitement and anticipation. This year, I embarked on my journey with a cherished guest and close friend to MalaMala Game Reserve—a place that holds deep personal significance. It was here that our friendship began, as well as my guiding career. Over the years, we’ve traversed the globe together, from the wilds of South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to the icy landscapes of the Arctic in Svalbard. Returning to the place where it all started, where I spent seven years as a full-time guide and resident photographer, was nothing short of special.
The week-long safari promised to be spectacular, coinciding with the green season—when the landscape is lush and teeming with life. From vibrant greenery to an abundance of birdlife, newborn antelope, and the ever-present Big Five and big cats, MalaMala transforms into a paradise unlike any other. This safari’s photos would have a dramatically different feel—wildlife set against a rich green backdrop. The thrill of guiding once more, of exploring, creating, and learning alongside my guest, was palpable.
Perhaps it will inspire you to join me on a future safari, whether here or somewhere else in the world. Here’s to living the dream with ORYX Photo Tours!
MalaMala Game Reserve is known for its stunning trees and ancient forests, especially in the northwestern corner, where the Manyelethi River winds through a bed of scattered granite boulders. Here, towering Jackalberry trees stand tall, their gnarled trunks twisted with age, whispering stories of the past. Among them is one particular Jackalberry, my favorite—a tree that has always captured my imagination. Its weathered bark, contorted branches, and silent presence exude a wisdom that’s hard to put into words.
It’s the kind of tree that, every time you drive past, you instinctively mutter, “I wish there was a leopard in that tree.” I’ve said it countless times over the past decade. And today, everything aligned. The Piccadilly female was resting in that very tree, her impala carcass draped across its branches.
The scene wasn’t about capturing the perfect close-up shot. Instead, it was about stepping back—embracing the moment and the environment, framing the connection between leopards and trees. We watched as she stretched, yawned, and then gracefully walked across the arching branch to feed on her kill. As the light faded, we decided to leave and enjoy sundowners—a rare indulgence for me, as dusk is the prime time for predator activity.
And sure enough, while we sipped our drinks, two other leopards arrived. The dominant Flatrock male and Piccadilly’s independent son, the Matumi male, came to claim the spoils. We missed the action, but that’s the nature of safari—you win some, you lose some.
But not all was lost. As we headed back, we found Piccadilly moving through the dry riverbed. She approached our vehicle and lowered herself to drink from a pool of water right beside us. The shimmering ripples reflected in the spotlight, creating a mesmerizing scene—one that will stay with us far beyond the images in our cameras.
What a start to our safari. Tomorrow, we set out with the hope of witnessing something even more special—Piccadilly returning to her den, where two six-week-old cubs wait patiently for her return.
The next morning, we woke at the crack of dawn, though sleep had been restless with anticipation of what the new day might bring—the possibility of the Piccadilly leopardess reuniting with her two cubs at their den among the granite boulders along the Mlowati River. The alarm rang early at 4:30 AM, and as we stirred, the distant calls of hyenas and lions echoed through the cool morning air.
We set off at 5:15 AM, ahead of the other vehicles, with a clear plan: to reach the den site at first light. Knowing that Piccadilly had lost her carcass to two other leopards the night before and hadn’t reunited with her cubs in over 24 hours, the chances were high that she would return to bond and nurse them.
As we drove through the darkness, sipping coffee, I ensured we were prepared. We organized our gear, adjusted our camera settings for the soft morning light, and double-checked everything—small details that can make or break a sighting. From past experience, I’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, that nature’s most extraordinary moments are fleeting. There are no second chances, no reenactments.
As we approached the granite outcrops, we were met with an incredible sight—Piccadilly resting atop an open rock face. The moment we parked, her two six-week-old cubs rushed to her, their tiny bodies full of excitement. They greeted her with affectionate nudges, received a tender grooming session, and then settled in to nurse.
The scene before us was pure magic. In just three minutes, we witnessed an intimate and deeply emotional moment, almost too perfect to believe. Everything had aligned—the timing, the setting, and our readiness to capture it. These are the moments that stay with you forever, and thanks to our cameras, we have a piece of it preserved for eternity.
Thank you, universe, for this extraordinary gift.
After an incredible start to the morning with the Piccadilly female and her two cubs, we continued our adventure just a stone’s throw away. In the middle of the Piccadilly Triangle, we stumbled upon a beautifully serene scene—zebra, white rhino, and elephant grazing peacefully in the open grasslands.
As we watched, a herd of impala suddenly burst into the area, running frantically—a telltale sign that something was amiss. Typically, this kind of behavior only occurs when African wild dogs are on the hunt. Unlike when lions or leopards stalk their prey and are detected, impala don’t sound an alarm when chased by wild dogs; they simply scatter in all directions.
Moving closer, we found a pack of five African wild dogs relentlessly pursuing the impala. A hyena trailed behind, opportunistically waiting for a chance to steal a meal. Amidst the chaos, three of the wild dogs seemed to lose their way, and in that moment, the hyena caught and killed a stray lamb. But the dogs wasted no time—moving with lightning speed, they ran down and took down an impala ewe.
What followed was pure wildness. The pack devoured the carcass in mere moments before a spotted hyena charged in, snatching the last remnants of the kill. Just as we thought the spectacle had come to an end, the bush erupted with the trumpeting of elephants, forcing all the predators—and us—to clear the area.
When we returned, vultures had already swooped down, swiftly cleaning up any trace of the dramatic scene that had unfolded just moments before.
What an unforgettable morning in the bush—one that will stay with us forever.
This evening, we set off in search of a large pride of lions and their two dominant males. We had seen them earlier in the day, fast asleep, after an already action-packed morning. As the sun began to set, we found the two males resting in an open area near a seasonal waterhole.
We waited patiently, hoping they would become active and perhaps treat us to one of their powerful roars. As the light faded, they began to stir—stretching, yawning, and finally rising to patrol their territory. Then came the moment we had been hoping for.
The deep, thunderous roars of the two lions echoed across the landscape, a sound unlike anything else on safari. It wasn’t just something you heard—it was something you felt. The raw power of their calls reverberated through our bodies, shaking the earth beneath us. As they walked within a few feet of our open safari vehicle, their burning amber eyes locked onto ours, stilling time itself.
In that moment, we were completely grounded, fully present in the wild. But the night was far from over.
As darkness settled in, we followed the pride—thirteen strong—as they set off into the night to hunt. Moving silently through the tall grass, they became living shadows, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. It was death in the tall grass. We listened intently as they launched an attack on a herd of impala, but the alarm was sounded, and the hunt was thwarted. With that, we decided to head in for the night, leaving the pride to continue their relentless pursuit of survival under the cover of darkness.
What an unforgettable way to end an extraordinary day on safari.
Another day, another unforgettable morning with the Piccadilly female. We woke to overcast skies and strong winds—conditions that often favor predators, increasing their chances of a successful hunt. True to form, the Piccadilly female had taken advantage of the night, securing a fully grown impala ram in a Scotia tree. It’s incredible to think that she can haul a carcass weighing over 60kg—more than her own body weight—into the treetops, carrying it in her jaws with remarkable strength.
The setting was equally spectacular. We spent the morning photographing her along the most picturesque bank of the Mlowati River. Out of the nearly 30 leopards in MalaMala, she might just have the most beautiful territory of them all.
With her kill safely stashed in the tree, she took time to rest. As a light rain began to fall, she climbed onto a stunning rocky outcrop for a nap. The peaceful moment was soon interrupted by the distant roars of lions. She immediately took note, glancing up at her kill as if calculating her next move. After three big yawns, she made her decision—climbing up the tree to feed.
We carefully positioned ourselves for the best vantage point to capture her ascent. Once she settled into the tree, the photographic opportunities became limited. Satisfied with the incredible moments we had already witnessed, we decided to set off in search of the roaring lions.
We heard over the radio that the lions had been found by other rangers—two Ndzenga males and a Kambula lioness were on the move. They were heading toward the Sand River, and our goal was to catch them crossing the watercourse. Unfortunately, they were too quick, and we missed the crossing by just a few seconds.
Despite that, we were treated to an incredible sighting as they moved through one of my favorite riverine woodlands. Surrounded by ancient Jackalberry, Appleleaf, Leadwood, and Sausage trees, the scene was stunning. In summer, this area is especially vibrant, filled with birdsong, fluttering butterflies, and the occasional giant eagle owl flushing from the riverbanks.
As they continued on, they gave us some fantastic walk-by moments, moving through lush green grasslands—a refreshing contrast to the dry, dusty hues typical of the Lowveld in winter. They had covered a significant distance before finally settling down for a midday siesta.
Maybe we’ll catch up with them again this evening, but judging by their ballooned bellies, it’s clear they had a successful hunt the night before. For now, they rest—content and well-fed.
Even after 10 years, there’s always a first on safari, and this late morning drive was exactly that. We had an incredible sighting of a large-spotted genet resting inside the trunk of a tree. Our guide, Mirsho, spotted it as we drove along, its striped tail visible within the tree trunk. We reversed and decided to wait patiently.
After a few minutes, to our amazement, the genet suddenly emerged from within the trunk—revealing a hidden den with a tiny kitten. We watched in awe as the mother nursed her baby, gradually becoming more relaxed in our presence. In a truly special moment, the little one climbed onto its mother before both settled in for a nap.
It was an unforgettable and rare sighting, especially since genets are typically shy and nocturnal. Interestingly, the mother had only one eye. I believe I may have seen her on previous safaris, but what a privilege it was to witness such an intimate scene in daylight. You never know what’s waiting around the next corner on safari!
This evening safari began with a sighting of the Stone Drift female and her cub—a cute little male, around three and a half months old. He’s now old enough to join his mother on her adventures, and to her to kill sites. She had caught an impala and left it at the base of a large fig tree.
What made this sighting particularly interesting was the behavior we observed. The mother and cub bonded, played, and she even nursed him before heading off, contact-calling for what we believe was her other cub. Sadly, the second cub is presumed to have passed away about two weeks ago. Watching her call out and search the area where we assume her lost cub was last seen was a sobering reminder of the harsh realities of the wild.
It was fascinating to witness what appeared to be a mourning process, reinforcing the idea that even as a first-time mother, she felt the loss of her offspring. A rare and emotional moment in the bush.
After leaving the leopards, we decided to head towards the lions we had seen in the morning—a lioness and two males.
The lioness had left the males sleeping and was on the move, retracing her steps from earlier in the day while contact-calling for her pride. As she reached the Sand River, we were alerted to the presence of two large crocodiles in the watercourse. Instantly, she changed direction—a clear sign that she was aware of the danger. Instead of crossing through the river, she made her way south, choosing the safety of the towering West Street Bridge.
Anyone who has been to MalaMala knows how incredible it is to see these big cats using the bridge to cross the river. It was an unforgettable sighting, showcasing both the intelligence and survival instincts of this remarkable lioness.
This played out nicely for what our next plan was with the males.
We arrived at the two Ndzenga males just as the sun was setting. Dramatic clouds hung over the escarpment of the Drakensberg in the distance to the west, adding to the atmosphere. As we pulled up, the two males began to stir, then suddenly erupted into thunderous roars in perfect unison—an unmistakable declaration of their dominance over these lands.
Moments later, they rose to their feet, picking up the trail of the lioness who had given them the slip while they slept. What followed was nothing short of remarkable—be sure to see how the final sighting of the day unfolded
As the two males tracked the lioness, they pursued her movements with purpose, following the same path they had taken in the morning—heading straight for the Sand River. We took a chance, making a calculated guess that they would attempt to cross the river at the same location where we had narrowly missed them earlier. Looping far ahead, we crossed the bridge in anticipation, knowing they were unaware that the lioness had already tried to cross and encountered crocodiles.
They reached the river quickly, and we were perfectly positioned. As the light faded, they approached the water’s edge, drank, and nervously assessed the scene. Something felt off to them—they could sense that the lioness had altered her course. Together, they tested four different sections of the river, each time raising our anticipation. Eventually, we began to think they didn’t have the courage to cross.
Then, whether out of bravery, foolishness, or pure laziness to take the safer route via the bridge, they entered the river. Excitement surged through us. Watching two male lions cross the river is a rare sight, especially in the wet season when the water is higher and murky. They waded into the crocodiles’ lair, wide-eyed and hyper-focused. At one point, they bumped shoulders, spooking each other, and in a sudden splash of water, they panicked before bounding through the final stretch to safety.
We couldn’t believe our luck—our patience and determination had placed us in the perfect position to witness this incredible moment head-on. This will undoubtedly be one of the biggest highlights of the trip—though, remarkably, each drive seems to outdo the last. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store!
The morning began with the rambunctious little male cub of the Stone Drift female. They were still at the site of their impala kill, which remained in the fig tree. While the mother rested in the branches, the cub stayed below, safely tucked away in the thick vegetation.
Eventually, she descended from the tree, and a beautiful bonding and nursing session followed. Then, it was time to play.
The cub’s energy exploded as he pounced on his mother, wrestling with her in a display that was both entertaining and adorable. With each playful attack, he built confidence and sharpened the instincts that will one day serve him as a dominant predator.
After leaving the Stone Drift female and her cub, we set out to explore and enjoy a morning coffee break. Just after our warm drinks, we spotted a pair of wild dogs running past a lone lioness.
Following the dogs led us on a memorable drive through the reserve. As the rain began to fall, we found ourselves getting quite soaked, but we quickly dried out when we stopped for breakfast, enjoying the company of each other—and a few zebras. Overhead, vultures circled while impalas snorted in alarm, adding to the atmosphere of the bush. Continuing our drive, we came across a young male leopard before making our way to the den site of the Piccadilly female.
There, we found her basking in the sun with her two cubs, nursing them after the rain had passed. Like all cats, they had taken shelter from the downpour and now stretched out on the warm, lichen-covered granite boulders, soaking in the sunlight.
It was a stunning sight—one of those perfect moments that make every drive special.
We ended our evening with the Kambula Pride, 13 strong, before they were joined by the two Ndzenga males. The scene offered incredible backlit photography—some of the best I’ve personally captured to date. Judging by the previews on everyone’s screens, it looks like everyone managed to get stunning shots.
As night fell, the entire pride walked past our vehicle in the darkness. Hearing their footsteps in the sand and the sound of their breath as they passed within just two feet of the Land Cruiser was a wild and thrilling experience—one that never loses its magic.
Why MalaMala with Daniel Bailey
Having spent over a decade observing and photographing these leopards, I bring intimate knowledge of their movements and behaviours. With a strong network of guides and staff, I ensure the best possible experiences for my guests.
My goal is to prioritize your shots and create a learning environment where you can build your skills and capture your own masterpieces. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a first-timer, I’ll guide you every step of the way.
Join me for a scheduled South Africa – MalaMala Photo Tour 2026 —and experience firsthand the magic of photographing these incredible animals.
Looking forward to guiding you,
Daniel Bailey
ORYX Photo Tour Leader
If you’d like to build a stunning photographic portfolio and experience these incredible moments with Daniel Bailey next year, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. There are limited spaces available for just 3 photographers per tour.
South Africa – MalaMala Photo Tour 2026
Let Daniel Bailey guide you, providing expert coaching on capturing the perfect shot in-camera, post-processing tips, and sharing his wealth of knowledge gained from 7 years as a full-time photographic ranger at MalaMala.
With his deep understanding of the local wildlife, best locations, and unique bird sightings, Daniel is eager to help you hone your skills, learn from his experience, and walk away with unforgettable images and memories.
Join ORYX for an experience that will leave you with the very best images and stories to savour for a lifetime.
For more information, contact us at [email protected] or email [email protected] for inquiries into private or tailor-made trips to suit your timeline and have Daniel Bailey accompany you as your ORYX Leader.
