Nicola Adcock, South Africa's Wild Heart (ANIMAL & NATURE 2024)

Every wild encounter in South Africa tells a story of predator and prey. From the lioness, queen of the bush, to the zebra, which, despite being prey, possesses instincts and adaptations designed for survival. This collection of photos captures the essence and diversity of Africa's wild South. The lioness emerged from the tall grass, blood dripping from her chin after devouring an antelope—an embodiment of power at the top of the food chain. She was preparing for a nap but, still young and playful, stood up, exposing herself from the tall grass to follow a butterfly, further asserting her dominance with carefree confidence. Next is the jackal, positioned further down the food chain. While capable hunters, they primarily scavenge, as this individual demonstrated by approaching a wild dog’s kill, for its turn in line. However, this jackal displays a much less carefree attitude; with every bite, it remained on high alert, as vultures began to approach the area being next in line. Following the jackal, we encounter the elephant. Although herbivorous, these not-so-gentle giants are often too large and dangerous to be hunted, allowing their populations to thrive when protected from humans. This individual claims strength in numbers as it dramatically lays down, placing itself in a vulnerable position while knowing it is safeguarded by its herd. Finally, the zebra is seen cautiously drinking from the waterhole, positioned closer to the bottom of the food chain. Their stripes are designed to confuse predators, ironically, as this beautiful individual pauses to drink, its reflection appears as two. However, these striped creatures are no easy targets; capable of speeds up to 65 km/hr and delivering powerful kicks that can severely injure or even kill any predator in pursuit. With each encounter, it served as a humbling reminder of just how small we humans are in the grand scheme of the world's wonders, yet equally awed by the beauty of the wild that surrounds us. These moments offer an opportunity to pause, appreciate all that nature has to offer, and recognise the importance of protecting it. This is South Africa's wild heart.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.