lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: She just got up and started her stalk. I pulled my land rover over so that I was about 70 yards away and started shooting. She got to about 40 yards from the topi before it sensed something was wrong and lifted its head.
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: There wasn’t a thing wrong with the topi. That lioness just had the luck of the tall grass and the wind, and I was lucky to catch it on film. Lions are incredible predators.
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: This was the first time I’d ever been able to shoot a successful stalk, so it was exciting! Every photographer I know loves the predator-prey stuff. And most hunters too. It probably has something to do with the drama and rush that comes from life and death situations. I was excited about being able to witness and capture it on film.
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: Only one other time, when some lionesses were worrying a cape buffalo herd in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The big bulls would come out to the edge of the herd and chase the lionesses off for a short while, but eventually the herd broke and ran for a short distance and that separated a cow with a young calf. Inside a handful of minutes the calf was done.
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: Oh sure, yeah, I’ve been charged by elephant, rhino, cape buffalo. Mostly while in a land rover. When you’re in a vehicle, I think the vehicle’s in more danger than you are. Although from time to time an elephant will crush a vehicle that didn’t get moving in time, and sometimes people get hurt that way.
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: Closest call. I’d have to say … I was on foot photographing some black rhinos last year. Black rhinos are a little like grizzly bears. They have a tendency to charge first and ask questions later if they’re surprised or see something they don’t know. I was working this female with a mostly grown calf when they started coming in our direction. Fortunately there was a little bush nearby that I could keep between us, and it kept her from charging. Still, she was glaring at me from 10 feet away, a 4000-pound animal on the other side of this little bush. She could have taken that bush out easy, so it was a little exciting.
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: There’s a lot more varied wildlife over there, and it’s generally more visible — easier to photograph. You can get close and see them and watch their behavior and photograph them. They have more (and significantly more dangerous) animals, too. Lion, leopard, cape buffalo, elephant, rhino, hippo, and crocodile.
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: Well, I told you she was with cubs. When she started the stalk she let out some sort of call which told the cubs to stay put in order to not screw up the stalk. And shortly after she killed it she started letting out another call, which brought the cubs over for dinner.
lions, hunting, stalk, hartebeest, hartebeast, topi, sarengeti, masai mara, kenya, photo, denver bryan
Denver: I’ve been a hunter since I was a kid growing up in Missouri. A cow elk fills our freezer most years.