An African leopard rests on the ground, its spotted coat blending in with the grass. Taken during a rare vulnerable moment while on safari in Botswana, this photo by Nathan shows the elegance and stealth of one of nature’s most elusive predators. Leopards live solitary lives—unlike social lions in their prides. Instead, leopards have their own territories and rarely interact. Despite their size, leopards face threats from other large predators, including lions and hyenas, which will steal their kills. These adept climbers seek sanctuary in trees, which is where this leopard was just before this photo was taken. You can see that it’s not fully relaxed, keeping its eyes fixed on the camera, carefully tracking the surroundings.

CONTACT THE GALLERY TO BUY