Top 25 Photographs from the Wilderness #1

Explore the wilderness with us… Within the next 10-15 years we will see the last-remaining wilderness area on earth dominated by the demands of growing human populations and undermined by accelerated climate change. When the earth’s last wild places are gone, all we will have are fenced off protected areas dependent on constant intervention to persist and marginalized by the demands of sustained development in emerging markets. Guides, rangers, researchers, ecotourists, photographers, artists and conservationists around the world apply themselves everyday to sharing, studying, photographing, writing about, protecting, conserving and celebrating the “wild” with their guests, co-workers, colleagues, and local communities. These amazing photographs are a window into their world, a world where the lions, elephants, orangutans and leopards still reign supreme and we can dream of that perfect morning in the wilderness…

The Bush Boyes and Ranger Diaries have teamed up to bring you the “Top 25 Photographs from the Wilderness”. These stunning photographs are selected from hundreds of submissions and are intended to bring the beauty, freedom and splendor of the wilderness to as many people as possible around the world. Please submit your best photographs from the wildest places to the Ranger Diaries wall (www.facebook.com/rangerdiaries) and stand a chance of being featured in the “Top 25 Photographs from the Wilderness” published each week. This initiative is all about SHARING and CARING about wild places. Please “Like” this blog post and share this link with as many people as possible… So begins the “Ranger Revolution”… Anyone can be an “honorary ranger” if they share and care about the wilderness, stimulating positive change for wild places around the world… Join the revolution now!

“Curious cub” by guide Kyle de Nobrega at Lion Sands Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1882 “Nothing quite like the curiosity of a cat.” (Kyle de Nobrega)

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” (John Muir)

“Seven cheetah” by guide Nicky Silberbauer of David Rogers Photographic, taken at Singita Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1637 “As the golden sun rose, what a treat it was to see seven cheetahs stroll up the road.” (Nicky Silberbauer)

“We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” (Henry David Thoreau)

“Orangutan” by guide Gavin Lautenbach of Mammoth Safaris http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1641 “One of the dominant male Orangutan’s in Danum Valley. We spent over an hour with him one morning watching his behavior and getting some photos.” (Gavin Lautenbach)

“I am glad I will not be young in a future without wilderness.” (Aldo Leopold)

“Leopard kill” by guide Edward Peach of Ivory Tree lodge, Pilanesberg http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1647 “While looking for a leopard with my Canadian guests we came across this.. amazing sighting. Definitely my luckiest guests ever!” (Edward Peach)

“There is a love of wild nature in everybody, an ancient mother-love showing itself whether recognized or no, and however covered by cares and duties” (John Muir)

“Sunbird high” by guide Nicky Silberbauer of David Rogers Photographic http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1658 “With the winter in the Cape the Aloes are in full bloom, allowing the sunbirds to lavish the treat.” (Nicky Silberbauer)

“The Wilderness holds answers to more questions than we have yet learned to ask.” (Nancy Wynne Newhall)

“Fiery heron” by guide Keith Connelly of Lions Sands Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1684 “A combination of nearby bush fires and winter sunsets make for great opportunities..” (Keith Connelly)

“It is a commonplace of all religious thought, even the most primitive, that the man seeking visions and insight must go apart from his fellows and love for a time in the wilderness.” (Loren Eisley)

Big chase by guide Ryan Hillier of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1688 “These two young male lions had eyes bigger than their stomachs.” (Ryan Hillier)

“Nothing truly wild is unclean.” (John Muir)

“Pollinating jewel” by guide James Kydd, taken at Bushmanskloof, Cederberg http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1699 “A magical macro world awaits visitors to the Western Cape’s Cederberg” (James Kydd)

“I thought of the wilderness we had left behind us, open to sea and sky, joyous in its plenitude and simplicity, perfect yet vulnerable, unaware of what is coming, defended by nothing, guarded by no one.” (Edward Abbey)

“White and wild” by guide Roel van Muiden, taken in the Klaserie http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1706 “An incredibly rare wild white lion cub.” (Roel van Muiden)

“A flower’s structure leads a bee toward having pollen adhere to its body . . . we don’t know of any such reason why beautiful places attract humans.” (David Rains Wallace)

“African wild cat” by guide Amy Attenborough of AndBeyond Ngala http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1713 “An unusual sighting of an African wild cat during the day. Typically these animals are nocturnal and rather skittish but this one allowed us to watch it for about five minutes before strolling off into the bush.” (Amy Attenborough)

“A world without huge regions of total wilderness would be a cage; a world without lions and tigers and vultures and snakes and elk and bison would be – will be – a human zoo. A high-tech slum.” (Edward Abbey)

“Too big to handle” by guide William Moss of AndBeyond Exeter http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1733 “A young male leopard that knows his limits.” (William Moss)

“I think it is far more important to save one square mile of wilderness, anywhere, by any means, than to produce another book on the subject.” (Edward Abbey)

“Nap time” by guide Keith Connelly of Lion Sands Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1736 “A leopardess enjoying a nap on a cloudy Sabi Sands morning.” (Keith Connelly)

“In wilderness is the preservation of the world.”(Henry David Thoreau)

“Beauty” by guide Mark Hankin of AndBeyond Phinda http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1747 “Perfectly positioned on this termite mound.” (Mark Hankin)

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” (Edward Abbey)

“Fun in the sun” by guide Jaques Pierre Joubert at AndBeyond Phinda http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1783 “4 out of the 5 cubs of a female cheetah in the Southern Reaches of Phinda playing to their heart’s desire in some awesome afternoon light!” (Jaques Pierre Joubert)

“The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders.” (Edward Abbey)

“Morning Sip” by guide Jaques Pierre Joubert at AndBeyond Kirkman’s Camp http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1786 “This young male leopard did me a massive favour by looking right up at me while having a drink on a beautiful winter’s morning in the Sands.” (Jaques Pierre Joubert)

“In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.” (Charles Lindbergh)

“Engorged” by guide Keith Connelly of Lion Sands Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1799 “Lion resting after its fill of a recently killed buffalo.” (Keith Connelly)

“No one should be able to enter a wilderness by mechanical means.” (Garrett Hardin)

“Where to look” by guide Warren Pearson of Firecloud Adventures, Serengeti http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1818 “The full force of the migration. From east to west and all the way to the horizon. You battle to see a blade of grass.” (Warren Pearson)

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.” (Rachel Carson)

“Cape clawless otters” by guide Ryan Hillier of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1847 “Rare sighting of a Cape clawless otter moving her cub.” (Ryan Hillier)

“What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.” (Crowfoot (Blackfoot))

“This is Africa” by guide Edward Peach of Ivory Tree Lodge, Pilanesberg http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1853 “Sun setting in the Pilanesberg with a huge fire in the west can always result in beautiful settings with extra red colours, but add some elephants walking front of that…. well thats just special!” (Edward Peach)

“Wilderness is the raw material out of which man has hammered the artifact called civilization.” (Aldo Leopold)

“Giant Anteater” by guide Simon Bellingham of Indri Ultimate Wildlife Tours http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1856 “Working with jaguars in Brazil not only allows me to experience this wonderful big cat but a host of other strange and wonderful animals!” (Simon Bellingham)

“Wilderness is a resource which can shrink but not grow… the creation of new wilderness in the full sense of the word is impossible.” (Aldo Leopold)

“African wild dogs” by guide Mark Hankin at Andbeyond Phinda http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1858 “These wild dogs have crossed back and forward onto Phinda from Mkhuze.” (Mark Hankin)

“In God’s wildness lies the hope of the world – the great fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness.” (John Muir)

“Parental Shift” by guide Kyle de Nobrega at Lion Sands Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1873 “Male paradise flycatcher doing his parental duties.” (Kyle de Nobrega)

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” (John Muir)

“African wild dog and Cape buffalo” by guide Robin Cheeseman at AndBeyond Ngala http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1884 “It It took more than an hour for the wild dogs to eventually kill this young buffalo.” (Robin Cheeseman)

“Our dead never forget this beautiful world that gave them being. They still love its verdant valleys, its murmuring rivers, its magnificent mountains, sequestered vales and verdant lined lakes and bays, and ever yearn in tender fond affection over the lonely hearted living, and often return from the happy hunting ground to visit, guide, console, and comfort them.” (Chief Seattle (Suquamish))

“Honey badger with python” by guide Kyle de Nobrega at Lion Sands Private Game Resrve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1899 “A rare sighting of a honey badger killing a 4m long rock python.” (Kyle de Nobrega)

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” (Henry David Thoreau)

“Domestic disarray” by guide Brendon Jennings at Kariega Private Game Reserve http://www.rangerdiaries.com/photos/view-photos.html?id=1919 “A brief refusal from the lioness before mating commenced.” (Brendon Jennings)