In August 2026 I traveled to Chikunto Safari Lodge in Zambia's South Luangwa Valley, a park often called the Valley of the Leopard. The camp sits right on the Luangwa River, and August is the heart of the dry season, when the animals are drawn to the water and the light turns golden early and late.
I'll be honest: it wasn't a perfect trip. But it gave me wild dogs, an old scarred lion named Scar, and one leopard moment I won't forget.
Wild Dogs: The Painted Wolves
African wild dogs were high on my list, and seeing them was a gift. They are one of Africa's most endangered predators, and every sighting feels like a privilege. Their mottled coats look like brushstrokes, which is why they are called painted wolves.
They rarely sit still, so photographing them is all about anticipation: following the pack, watching how they move together, and being ready when one pauses and looks back.
Scar: An Old Lion of the Luangwa
The lion I keep thinking about is Scar, an old male whose face and body carry the marks of a long, hard life. Every scar is a story of fights won and lost, territory held, and survival in a valley that forgives nothing.
Photographing him felt less like taking a portrait and more like documenting a legend. He isn't pretty in the usual sense, and that is exactly what makes him beautiful.
Hippos: Kings of the River
You can't spend time on the Luangwa River without hippos. In the dry season they crowd into the remaining pools, grunting, yawning and jostling for space.
They are endlessly entertaining to watch and surprisingly expressive to photograph, and you never know who will use them as a raft or a perch for viewing what the water has to offer.
The Elusive Leopard
In a place called the Valley of the Leopard, you hope for leopards, and Chikunto lived up to its reputation. At first they stayed true to form, half-hidden and slipping away in low light. Then I looked up, and sure enough, there he was, resting in a large tree. Trees are a leopard's favorite place to rest and to store their kills until later, when they can enjoy them. Over the trip I found leopards both up in the trees and on the ground.
Then the valley handed me something better. Out of nowhere, the leopard took off and caught a baby impala. The speed was unbelievable, pure lightning. One moment he was still, and the next it was over.
I was able to photograph him with his kill, a raw and powerful moment that shows how these cats actually live. It's the image from this trip I keep coming back to.
Until Next Time, Zambia
Not everything went smoothly. There were some logistical problems, including a seating arrangement that had someone stuck in the same spot in the vehicle every day, and that made things harder. But it is what it is. On safari, as in life, you roll with the punches.
South Luangwa reminded me why I photograph wildlife: you can plan, but the animals decide the story. I left with wild dogs, Scar, hippos and one unforgettable leopard moment.
More images from this trip are in my gallery at patricemillerarts.com.
