Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Twice The Love

One early morning in the Serengeti National Park, I was lucky to encounter a mother leopard and her cubs. She kept them hidden until she felt it was safe to call them out. When she did, I was so excited to see not one but two cubs run out from hiding to play. After several minutes of play, they decided to recharge with a warm drink and nap. It’s still one of the best wildlife sightings of my career.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2024
Photo Location: Arusha, Tanzania
Copyright: © Derek Nielsen