This was taken in 2023 and it is a very rare melanistic leopard we found in northern Kenya. It’s hard enough to find a leopard while out in safari, they are the hardest animal out of the big 5 to spot. Finding a particular individual is even tougher in a 40,000-acre place. Those who have photographed leopards before know, they are shy, and very elusive animals who are usually active during the night. Being able to get close enough to photograph one is quite difficult, not to mention you are fighting the terrain. They are usually found in a tree with lots of branches or walk around in the grass that goes over their heads. They are not a huge cat which makes them even harder to photograph. I knew the odds were stacked against me but I decided to go for it anyway. I heard good reports about this particular leopard Giza which made me think I had a chance. She is 1 of 6 known black leopards in the whole Laikipia region.