The Great Horn of Solio, 2022 (M), 2022

James Lewin  

"It's difficult to describe how I felt lying flat on the ground with a two-tonne rhino only a few feet in front of me. It was, without a doubt, one of my most treasured memories and one I will never forget. It was an absolute privilege to be within arm's reach of such an iconic and endangered species. During my trip, I lay on the ground in front of several carefully selected rhinos and remember feeling a little unnerved at first as these colossal mammals approached me, not knowing that I was there. But I soon began to realise how kind-natured and peaceful these prehistoric-looking giants are if unprovoked.

To capture the shot, I remained utterly motionless inside a small hole, waiting for the rhino to approach within reach of my wide-angle lens. Rhinos have famously lousy eyesight and positioning myself downwind, the rhino had no idea I was there. It is a remarkable feeling to be immersed in their surroundings and be part of their world without forced interaction.

It took several months of planning to get in the position to take this photograph, and I owe huge thanks to my unbelievably talented guide Ole, and the dedicated team at Solio Conservancy, who protect their resident population of Black and White rhinos. Solio is a stronghold for rhinos in Kenya and has been a vital player in translocating rhinos to other regions where the species had become locally extinct.
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