Lesley Rochat

Swimming with humpback whales is a humbling experience, one filled with both excitement and awe. At 18m (60feet) one is truly in the presence of a gentle giant.

It’s these times that I love freediving photography the most - shooting them on one breath allows for minimal disturbance, more intimate encounters, and a deeper feeling of connection with the natural world.

I’m incredibly privileged to have led expeditions where we spent many hours with them. These two photos are some of my favourite.

Conservationists fought hard to save these magnificent animals from commercial whaling but they still face threats from entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, noise pollution, and climate change.

Follow along for my upcoming expeditions - both land and sea - where conservation, respect for wildlife, guest safety, and meaningful encounters, is our focus.

Sharks may be the stars of the show…
But the reefs hold just as much magic in the Bahamas.

For 7–9 glorious days at sea aboard the Dolphin Dream, shark photography is our focus, yet I always love turning my lens toward the rays, reef fish and vibrant marine life found on the reefs and nearby wreck we sometimes explore.

Join me in November when I return and tick off this bucket list experience. Follow the link to book, limited spots left.

This has to be one of my most favourite big cat captures.

People often associate lions with dominance, violence, and survival, but over the years I’ve come to understand that the true strength of a pride begins with the bond between a lioness and her cubs. Moments like these reveal a far softer and deeply connected side to these iconic animals.

I’ll be returning to lead another small group photographic safari to one of my favourite wilderness areas in Africa. If seeing and photographing the Big 5 is on your list, this region has consistently delivered extraordinary sightings for every group I’ve hosted here.

Send me a message if you’d like more information.

Shot with Sony Alpha 1 II / My settings: Sony 200-600mm / f6.3/ 1/1000 / ISO 1600

There’s a certain intensity that exists only when a lioness locks eyes with you.

Her fixed gaze was both unnerving and awe-inspiring, a quiet reminder that I was in the presence of something truly majestic, powerful and wild.

On my recent photo safari we saw lions every day in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem, one of Africa’s last great connected wilderness areas, where lions still roam freely across vast territories.

I’ll be returning with a small photographic safari group to capture special moments like these again.

Sony Alpha1 II / Sony 200-600mm / f6.3 / 1/1250 / ISO 2000

A Spanish dancer in flight:
One of my favourite birds to photograph in the Timbavati is the lilac-breasted roller. The extraordinary colours and movement unfolding in this shot reminds me of a Spanish dancer.

While still relatively widespread, they are vulnerable to habitat loss and changes to natural woodland ecosystems across parts of Africa.

Shot with a Sony A1 II/Sony 200-600mm/f6.3/ 1/5000/ISO 1250