The Big Five of Africa: Lions, Leopards, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Cape Buffalo portrays incredible animals in their natural habitat and gives another peak into my journey across all seven continents. These amazing animals have stood the test of time despite man’s influence they fight for their very existence every day and offer a unique peak into times past. They are called the Big 5 because they are not only among the most poached animals, most difficult to hunt on foot but are also the most dangerous. For me however, they are also some of the most beautiful animals in the world. I also portray one more animal that I believe no Africa trip should be without, the Cheetah. Fast, beautiful, and simply stunning, I simply could not leave out this amazing animal in this photographic journey of Africa. Finally, I end with my climb up to the highest peak of Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro. Some 19,367 feet from sea level and over 35 miles of climbing to reach the peak, I share just a glimpse of this amazing journey to the top of the world. Quoting, Barry Finley, Kilimanjaro and Beyond, “Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.”

This book is the third in a series of some of my favorite photographs of the amazing scenery and wildlife the world has to offer. In prior books The Arctic: A Photographic Journey and Antarctica: A Photographic Journey, I portrayed places that few humans have had or will have the opportunity to visit in person.

All net proceeds from all my books are donated to the Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital, Integrative Brain Research Institute in Seattle, Washington, in honor of our son Aaron Matthew who died of SIDS in October of 2003.