To achieve this, we teamed up with the dream duo: Will and Lianne Steenkamp. Imagine relocating to a remote bush camp with two young children, working around the clock, far from home. That’s exactly what they did. Lianne, the cinematographer, and Will, the field producer, immersed themselves in the wild, moving their family to South Luangwa to stay close to Olimba. Their connection with her runs deep – they’ve filmed her for eight years, witnessed every litter, and built a bond rooted in care and respect. Their investment in her story is personal.
Imagine relocating to a remote bush camp with two young children, working around the clock, far from home. That’s exactly what they did.
I was lucky enough to follow the ups and downs of Olimba – and her daughter Mutima – out in the field. The first challenge on any typical leopard day was simply finding them. It always felt like they would only reveal themselves on their own terms; if they chose to vanish into the bush, they could disappear as if by magic. Thankfully, I was working alongside incredible guides who could interpret even the faintest squirrel alarm call and know exactly which direction Olimba had gone. The leopards paid us no attention whatsoever, and I’ll never forget the moment Olimba strolled right past our vehicle, then leapt into a tree directly above us to settle in for a sleep.
Another unforgettable moment came when our vehicle broke down beneath a tree swarming with angry bees. As they began attacking, we had no choice but to flee across the bush, blankets over our heads, hoping not to get too close to a leopard on foot. Thankfully, we made it back to the vehicle, and got it running again quickly!