Where the light falls – Royal Malewane’s Resident Photographer

Meet Lourenço Afonso

Royal Malewane’s resident photographer, Lourenço, believes that sharing his love of wildlife through evocative images helps people find their way back to the enchantment of being close to nature.

While it’s still dark and the nocturnal creatures are wrapping up their night shift, Lourenço sits in the dewy stillness waiting for the sun to appear, camera poised and ready.

“Sunrise is the best time of day, because the light is so soft and warm, it creates a golden glow, and everything looks magical. Sunset is also beautiful, but I find sunrise to be a little bit more special because it’s the start of the day and everything’s waking up and there’s a new energy in the air.”

It’s not every day he gets that winning shot; the aim is to keep showing up, and each moment is an opportunity to grow his ever-increasing body of extraordinary wildlife images and videos.

Taking the Leap

Life in the bush is a far cry from leafy suburban Johannesburg where he grew up. After high school, Lourenço wasn’t sure what he wanted to do career-wise, but he knew he was drawn to working in nature.

Signing up for the two-year guiding apprenticeship programme at Royal Malewane ended up being one of the best decisions he ever made.
Living in a tent for two years was the adventure he didn’t know he needed. Entirely out of his comfort zone, Lourenço decided to make the most of it, absorbing as much information as he could from the rangers and trackers around him.

He says being mentored by “the old guard” at Royal Malewane has been one of his life’s great privileges. “The guides are doing all the interpreting, but the trackers have this understanding and connection with wildlife; they just know where things are and have that sense of intuition, a sixth sense of where things are. Mumps Mathonsi, Patrick Moyane, Bennett Nyathi, there are so many of them, they have this almost understated knowledge.”

A New World Opens Up

Sharing the wonders of being out with guests in the bush led to the next chapter of his career – when a guest gifted him a camera, the future began to unfold.

Fast-forward a few years, after a stint at a studio in Cape Town and spending time in the Sabi Sand, the resident photographer position opened up for him at Royal Malewane, and it felt like all the different aspects of his career path had come full circle.

Creating a Unique Visual Language

No day is the same at Royal Malewane; it all depends on the content needed – he might shoot interiors (there are thre lodges, three villas and a lodge under canvas), or portraits of staff, a video interview with a field guide, or a food shot that demands a gorgeous setting and lots of collaboration with the resident chefs.

Whatever the brief, Lourenço is on call and loves the variety his work brings, although he admits his first love will always be photographing wildlife, leaning on the skills he learnt as a field guide.

When it comes to his favourite animal to photograph, he doesn’t hesitate.
“Leopards. They’re elusive, which makes seeing them that much more special. They have this quiet elegance and they’re just unbelievably beautiful.”

Elephants are another favourite. “They’re so intelligent, but powerful,” says Lourenço. “ I feel like when you photograph them, you can convey their wisdom and see their character in their faces and through their body language. I could shoot elephants 24/7 and be happy!”

He also loves birdlife and can spend hours waiting for that detailed capture of a collared sunbird, a kingfisher, African darters across the water, or a regal Spotted eagle owl roosting up a tree at dusk.

“I enjoy photographing birds because there is so much detail to capture,” he says, “and with over 300 species at Royal Malewane each occupying a different niche, there are such diverse behaviours and characteristics to capture.”

He has many go-to spots on the reserve, including the hide not far from Malewane Lodge, but says the ideal location is an open section of the reserve where he has bagged some of his best images.

“The reserve features an expanse of land with almost only acacia trees. At sunset, it’s incredible, because you get every last ray of light, it’s open and elevated, the acacias catch the light beautifully, and there are almost always animals there.”

Beauty Awakens Appreciation

The most valuable advice he can give to young, upcoming photographers is: “Shoot what you enjoy, and don’t let anything else influence you and don’t worry about likes or follows.”

While he is no longer a guide, Lourenço loves to head out into the bush with trackers like Jonas Mhula and continue a lifelong journey of learning. He has a great passion for conservation and feels he can make a difference by telling stories through images and videos.

“The medium has a power words often can’t reach. You can explain an idea endlessly, but the instant someone witnesses something beautiful, something that moves them, their whole perspective changes. Beauty awakens appreciation. Whether it’s a small frog or a lion or a leopard, that moment of connection invites respect for the wild world. And that’s why I love what I do.”