PURE LEOPARD MAGIC WITH MARTIN MEYER
We are delighted to feature a stunning wild leopard fine art photograph by Martin Meyer, titled “A Feeling Like No Other” at our upcoming 2025 Annual Gala live auction. Learn more about Martin and his passion for conservation and Wild Tomorrow’s work, plus the story behind this stunning leopard, in our Q&A interview below.
Framed 46 × 30” Fine art wild leopard print, titled, “A feeling like no other” by Martin Meyer.
Martin Meyer is a wildlife photographer based in Johannesburg, South Africa who we are proud to call a photographic ambassador for Wild Tomorrow.
Martins' passion for wildlife started as a young child visiting Pilanesberg National Park, not far from his hometown. To fully document how experiencing a moment in nature felt to him, he started enhancing his images to “convey what he felt as well as what he found”. One of his incredible pieces, which you may recognize (above), is the stunning leopard photograph that is our 2025 Annual Gala’s feature image this year, adorning all of our event invitations and marketing. His work has featured in four of our past Gala auctions, raising an amazing $66,000 (~1.2 million Rand) to date for our mission, protecting wildlife and wild places. We can’t wait to add to this total this year!
Read more about Martin’s love for wildlife, photography and magical moments in our Q&A interview below!
Q&A with Martin Meyer
We absolutely adore your photograph of the leopard in the tree; if you can put it into words, how did you feel in this moment? And what do you know about the individual leopard?
That moment, “A feeling like no other” with Cara, a well-known leopardess from Sabi Sands, felt suspended in time. She carries a rare mix of composure and intensity that defines a mature leopardess.
Giraffe calf at Wild Tomorrow’s Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve, photographed by Martin Meyer
As I approached, seeing her from a distance, she was draped in that tree like only a leopard can, almost becoming part of the tree and invisible to the naked eye. Yet once you know where to look it’s impossible to hide her immense beauty, framed in the amber glow of late afternoon and setting sun, the bush fell silent. It wasn’t just a photographic moment; it was an emotional one — a quiet connection between observer and subject. These are the magical and mostly fleeting moments I chase on the countless hours I get to drive and spend in the bush. That afternoon was different, and she allowed us to see and spend time with her. It was pure leopard magic.
Capturing her there felt like documenting a chapter in a much larger legacy, the ongoing story of survival and beauty.
How has your photography helped support the conservation of wildlife in southern Africa?
My photography is built on the belief that storytelling inspires stewardship. I truly believe a person needs to fall in love first before they can care and play a little role in making a difference.
Through collaborations with organizations like Wild tomorrow I’ve used my moments of magic I get to share to raise awareness and funding for land restoration, anti-poaching initiatives, and wildlife corridor protection.
Each image shared or sold becomes part of a larger movement — reminding people that wild spaces aren’t just scenic; they’re sacred. My goal is to bridge emotion and action: to let viewers feel first and then care enough to protect.
Do you have a favorite photograph you have taken at Wild Tomorrow’s reserve?
“Victoria” the first giraffe born on The Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve, photographed by Martin Meyer
Yes —”the Assignment” image - a lone giraffe portrait of the first baby giraffe born on Wild Tomorrow’s Ukuwela reserve, was the start of a mission and moment I will cherish forever; when Wild Tomorrow trusted and backed me to save a moment, which was the start of the next chapter in Wild Tomorrow.
It’s a quiet frame, but it holds everything I love about Wild Tomorrow’s mission: hope, restoration, and a dream bigger than any one individual. The image isn’t about grandeur — it’s about stillness and reflection of what a wild future could look like
For me, that photograph is a visual metaphor for what’s possible when conservation works.
What do you connect to most strongly with Wild Tomorrow’s work?
What resonates most is their holistic vision. Wild Tomorrow isn’t just protecting species — they’re rebuilding ecosystems, reconnecting fragmented habitats, and empowering local communities to become part of the solution and saving habitat which could have forever been lost if they didn't have this ever-growing big hairy audacious goal.
“Habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to our natural world and Wild Tomorrow fund’s vision is to not only save animals but also save habitat by creating safe corridors for animals to travel, thus connecting staggered conservation areas back together and reducing the threat of localized extinction as result.”
Can you tell us about any other wildlife or conservation organizations you’ve been involved with?
'“Just a Flash of a Tail” by Martin Meyer
I've done awesome and fun stuff with Joe Peterson and his Nkombe Prints for Wildlife campaign, also African Parks and Rhino911. I have also donated to African Wildlife Vets, SANParks honorary rangers (specifically the K9 Project Watchdog). I also had the opportunity to help an injured rhino, Luke at Mankwe Reserve, who had his gunshot wound treated thanks to Wild Tomorrow. I have also donated images for a coffee table book benefiting Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust, called Saving Africa's Wildlife.
For other wildlife campaigns, I’ve donated four images in the past, and which all sold out for 100 dollars per photo and only 50 of each so that tally alone was $20,000 raised for wildlife conservation.
We are incredibly grateful for Martins' support and commitment to Wild Tomorrow and to wildlife conservation across southern Africa. 20% of every Martin Meyer print sold is donated back to wildlife conservation efforts. Check out more of this work on his website and follow him on Instagram!
Martin’s fine art photography, including wildlife from our Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve, has featured in four prior Gala’s live auctions, raising an amazing $66,000 (~1.2 million Rand) so far for our mission, protecting wildlife and wild places. We can’t wait to add to this total this year!
Martin’s work on stage at our 2023 Annual Gala, as part of our live auction! Photograph by Charles Chessler our NYC-based photographic Ambassador.
“Thank you Martin for using your talents to help save wildlife and wild places”, says Wild Tomorrow’s co-founder Wendy Hapgood. “Your work is magical, moving hearts to help wildlife. It is only by moving people to care that we will be able to save and restore our planet’s wild places. Your photographs are visually poetic, bringing the magic of South Africa’s wildest places to New York City, connecting us to nature as you see and feel in your heart, while creating tangible impact thanks to the funds these pieces have raised”.
Our Gala guests will have the opportunity to take his gorgeous 46 x 30” fine art photograph, “A feeling like no other” home, by bidding on it during our exciting live auction at our Annual Gala on Friday the 14th of November. If you are unable to attend but would like to place a bid remotely, please contact us at contact@wildtomorrow.org.
Learn more about our Gala, and purchase your tickets to be a part of our magical evening, dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places.
You can follow Martin’s work on instagram @martinmeyer_wild and see more of his work on his website www.martinmeyerwild.com.