Photographed low through the grass in the eastern Serengeti, this portrait captures Rolo—one of a coalition of three males who overthrew the long-dominant lion known as Bob Junior in early 2024. Their takeover marked a significant shift in the region’s lion dynamics, a rare and defining moment in the Serengeti's ongoing story of power and succession.

Moments earlier, he had been stationed high on the kopjes—natural stone outcrops that offer commanding views of the plains—before stepping down and walking directly toward us. This approach, steady and unflinching, reflects a lion no longer vying for dominance, but fully in command of it. When you hear the story behind Rolo and the 'Golden Boys', you can't help but root for them given the harshness of the environment at times and the constant battle to maintain territory and dominance.