Safari Saga – A Book with Birds and Mammals

Recently a book has been produced and shared by Mayas from Grade 12, giving readers details on his experiences in the wild. The book offers both images and text, and covers a variety of birds and mammals which Mayas has seen and photographed over the course of more than half a decade. The book also highlights and encourages conservation efforts in a subsection. We reached out to Mayas to learn more about his interest and passion which led him to producing the book.  

I have tried to weave a narrative using a collection of some of my best photographs, and I have also attempted to display my progression not only as an artist but also a learner’ – Mayas, Grade 12 

As a young photographer and wildlife enthusiast, Mayas decided to document his journey and publish it as a coffee table book, with the aim of reaching out to a wider audience and hopefully strike a chord with them. “While writing this book, I mainly kept my younger peers in mind, since I hope that they realise the importance of nature and learn to appreciate it through the book”, says Mayas, who came to believe that the book actually could be directed at anyone who would be passionate about art and nature. 

Although Mayas is planning to pursue Mechanical Engineering in his upcoming college future, he wishes to continue his passion for animals and photography. “I hope to receive the opportunity to travel and document some of my wish-list species like jaguars in the Pantanal or the hyacinth macaws of Brazil”, says Mayas, who intends to release a follow-up book aiming to be an update and develop the existing version.  

The book will become available for purchase after the IB final examinations. In the meantime, a copy of the book is available in the Senior School library.