When I am surrounded by nature I feel at home. The sweet smell of the fresh morning breeze brushed through my hair. The pleasant aroma of the natural environment, the warm sun warming my skin and closing my eyes as I listen to the water trickling gently as it meanders down the valley, creating a snake-like stream. Therefore, I go out every time to reconnect. On my journeys, I have discovered many things and have seen some incredible sights of the wild. This is one of my favourite memories. It was the day that inspired me to study and understand more of the secret lives of birds of prey. I had a magnificent experience with the ruler of the African sky!

When I recall the memory, I’m sitting next to a tree at a vantage point which creates exceptional views of the surrounding area. Using my binoculars, I scan through to see what captures my attention. It’s always good fun to find something like a mongoose scavenging around and watching their interaction within the family. Listening as birds call around, I close my eyes while enjoying the little shade that the tree provides. My ears and attention are immediately fixed on a very strange sound coming in very suddenly from my right side. With my experience, I have learned not to move at all and to keep still. It was quite loud and sounded like a small plane that was about to land. I saw a dark shadow coming over me which made my heart give an extra beat as it gave me a fright.

Sharpened and curved talons grasp the branch on which he sits. I can’t help but think of him as an aerial assassin. My eyes are drawn upward, and I marvel at the width of an exceptionally large, dappled chest. Submissively, I slowly allow my eyes to wander in the hope of meeting its gaze. Momentarily deep pools of golden honey stare beyond me as it scans the open landscape. I take a moment to appreciate the tools which this bird is equipped with. A razor-sharp beak measuring just short of 2 inches glistens in the dappled light. The reason why it is perched on the tree is that it is searching for prey. Having exceptional binocular vision, it can spot prey over 6 km away. They are powerful, diverse, and agile flyers. These aerial assassins are known to be ruthless killers; hunting by launching their attack on their prey with their weight of 3 to 4.7 kg and talons they can kill their victim just on impact. Usually hunting on the wing but will sit and wait at waterholes for eagles and other prey to come and drink. Their main diet consists of hares, small antelope, jackal, mongooses, young baboons, gamebirds like Guinea fowl and reptiles like monitor lizards.

I realise how special this is because these birds are known for being elusive and shy. When they take to the sky, they soar so high they can’t be seen with the naked eye. For a moment I was inside the life of a Martial Eagle, having the same view and feeling the breeze coming through as I watched the crest of the eagle blow up. After a few minutes, which felt like hours, it jumped off to my left beating its wings with a couple of strokes and stretching out its mighty flight tools which span over 2 meters. It soars off so effortlessly at about a knee's length above the ground while keeping an eye out for any danger.

Finally, I could breathe again! These moments may only happen once in your life, and I cherish this memory as these birds are symbols of freedom and I shared that space for a couple of minutes.