Pensive

In the highlands of Ethiopia, where sheer cliffs drop into endless valleys, the gelada monkey emerges at dawn. Unlike any other primate, these grass-eating, red-chested monkeys descend from their rocky refuge each day to feed, groom, and socialize, creating one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on Earth. This portrait captures the soulful gaze of a gelada, its thick golden mane flowing like a lion’s, framing a face filled with intelligence and curiosity. Unlike many primates, geladas are remarkably tolerant of human presence—walking among them feels like stepping into another world, where time slows, and nature moves at its own rhythm. Despite their calm demeanor, geladas remain wild at heart, bound to the rhythm of the mountains. They are a species apart, the last of their kind, thriving only in Ethiopia’s high-altitude plateaus. To stand among them—keeping a respectful distance, yet feeling fully accepted into their world—is an experience unlike any other