For his Safari USA 2002, Simon traveled across the country working on this breathtaking canvas. His subject is a waterhole in the Aberdare Mountains Conservation Area, near his home in Kenya. Covering nearly 500 square miles, with an elevation up to 14,000 feet, the Aberdares are the largest mountain range in Africa, and are home to many rare species of animals and birds. One in three Kenyan’s livelihood is dependent upon the rainfall, rivers, forest and wildlife of the Aberdares.

“This waterhole in the painting actually exists,” Simon says. “It is unusual to see so many different species of animal visiting a waterhole at the same time, but during my research there, I found tracks in the mud of all of them.” In an effort to protect these animals from extinction, organizations (including Rhino Ark) have been founded to build a fence to protect these species.