Both the similarities between the wildebeest and tree, and their differences, draw your eye into the picture. For me, it could be cropped from the left so, as nan says, it's not too centered, and also as she points out, lightening the midtones so the contrast is more stark would make it "pop" more.
But, I agree RP, there is a simple beauty to the photo.
If RP likes it so much, it might just be a personal preference as happens to all of us and has nothing to do with "cuts" here and there or more or less light.
