I haven’t seen many cheetahs in my lifetime.
In fact to count exactly, I have had only five cheetah sightings.
Of these five, two have been recently at Londolozi. Before last year and the commencement of my training as Londolozi guide, the last cheetah I saw was over a decade ago and it was barely a sighting; a distant speck seen through binoculars.
Needless to say, seeing a cheetah eleven years later was an incredible moment that I will admit left me a little speechless. The best part of the sighting was the sheer surprise of it all. We meandered our way towards the more open grasslands in search of a herd of buffalo. We then stopped to look at a pair of harlequin quails that were ambling in the road.
Harlequin Quail. Heard more than seen. Photo courtesy of Tyler Davis
There ahead was a termite mound that from a few hundred metres away looked odd; I felt as if my eyes were deceiving me and there were three funny protrusions from this mound, and suddenly one of them raised its head.
There were three cheetahs scanning their surroundings from the vantage point of a termite mound.
And so, with a rather enthusiastic voice I turned to my two guests (who were in the first row) and exclaimed, rather loudly, “Cheetah! Cheetah! Cheetah!!’ and brought the vehicle to an abrupt halt, at least 400 metres away from the three big cats.
It might seem unauthentic, but I just felt so present at the sight of these three animals which I had seen so few of in my life. And I promised myself I would remember that moment some 400 metres away in which I got a glimpse of what it would be like as a first-timer or someone who has travelled many hundreds of kilometres to see an animal like this.
When you work at a place like this you regularly find incredible sightings,simply due to the amount of time you spend in the bush.
However, you sometimes forget the raw feeling of it all.
I’m not sure if it is because you become somewhat focused on a set plan to try and track and find certain animals that you almost anticipate the sighting itself or that you’re constantly thinking ahead of where you should drive to try predict the animals movements. Maybe it is that you become almost desensitised over time to the different sightings you have witnessed. Regardless, if you stop and pause for a moment, no matter the sighting, that pull that keeps you coming back to the bush or in our case keeps us wanting to head out each and every day.
Oprah Winfrey once said that “one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is time.”
The three cheetahs we saw were the same mother and cubs that have been viewed on Londolozi since early last year.
Every so often, you then get that one sighting that isn’t what you expected and that feeling lasts a few more seconds and you know that this is why you are here. A fellow ranger said to me once, ‘The bush will always heal you’ and I think he is right, but more so it will allow you to pause and almost freeze the moment to appreciate life and the importance of being present.
Seeing those three cheetahs reaffirmed the reason I am here and more importantly that there really is not any other place I would rather be.
Always to see a cheetah as they are so endangered. Great sighting of a harlequin qail.
Kirst, I loved the cheetas🤗
We were fortunate on our first day to have followed a cheetah tracking an impala and taking it down 2o meters from the vehicle. It’s hard to describe the excitement. The cheetah reached top speed so quickly. After the takedown, the mother cheetah alerted her 2 cubs who completed the kill. Cheetahs are remarkably athletic and graceful in contrast with leopards which exude power and strength.
When I am existing I am living in the bush.
For all of our love of leopards…..cheetahs are really magnificent to see in the wild…..and especially if you are lucky enough to see a full hunt!
How fortunate you and your guests were to see these 3 magnificent cats. I’m a believer of the plan to set off each drive with moderate expectations and then just sit back and enjoy the surprises that may be in store! That being said, it doesn’t hurt to find cheetahs, leopards and/or lions along the way……
it is always such attest to see one cheetah let alone 5!!!! WOW!!I envy you!!! Victoria
It’s great that you can watch cheetahs in Londolozi now. Great photos.
You are indeed privileged to be in the presence of three such special creatures!
Kirst I hear you.. I grew up in White River and frequented the Kruger national park on a regular basis with my father. We never saw cheetah. On my last trip into the park, when my father was extremely unwell, I left him to rest at the camp and went out for a late afternoon drive. l came across 3 young cheetah investigating a fallen tree right next to the road. I must have spent 40 minutes enjoying them all to myself before a car appeared …..they couldn’t have been more than 3m from me all this time!! I will never ever forget this incredible moment.. as there was a double
meaning to this sighting. You will no doubt remember this occasion as one experiences a safari for the first time ! 💖🙏
Incredible Kirst!….what a thrill!…three cheetahs !…last year’s cubs have survived…..how wonderful…and what a privilege…. Thanks for this brilliant sighting… So glad they’re doing well….are they all males I assume?….
@Pauli Bakker, Hi Pauli, yes the two cubs were 2 young males with their mother
Lovely post Kirst, and an terrific reminder to be present and allow life to surprise and delight! Also, Cheetahs are my favorites!!
There are more Cheetahs have been seen in KNP area since last year, sadly none of them has name…
A lovely sighting , if you go to differing parts of the reserve you always run the chance of the unexpected . Any guest who gets to see both cheetahs and leopards …
Of course to see cheetahs, leopards and a serval…
Kirst it was a beautiful sighting. I also have not seen cheetahs many times in my life. I would have been so excited to see them right before my eyes, even more so as they were mother and 2 cubs. The little quail is to gorgeous.
Kirst, thanks for the great story and reminder of appreciating all the special moments we experience at Londolozi!
That sounds like an incredible moment!!
It’s wonderful when you’ve experienced a lifetime memory….and know it.
Hi Kirst….thanks for replying to my enquiry about the sex of the two cheetah siblings!….much appreciated….hopefully they’ll keep safe ….. that bond will keep them in good stead for the rest of their lives!…… they’re such a special big cat …life is not easy for them…..
You concluding comments have brought back the sense of loss I felt when I left Africa for the UK. I know exactly what you mean. Hold onto it while you can.
How perfect! I still get so excited when I see animals in the wild even here at home – I hope to never lose that!