Searching for a cheetah at Londolozi is often described as looking for a needle in a haystack. This rare and elusive predator roams the southwestern parts of the reserve, where the open plains offer glimpses of its preferred habitat. For us rangers, the thrill of tracking a cheetah is matched only by the need to manage expectations—after all, the odds of finding one are slim. But as we set off on this particular morning, we were excited about the possibility that we might find one.
Over the past few months, Londolozi has been graced by the presence of a remarkable mother cheetah raising three cubs against incredible odds. Some of my best cheetah sightings ever have occurred in just the past couple of weeks. Life for this cheetah family is filled with danger: from being tormented by other predators and scavengers in the area to having their hard-earned meals stolen almost every time, it’s clear that life for this cheetah family is incredibly challenging. If there’s one animal on the reserve that exemplifies resilience, it’s this mother cheetah. If I were a betting person, I’d wager that they have the hardest life on the entire reserve.
The female cheetah and her three cubs.
The Search and the Stalk
On a recent game drive, our perseverance was rewarded and we shared a once-in-a-lifetime sighting with our guests and this cheetah family. We found the female cheetah crouched low, intently watching a mother wildebeest and her newborn calf, still wobbly on its legs, it must have only been hours old. The scene was intense, with predator and prey separated by just 150 meters.
As she slowly edged closer, she carefully assessed the situation, ensuring she wasn’t putting herself at risk from the potentially dangerous force of the adult wildebeest.
Then, in a flash, she exploded into a sprint.
Watching a cheetah in full stride is an unforgettable sight.
There’s something truly special about watching any predator in hunt mode, as we watched this cheetah sprint across the open plains, I could feel the excitement and awe radiating from everyone on the back of the vehicle.
A Mother’s Triumph
In mere seconds, the chase was over. The mother cheetah had successfully brought down the calf, a feat that required not just speed but strategy and courage. But her work wasn’t done. The commotion had attracted attention, with the alarm calls of the wildebeest herd likely to draw in any unwanted competition. Despite being drained from the sprint, she dragged her kill roughly 200 meters to a safer spot, away from prying eyes and potential threats.
Reuniting With Her Cubs
Once she secured the carcass, the mother cheetah called for her cubs. Standing over her kill, she let out soft, distinct chirps and it was truly an amazing moment to witness. Moments later, the three young cheetahs came running toward the sound of their mother’s calls, bounding toward her with uncontainable excitement.
Watching the cubs reunite with their mother was a moment of pure magic. It’s remarkable how these young cheetahs instinctively understand the importance of allowing their mother to hunt while waiting for her signal that it is safe to join her.
After seeing the three cubs re-join with their mother we decided to leave them be, we didn’t want to draw any more attention to the already sensitive situation. In the end, witnessing this mother cheetah’s determination and the incredible bond she shares with her three cubs is a powerful reminder of the resilience of these wild animals.
Against all odds, she has managed to raise her cubs, protecting them from countless dangers. Her careful hunting strategy, coupled with her cubs’ intelligence and patience, was an experience we will never forget. Watching them navigate the challenges of survival in such a harsh environment only deepens my appreciation for this cheetah family’s journey.
Thank u, for that wonderful footage. Been following the story of this mother. Like the Tsalala female. It’s amazing to see the story develop. Holding thumbs. Would be fantastic if they make it to adulthood.
Hi Dan, happy Christmas time! This tale is magical, although I’m so sorry for the newborn wildebeest and its mum, cheetah do have a very hard life, I even watched jackals pulling their tales… this mum has a titanic work and is a hero of the animal kingdom. The opening picture is so beautiful and heartwarming. I hope that, in spite of so many rich countries looking for cheetah cubs to keep as pets, there will be a stronger protection on this wonderful species, and blogs like this ça only but reinforce the incredible qualities of such special animals that can’t be lost. Thank you so much
Thanks Dan for the three lovely videos show casing the Cheetah mother’s speed and hunting skills. I felt sorry for the mother wildebeest coming to look where her calf is and ran after the cheetahs.
Cheetah’s are one of my favorite species. They are so elegant and fast. Thanks for sharing the hunting video and the cubs.
Such an incredible opportunity to see the fastest land animal in action! So lucky to witness this!
How amazing that sighting was for you and your guests, and you managed to capture some video of her chase and catching this calf. The cheetahs really are at the the bottom of the predator chain and it’s even more difficult to thrive when cubs are involved. I’ve followed her story over the past few months and marvel that she still has three of her cubs whilst other big cats have struggled to raise their litters. Makhatini’s cubs are still quite young and have a ways to go to maturity, but so far they’ve had a great head start to reaching adulthood.
Oh my word Dan, you and your guests really hit the jackpot! I was lucky enough to see this family last month….but to see the mother at full speed in a successful hunt and then calling her cubs….! That’s a sighting worth a thousand Christmas presents.
I really admire cheetah mothers because they have such a hard life caring for their cubs and getting enough food for them. It is certainly the most strenuous life of all the predators because the cubs cannot climb trees for safety and there is no pride or pack to help take care of them. All the responsibility for their well-being lies with their mothers.
I also had the great pleasure to have been able to watch this mother and her three cubs in September and it is so good to hear that all of them are still fine and three months older which is a good step towards more safety.