Following on from last week where we had been spoilt with multiple sightings of the Makhatini Female Cheetah and her three cubs, we enjoy a few more sightings of them in this Virtual Safari where the cubs, who are roughly about seven or eight months old, are learning the finer art of hunting. With the mother having caught several impala lambs recently, she often lets the youngsters chase after them and practice vital skills they will need when they break away from their mother and become independent nomadic sub-adults. This is probably still a while away but it is good that they start practicing.
We then started off one morning drive with the Kambula Pride on the airstrip, but with them just lounging about we didn’t spend too long there before heading on to a rather lazy Ndzhenga Male, so we let him be. En route back to camp after an unsuccessful mission trying to find the two pregnant Kambula Lionesses, we hear over the radio that the Makhatini Family had been found by a few rangers on a bush walk. But this was no ordinary sighting – they had just watched her chase down and catch a fully grown impala ram.
My mind started racing, knowing that the Ntsevu Pride had also been found during the morning not far from the cheetahs. With such a large kill, vultures would undoubtedly descend, hoping for a meal – and all predators know that descending vultures mean food. The Ntsevu Pride would very likely come to investigate, setting up what could be an intense encounter. I wanted to be there to witness what was about to unfold.
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
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Need to ask, where did those on foot go while this action was ensuing? And, I’m assuming this cheetah and three cubs is the same family we saw with Megan and V towards the end of September? It’s so great to see how much they have grown. And, that the three have survived. Thank you for sharing so much of Londolozi with all of us.
As I arrived there I collected them and they were in the vehicle with me throughout the entire sighting. Yes, it is the same cheetah family that you would have seen. They are growing so quickly and the mother has done a great job to get them to this age.
WOW that was incredible. I am beyond thrilled that the cheetah family made it out of that encounter no worse for wear & was so happy to see those Ntsevu cubs as well. We were there at the end of September and were blessed to see the cheetah family as well as the Ntsevu pride. The Ntsevu cubs had very bad mange, so it’s amazing to see them doing so well. I so look forward to these virtual safari’s & the daily updates. Thank you.
Sean, what an amazing video. I really enjoyed seeing the cheetah’s and lions. The pesky vultures do set off the alarm bells in the bush. Thank you for sharing.
Wow what a heartbeat! Lions were visibly interested in the impala ram only, thanks to the cheetah family… what a loss for the mother, as it is difficult ans dangerous to hunt big prey. But it seems that lions don’t worry so much about cheetah as they do with leopards. The way they mean to destroy them makes goosebumps…
Hi Sean, I am very glad that not one of the Cheetah family were killed or injured. They were unlucky to lose their hard earned kill to the lions and cubs. That cub creeping under it’s mother front leg, too cute. Best of all the vultures will not get anything, because they are the whistle blowers on the kill. Fantastic video, thanks Sean.
Sean, just wow! Lions are always great to see but the stars this week are Makhatini and her three growing cubs. However seeing her take down that massive ram and barely pull it into the “safety” of the brush, was bittersweet. It would have been a filling meal for the four of them but nature had other plans, thanks to the Eagle-eyed vultures. I can only hope after recovering from the chase and takedown of the ram and then scurrying away when the lions rushed in, she was able to manage another decent kill. I’m just glad the four of them are okay for now after remembering what happened to Nkoveni’s female cub.
Sean, The lionesses close-ups were great. I just wish the cheetahs had a meal first. They deserved it!
The cheetah family was indeed so lucky to have escaped the lions’ attack. What a pity that they lost their prey in the altercation with those lions.
It is a pity that they lost their meal but at least none of them were caught.