In the African bush, a successful hunt does not guarantee a meal and few predators know this better than a cheetah. One morning we were incredibly fortunate to watch a male cheetah who patrols Londolozi’s western boundary execute a near-perfect hunt.
My guests and I arrived at the sighting just before the action unfolded. Using a dense stretch of Bush Willows as cover, the cheetah edged forward with remarkable precision. The early morning light illuminated the grass around him while a small group of impalas grazed nearby, unaware that they were being watched by the fastest predator on the planet…
The final glimpse we had of the cheetah before he lay low in the tall grass and waited for his chance to strike.
When he launched, the stillness broke and the acceleration was extraordinary. A rapid unfolding of speed and power that lasted only seconds. The cheetah chased a young impala from the herd through the clearing before ending in a clean takedown. When we moved closer, the young impala was still kicking in his jaws, drawing its final breath.
The final moments of this young Impala’s life.
This moment we were witnessing was raw, emotional and completely unfiltered.
My guests sat wide-eyed, somewhere between shock and awe. I felt it too. My second cheetah hunt in a month, something I know not to take for granted.
We watched, awestruck, as the cheetah picked up the Impala kill and carried it past Taylor Brown’s Landrover.
But for a cheetah, the effort of the hunt is immense. Unlike lions or leopards, cheetahs rely on explosive speed rather than stealth and strength. That burst of acceleration comes at a high energetic cost. After the kill, he lay draped across the impala, chest heaving, completely exhausted. In these moments of recovery, cheetahs are at their most vulnerable.
Always waiting in the wings are the very opportunistic nocturnal Hyenas. Even after the sunrise, hyenas can be seen wandering around looking for anything to scavenge.
And vulnerability rarely goes unnoticed in the wild. A single hyena initially passed by, seemingly unaware of what had just transpired. We felt a quiet optimism that the cheetah might get away with it and feed undisturbed.
But as soon as the cheetah began to open the carcass, the sound of tearing skin, a change in posture was enough to draw attention, and within minutes, members of the clan approached with purpose.
The cheetah bravely tried to stand its ground
And managed to deliver a couple of swats to the face of the hyena.
Cheetahs are lightly built predators and are not well-conditioned for confrontation. Against a couple of hyenas, which are heavier and built for endurance and have bone-crushing power, there was no dramatic standoff.
The hyenas simply claimed the carcass, and the cheetah stepped back.
But in the end, he was no match for the bigger and stronger hyena
It is easy to feel sympathy in moments like these. The cheetah showed great patience in the stalk, a high level of precision in the chase and the efficiency of the kill. Yet in the wild, success is not measured by the hunt alone.
Competition between predators is a defining feature of life in the Sabi Sands. Kleptoparasitism, the theft of food from one species by another, is common, particularly when energetic costs are high and opportunities scarce. For cheetahs, especially, losing a kill is part of their everyday challenge. It is one of the many pressures that shape their behaviour, from hunting in cooler hours to avoiding areas heavily used by lion and hyena, and sadly putting pressure on their existence altogether in this ecosystem.
The rest of the clan managed to swarm in and grab their share of the carcass.
Often showing immense aggression towards each other to get a small piece of meat.
This sighting was a powerful reminder to all of us on the vehicle that in the wild, you will never know what will happen next. We witnessed the full story of a cheetah hunt: the strategy, the speed, the success, and the loss. All in the space of 20 minutes, and in many ways, that completeness is what makes these sightings so meaningful and memorable.
I always for the cheetah in some ways they are the under dog when competing against hyena lion and leopard they’re an incredible animal and I am glad there are places who are taking cheetah into protection with their own kind to keep these incredible cats a chance to continue
Nick, seems like you and Joy are always in the right place at the right time! Great reminder of the real challenges that the Cheetah’s face daily. Sad that we will not be making a trip to Londoz this year, but will get back as soon as we can!
The life of cheetah is certainly very difficult.Like in this case. It must be so frustrating to lose a hard earned meal to such opportunists as hyenas, who are just stronger.
Watching the strategies predators use to catch their prey is the most exciting and interesting part of a hunt. When the hunt is successful, one is always torn between admiration for the hunter and pity for the prey. Everyone wants to live, even hyenas, though they are probably the ones who people pity the least.
Hi, cheetahs actually have a great success as hunters, 60% of positive chances, the problem is that they got easily robbed by other opportunistic predators… I was in awe at the courage he showed in front of hyenas! Very brave! I remember the Fast Five coalition, they were extremely successful hunters and not so easy to get stolen… lovely images, what a majestic male!
Truly breathtaking to have seen it all! Lucky guests!
Hi Nick, I always feel so sorry for Cheetah or Leopards loosing their hard earned kill to a scavenger like the hyenas. Everytime I see a hyena my thoughts go immediately to the Cheetah and Leopards. I am sure it was a thrilling experience to see the Cheetah kill an antelope right in fright of you, just to loose it to the scavengers. Shame I felt sorry for him.
Terrific blog and photos Nick highlighting the anatomy of a cheetah kill, as well as the loss to the always lurking hyenas. Hopefully this cheetah was successful later on and was able to enjoy his well-deserved meal in peace.