Cheetahs are always a treat to find on Londolozi and recently we were fortunate enough to watch a mother and her sub-adult offspring. These youngsters are nearly fully grown and should become independent in the near future. They have been hanging around and moving throughout the reserve for a few days and have made for some incredibly exciting viewing, as my guests and I were to witness firsthand.
“Stations, we have found the three cheetahs” crackled Chris Taylor‘s voice through the radio.
We knew they’d been in the area that morning and the three of us, Nick Sims being the third, had decided that we’d try and find them that afternoon. Excitement flooded through when I heard this news come through the radio and I turned to my guests to let them know. Their faces split into a pair of matching grins at the prospect of seeing a cheetah.
We were not far and soon we’d see the other two vehicles trailing the cheetah through an open clearing; the mother taking the lead, leaping gracefully onto a broken Marula in order to scan the surrounds. With nothing in sight, she hopped back down and moved on. Her offspring followed suit, mirroring her behaviour, always learning.
A youngster gains some height to scan the surroundings.
All of a sudden her behaviour changed. She sunk down, her head lowered parallel to her body, her tail twitched, her eyes intently locked on a herd of impala still some distance away. Her offspring followed her lead, mimicking her behaviour almost exactly as I imagine they’d been trained to do over the course of the last two years. Immediately the three Land Rovers turned off their engines, except for Nick who was in the impossibly quiet prototype Electric Land Rover at this point.
We waited with bated breath, barely breathing as we watched the youngsters stalk forward as the mother disappeared somewhere to our left. Painfully slowly the pair crept forward, edging through a slight gap in a small thicket. And there they waited, easing themselves into a seated posture, but with heads still cocked low and eyes boring a hole in the impala herd up ahead.
The cheetah took off after the impala even though the impala had spotted them just before. It was very impressive to see the gap that they closed between them and the herd. It happened all in a blur.
A bark of an impala sent the herd scattering in all directions. The young males shot off like arrows from a string, while three Land Rovers in sluggish tow tried to keep up. The mother leaped into the chaos; she missed her first target and then changed direction. Her heavy tail counter-balanced her through her hairpin turn, and amidst a kaleidoscope of heaving, tawny bodies, we saw her latching onto an impala yearling. The two tumbled out of sight behind a small thicket.
The mother’s chest heaves with exertion as she releases her kill.
The two young males have been unsuccessful in their respective attempts, leaving them standing in the middle of the clearing. With heads whipping from side to side, they were searching for their mother or perhaps scanning for any straggling impala or any danger which may have been attracted by the ruckus.
Creeping around the edge of the thicket she disappeared behind, we saw her, jaws clamped around the throat of a young impala, success. The mother stood up to have a brief scan around before dragging the carcass out into the open where she will have a line of sight in all directions. Life at the bottom of the predator hierarchy necessitates the need to keep an eye out for any incoming opportunists, most likely lion or hyena in this instance.
The mother drags the carcass into a clearing where she has a better view of the surroundings and any incoming would-be thieves.
The cubs spotted her as she lifted the prey and came skulking in to feed, ensuring they got much in as they could before potentially being chased off by a more dominant predator forcing them to forfeit their catch.
Chris Taylor and guests enjoy a front-row seat to one of nature’s most spectacular events.
A young male snaps his head up in the direction of the impala alarming in the distance.
As the sun began to set on the scene we took this opportunity to go and have an evening drink and ride the adrenaline-high of baring witness to one of Africa’s most spectacular predators in full flight.
Thanks Kyle, every time I read about cheetahs it’s a real treat. This mother had her reward and raised her cubs successfully. Do you think they will stay on Londolozi? Maybe a coalition?
Ballbert, lions 🤗
“Mama Cheetah” is a Big kitty! 🙂 She seems to be very comfortable and “proud” of her presence. – As are her children, They happy and look well fed! 🙂
You had front row seats with this Cheetah mom and her two sub adults. I am sure everybody who was there enjoyed the adrenaline rush when Cheetah mom caught the impala. She certainly did well and hopefully soon the two adults will be going there own way and supporting themselves. Always a good sight to see the Cheetahs, such beautiful cats. Thanks Kyle.
Having had a similar experience, I can still hear the pounding of the cheetah’s paws as the gap narrowed-amazing speed with such a quick initial burst. Her chest was heaving for several minutes after the takedown.
We have seen a few similar family constellations, but have never seen a male adult.
Oh great! Every day there is some amazing spectacle happening at Londolozi. What a successful cheetah mother who has raised her cubs to adulthood against all the odds. Just fantastic! Congratulation, Chris, on your front-row seat of this event.
What a wonderful day for your guests and yourselves 🙏🏻💗 hopefully they will continue to stick around in your area..at least till we get a chance to come and enjoy them for real. Just fabulous Thanks Kyle ‼️
Cheetah hunts are magnificent things to witness in the African bush!
What a treat you had with this sighting. Let’s hope that when these cheetah brothers form their own coalition, they hang around the Londolozi area. They are such beautiful animals.
Kyle, wonderful story and pictures of the cheetahs, thanks.
Nothing quite like a cheetah in full throttle pursuit!!!
Fantastic-another amazing sighting! Viewing cheetahs is such a gift but to watch them ready themselves for the hunt, bolt like an Olympic sprinter and ultimately take down their prey is thrilling beyond words. The sons of this mother cheetah are as large as her now, and whilst she captured a meal for them to devour, soon they’ll have to succeed in order to survive. When do you think she’ll push them away?
A real privilege for the guests
Lucky, lucky guests.
Hi there Kyle. A very interesting article and some excellent shots to go with it. Thank you so much. Wendy M
Kyle what an exciting experience for you and all of the guests! Hoping those cheetahs stay in the neighborhood!