Family of Four
We found this mother and three cheetah cubs at 7.00 am on our first morning and stayed with them for the next eight hours through some bungled hunts for Thomson's gazelles. The cubs often gave the game away during stalking. They sometimes sat up or ran too early.
Thomson Gazelle Chase
This one got away. Whilst cheetahs are the fastest land animal (up to 120kph for 500 metres) they have limited endurance and have to get close by stalking before they run. This lucky gazelle was able to escape.
A Stand Off
With four hungry cheetahs looking on, the gazelles know they are safe if they keep the cheetahs in sight. Several times we watched the gazelle herd follow the cheetahs to do just that.
Another Escape
A bat-eared fox outwits one of the young male cheetah cubs by diving into its burrow.
Food at Last
This was sad to watch as we could see the mother stalking a lone Grant's gazelle and fawn. She grabbed the fawn and dragged it to a low bush so the cubs could feed safely as a hyena was circling. This was eight hours after we first sighted this cheetah family.
Cheetah and Cub
This is the second cheetah family we found in the Serengeti - a mother with a single cub. It was late afternoon and they were watching the massed wildebeest herd with their new born calves.
They didn't hunt but were rewarded the next day.
Life & Death
The following day we found a lost wildebeest calf. Predators chase the herds at night and calves can be separated from their mothers in the confusion.
The mother and cub cheetah also found the calf at the same time. The mother allowed the cub to practice its hunting skills.
We found the take-down and strangulation confronting as it occurred right next to our vehicle. Cats typically strangle their prey, so it is merely the way of nature. However for us the passing of any life is not something we take pleasure in.
Black-backed Jackal
Time for Socialising
After a day of dozing, the lions came down from the kopjes to socialise in the last light of day.
The Last Dawn
In the first light of the day, we saw this lost wildebeest calf wandering in the direction of the lion kopjes. It was its last dawn as the lions saw it and gave chase.
Predator's Embrace
A hope is lost in this predator's embrace.
Cruel Last Moments
The lionesses played with the calf for several minutes before the final dispatch.
No Mercy
If you are food, the result is inevitable.
Lion Cub
This cub was the last of the pride to feed on this wildebeest carcass.
