Day 6: Cheetahs at Sunrise

Away at 6:30 am with clouds at sunrise and drove onto the savanna. We heard a chirping bird-like call and our guides followed the sound. Beautiful and stunning, yes - but a bird, no. A lone cheetah was standing on a termite mound calling for its sibling with an amazing chirp-like call. We have been lucky again. This makes 11 cheetahs that we have seen and photographed.

The sibling cheetah came out of the shrub along the laggar, and both headed out onto the savanna. Actions were different today, as they moved out briskly with heads low but eyes fully aware of the need to hunt. Bellies were slim and empty, and it was time for food. Impalas snorted their warnings to the rest of their herd and to the zebras and gazelles that also graze on the savanna.

Cheetah males weight up to 140 lbs and stand up to 36 inches at the shoulder. Females are 20 lbs lighter but about the same height. The cheetah is diurnal resting only during the heat of the day and is seldom active at night. They can sprint at an incredible 70 miles per hour for very short distances, but their average chase is less than 40 miles per hour. Cheetahs brings down their quarry by either tripping it or hitting the hindquarters and knocking the prey off balance with a smack. Once down the cat latches on to the prey’s throat choking it to death. After eating nearly 30 lbs at a feeding, they then do not hunt again for four or five days as their swollen bellies digest the food.