Yesterday, Mango Bob and I were driving into the office. As we came near the swamp Bob noticed three safari vehicles off to our left. Wondering what they had found, I stopped and we grabbed for our always present binoculars. There in front of the lead vehicle was a large healthy Cheetah.
Our first sighting of the Cheetah. Watching out for safari vehicles is a good technique for finding things of interest.
A few minutes later it walked behind the cars. Shortly afterward it walked back out, followed to our surprise by a second cheetah. They then wandered out into the tall grass of the plain and the safari trucks pulled out and left. Now that we were alone, I asked Bob if he wanted me to drive closer to the cheetahs. “No, that’s all right. We’re close enough.” Taking that as a yes, I began following the pair of big cats. About that time, Anne called on the cell phone to ask what we were seeing. When she heard about the cheetahs, she and Julie followed in her car.
We got within fifteen feet of the first cheetah. Where is the second?
As we drove out into the grass and stopped we noticed that one of the cats had disappeared. It’s a little nerve wracking to be next to a large cheetah with your windows down and realize that a second one, just as large, is somewhere around but you can’t see him.
The first cheetah found the second one for us. They had a playful tussle.
Looking around nervously for cat number two, Bob thought he had him spotted just twenty feet away. He was validated when the first cheetah leaped on the hidden one and they began playing. After a bit of a light hearted tussle, the cats settled side by side to look into the distance.
Side by side they peruse the grasslands.
Then it got interesting. One of the cats turned around, looked at Bob, and began stalking toward us. “Do I need to worry?” Bob asked. Since the cheetah was on his side of the car I said no, no worries.
One cheetah decided to head in our direction.
The cat is getting closer.
When the cat was about five feet from the car, Bob asked why the electric windows weren’t working. I turned the key and he rolled the window about ½ way up. Just in time for the Cheetah to jump up on the hood. We sat astounded.
The cheetah effortlessly jumped to the hood of our car.
He seemed to take an interest in us. Walking back and forth a couple of times then staring Bob in the face from inches away (through the windshield) he seemed totally at ease. As he got close, Bob’s side window slid the rest of the way up.
The cheetah looking at Bob.
What Bob saw.
The cheetah then spun around and came over to visit with me as well. My side window went up.
Here he’s checking me out.
I’m glad there is a windshield between us.
Deciding that we were ultimately not interesting (lunch) the cheetah sat for a while staring out over the plain. Then he leaped off the front of the car and they both wandered away.
Deciding that we were boring, the cheetah decided to jump down.
Goodbye, new found friend.
Absolutely amazing! Incredible photos; incredible cheetah interaction. Good thing those electric window motor worked. Count me jealous of Mango Bob.
I am a friend of Lynn Pownell’s and she alerted me to your site. I love these posts and you can count me among the jealous also. My dream trip is to visit Africa one day to see the animals in a natural environment. Beautiful!
Wow. Incredible.
Wow, awesome!! Good old electric windows, doing their job. 🙂