One thing that seemed to elude us often during the 9 weeks at Welgevonden was the Cheetah.
A few times we made dedicated flying trips to reported sightings but never quite had the luck and it seemed the more effort we put in, the more they were out of reach.
The sightings we did have however were unexpected.
The first was a very good spot whilst Rhino monitoring. We were so focused on identifying the Rhino that we did not see the cat until we got the giveaway flick of the tail. Even then, I struggled for a good few moments to see it. I tried to take a photo to help with ID but the grass was too much.
The second was a few meters down the road from camp.
Most of camp had been off the reserve until way after 7. It was dark and it was Braai night. I was in the kitchen making garlic bread when the returning group rushed up to the communal area giddy and loud. 'Cheetah! Cheetah on a kill near camp!' Everything was dropped and we jumped onto two vehicles and went to have a look. Again, a poor photo, I didn't have any time to bring my 70-200 which would have been more ideal!
The third happened whilst we were at a dam having a lunch break with Hippos and two brothers had been spotted underneath a tree on Fig Tree Plains.
Lunch was speedily done with and we went to see the boys who had travelled a fair distance to get up here.
They were lying there with one keeping an eye on Wildebeest grazing behind them.
Now I'm not a photographer who often has the subjects so small in the frame but I knew that I had to try and get a shot that emphasised the scene and showed how well blended the Cheetah were and so here is Fig Tree:
Thanks for reading! :)
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