For our last full-day in Ndutu, we focussed all our attention on the incredible cheetahs. During our time in Ndutu, we’d photographed a mother with three grown-up cubs, a mother with three young cubs, and a lone male. That’s a lot of spots! Our objective was simple – to spend a ‘a day in the life’ of the cheetah, so we set out as early as possible.
By 7:00am we’d found the young family lazing and playing in the short scrub. The cubs were just waking up and beginning to practice their tripping skills on each other. For the next 30mins or so, we were treated to a full-on cheetah cub play-fest as they charged around at break-neck speeds, leaping and jumping and pouncing.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), young cubs playing around mother, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Their majestic mother laid back and looked completely nonplussed by the whole thing, even when they sought to engage her by jumping on her head. With the morning ticking by, the mother eventually rose up and stretched (to be pounced on again) and began her search for a meal.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), young cub climbing through gap between tree trunks, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
For the next four hours, we followed at a respectful distance as the family roamed across the plain. Each time she turned towards a tree, we moved on ahead to take up position. Despite the lengthy hike, the cubs were still playing. As soon as their mother sat in the shade of any acacia, the cubs began climbing the trunk and branches.
However, after six hours the cubs were tiring and their mother was leading them into a no mans land. There was no prey to be seen anywhere. She made a couple of desperate attempts with flighty grysbok but without success. Eventually, they came to another acacia and they all collapsed out of exhaustion. The heat had built steadily, but the gentle showers did provide some relief. One cub still had the energy for a little tree-climbing, but soon flopped down beside its mother.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), cubs playing around mother on fallen branch, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
We broke for a late lunch and on the return drive, spotted another cheetah. Its posture signalled an imminent hunt so we drove in for a closer look. No sooner had we rolled to a stop then the cheetah blasted away and chased down a tommy fawn. It was easy pickings. The lone male that we’d met earlier had himself another meal. We pulled up in time to grab a few frames of him carrying the fawn to thicker scrub, before devouring it.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), male carrying Thomson's Gazelle, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
We left him sitting upright and surveying the horizon for threats. He looked absolutely stunning in the warm evening sunlight. Several vehicles came and went and kicked up plenty of dust, but the light wast warm enough or soft enough to try backlighting. We decided to catch up with the cheetah family, hoping they’d found a meal.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), male sitting and looking in savannah habitat, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
When we found them, one cub had fallen behind, weak from the trek. They were all hungry and extremely tired, but their mother kept walking. We eventually left them under a tree as dusk fell, hoping that in the morning we would find them feasting and content.
