SANParks.org Forums

The fact that they survive is an indication, for me, that this dry season is a bonus for predators!

Nice pics, everyone!

Sounds like my sighting of two adults in August near Shabeni may then be the same two brothers?

It was standing more than four meters above ground.





The whole story around you can find in my Kruger story.

In this littele film you see a Cheetah stalking an Impala that we saw on the S90 between Olifants and Satara.As far as we could see, the Impala was blind on one eye but the Impala got away [for now].

In this little video you see two Cheetah's in an old dead tree looking for game. I filmed them on the S28 between Lower Sabie and Croc Bridge.

Hi,

Has anyone ever seen cheetah on a night drive??

I ask this as i overheard a ranger mention that in all his years (probably 5 or 6), doing night drives in KNP, before moving to Timbavai Pvt, he had never seen cheetah on a night drive.

I know that cheetah are not nocturnal and do their best to keep a low profile after dark (predator time),but it is not impossible to come across a cheetah sleeping/hiding in thick bush on a night drive.
Similarly, has anyone ever come across wild dog on a night drive?
They would be a major tick (for the same reasons as the cheetah) for any night drive!

I used to pick up cheetah on night drives relativly often - however (unless I was absolutly certain it was safe for the cheetah) my guests would not have seen it as I move the light away as soon as I have identified what I am looking at. Highlighting cheetah at night leaves them vulnerable to attack by other predators.

So if you have been out with a guide who knows these things it is entirely possible that they have just moved on without saying anything.

Seen them twice on night drives, once at Lower Sabi on one of the fire breaks, and once on a night drive at Satara. Both were excellent sightings.

About 15 years ago we also saw cheetah on a night drive from Lower Sabie on a fire break road.
The ranger (no names, no pack drill, he is still working in the park ) stopped the vehicle and called the cheetah and it appeared, was amazing

Cheetah in Kgalagadi have been known to hunt spring hares at night!

Here is the cheetah we saw at Nhlanganzwani Dam last february ; we were very happy as it was the first one we saw in the park
We were the only car and stayed a long time but haved to go because it was at the end of the afternoon .


[url][/url]

ice asked for an idea as to the number of cheetah in KTP.

Cheetah are virtually impossible to count aerially, and rangers' estimates are the best guess, unless a specific photographic project is launched, as in Kruger.

The estimate for Kgalagadi has always remained pretty constant at around 150 or less!

On the other hand, the "Big 3" cat species in Kruger have had severe estimation-adjustments having to be made after scientific study.

Lion were always estimated at 1500, but Dr Butch Smuts' darting project in the 1970's led to the figure of closer to 2000 in the Central district alone!

Leopard were guessed at 900, but later pushed up to 2000!

Don't have the info on the Kruger cheetah project, but based on little change in sightings reports over the last decade, where they have always been guessed to be between 250-350, I would estimate them at around 400 presently in Kruger, for what it's worth...

We have just had our best ever Cheetah trip, with, I think it was a total of at least 5 sightings in a 2 weeks.
Mostly on the S28, around Croc Bridge and one on the S29.

I saw her on Sunday morning, she actually has four small furry cubs. I spotted her on the road leading towards the hide.
She has a gash on her right front leg, its looks nasty but it did not seem to hamper her movement.
I will post some pics ASAP.
These are some other cheetahs i have spotted recently.
Saw this one on the H5 this last Saturday.



Saw this one just before the Paul Kruger gate two weeks ago.

Here are some pics as promised.

Mom with cubs:



Cubs huddled together with mom (Long shot):



Mom telling her kids its time to go:



Mom with cub in tow:



One of her cute cubs:



Another one:



A sighting I'll never forget......

Wow Yves.

Great photo's.
We must have missed the fourth cub. Unfortunately I was not able to get any good pictures as she was quite far away. We sat there for over an hour hoping that when she decided to move it would be towards the road but unfortunatley we were out of luck and she moved off towards the dam and out of sight.
It was still great to just sit there and watch her and the cubs.