Arrogance or confidance

The afternoon drive started with us setting out in search of a heard of elephant. Well that was the plan, but nature had other other ideas. Not 20 minutes after heading out on drive Samual L jackson(Ernie) had picked up some cheetah tracks. We didnt show much interest but kept that in mind. It was just then a herd of hartebeest was running away from some thing on the far side of the valley. A quick look through the bin's revealed two lionesses walking around with the intention on finding food. The elephants were put on hold as there could be some action on the far side of the valley. Even though we had seen two prides of lions that morning, this did not stop us following up on a second hunt for the day. The first hunt was a failure. What would be the outcome of this one. Once we got close to the lions they simply flopped down for a short nap. We decided to stay with the animals as there where still animals in the area that they looked at once in a while. They eventually moved a couple hundred metres before we where joined by Ryan Hillier, just in time to see kudu fleeing out or the near by drainage line. But from what. We had the lions right infront of us. The name cheetah then came into our heads at the same time we saw a big male cheetah moving in the direction of the kudu. At this moment the lions also saw the cheetah. A slow trot had the lions heading straight for the cheetah. The cheetah saw the lionesses come and just continued slowley up the hill and over the ridge. We, in this time had raced across to the cheetah. We got in front of him and the had him walk ten meters in front of the vehicle. And only a few minutes later the lions appeared over the ridge. In the end the lion's gave up but where still only a couple hundred meters behind the cheetah. It was at this moment after every animal in the open plains north of heatherton towers had run as far as they could a little springbuck appeared. Now the cheetah, who knew the lions where right behind him, seezed the oppotunity and in front of our vehicle we watched this amazing athlete take off in a high speed chase after the unfortunate little spring buck. We watched the whole chase just 50 or so meters in front of us happen. Success for the cheetah. Still with out a worry about the lions. Once we moved in closer the cheetah saw our cruiser as good cover and dragged his kill to with in a few meters of my cruiser. Lucky for him the lions never came. And we wached him burry his head right into his kill and feed away with out a worry in the world. Now is that arrogance or confidence. To top this once in a life time experience off. At our drinks stop. A brown hyena decided to join our drinks stop and see what all the fuss was about.

Posted: South Africa Wildlife by Robin Marc Cheesman, Date: 13 August 2010