Finding Flattop

Driving across dried yellow grassy plains we happen upon two cheetahs lounging in the grass. I hear Swahili banter over the CB as my Masai driver pulls our safari truck a few feet away from these serene creatures. I’m on safari in Masai Mara National park Kenya.

I’m not sure if they are mother and cub or mating partners. Sitting in regale fashion they seem oblivious of us mere inches away. They are focused on a heard of gazelles several hundred yards away. For the next 30 minutes they slyly make their way closer. They lay down their spotted coats camouflage into the surrounding terrain. They get up and slowing swagger closer, walk away, and then lollygag toward them again. The gazelles aware, maintain an equal distance as these hunting creatures attempt to sneak closer. I’m shocked the gazelles don’t just high tail it as far as they can.

I’m anxious as a baby gazelle unaware of the looming danger scampers by having been obscured from view by our truck. Instantly the smaller cheetah catapults to speed, capable of running 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. My driver floors it to keep up knocking me about as the fastest land animal in the world is in action before my eyes. Goose bumps cascade down my arms as the truck bounces roughly over the terrain. The gazelle zigzags in an instinctive pattern. It’s as if it knows the cheetah can only run full bore in a straight line. It appears this young one may escape. In synchronous harmony as the cheetah suddenly drops from exhaustion its partner which had ran ahead in a straight parallel line bolts to warp speed in a diagonal line back towards the now tired gazelle. A few seconds later its treacherous claws bring it down and it’s now lunch dangling from its mouth.

The cheetahs retreat under a shade tree chest heaving from exertion. The adrenaline pumping, I think I’m as exhausted as they are from just watching. I’ve just won the safari lottery having witnessed a bone chilling survival of the fittest kill.