Kruger National Park : Lockdown Day 104 - Wednesday 8 July

On the road by 4.30am for a day in Kruger but the windy, overcast weather had us thinking we might not see too much.

We were on a dirt road between Orpen and Satara when suddenly a big herd of impala started leaping about, running in all directions and then in a flash we saw a cheetah on the chase amidst the impala; beautiful,lean,lightning fast - the image is imprinted on my brain with such clarity - the only memory I have because none of us had any chance of reaching for a camera.

By the time we turned the car around it was all over and vultures were already circling. We took a few minutes to find her, sitting under a tree panting to reduce her body temperature. At first, we weren't even sure she had been successful but after a while she dragged the dead impala a few metres and began eating. She was quite close to the road but in the shade and undergrowth and it was not possible to get pictures. All the while more and more vultures kept arriving, crash landing in the nearby thorn trees. Four different species: White- backed, Hooded, White- headed and Lappet-faced. One by one they landed on the ground around the cheetah and she would have to go at them to chase them away before going back to her meal. The vultures started ripping at the rear of the carcass while the cheetah ate from the other end.  Eventually by shear numbers they chased her off completely, swarming the whole carcass, ripping flesh,flapping and fighting each other for a morsel.

Then the cheetah moved out into the open, still panting and we were able to get photos and videos. And not another car came by in all this time.

This was actually the second kill we had come across. Earlier we saw a ground hornbill kill and eat a puff adder.

And on the way out, 6 kms from the Orpen Gate, we came across the 3rd kill of the day! A leopard up a tree with a dead impala and two hyenas waiting below with the possibility of an easy supper coming their way. The poor leopard looked a little uncomfortable, straddling a smallish branch, using the leftover impala as a pillow, adjusting his haunch from time to time to alleviate the rough branch from digging into his nether regions.

You just can't beat a day like that. We are so grateful for being in lockdown here. Thank - you Ronell and Johan and Ximongwe Safaris for such awesome experiences. And thank -you Johan Scott© for letting me use a few of your images on this post.