The Cheetah and The Big 5 – A Photo Wrap Up
The Cheetah may not be one of the Big 5 animals of Africa, but it is one of the most regal animals you will witness in the wild. In the Masai Mara, this cheetah was the first of the big cats we saw. It laid on a rock for some time before deciding to move away from the chaos. A van had pulled up beside us and apparently had a dying battery so he couldn’t kill his engine while watching the cheetah. It was about two minutes later that the cheetah must have thought “I’m outta here. Here I was sleeping peacefully and now I’ve got this car engine disturbing my relaxation time.”
The fastest mammal on the planet didn’t high tail it out of there though. It sauntered away barely giving a glance back in our direction.(except for this quick pause captured in the photo below) The cheetah needs to conserve its energy when hunting as it takes great effort to take down one of the grazing animals on the plains. Once it is full, as this cat seemed to be, it needs to relax in a safe place and prepare for its next kill.
The Cheetah
A male cheetah looks back while crossing the Masai Mara in Kenya
1920X1200 1920X1080 1600X1200 1440X900 1280X1024 1280X800 1024X768 iPhone 4 iPad iPad 3
The Cheetah is endangered and earlier this week we wrote about some facts regarding the cheetah and the efforts going on to save the cheetah on the post International Day of the Cheetah. There are great efforts going on in Kenya to conserve the animals of the Savanna. They know the value of tourism and if people keep going on safari and wishing to see these animals in the wild, they have a good chance to keep the big 5 (and the cheetah) alive. Just be sure to choose your safari company wisely. We saw many vehicles get too close to the animals, keep their engines running and yell and laugh from their trucks trying to get their attention. We had a very concerned and responsible guide, Makau of Journeys International and he is definitely a leader in his field.
More Big 5 Desktop Photos
In case you missed last week due to Christmas shopping and parties, here are the rest of the Big 5 photographs for free download to your desktop. Be sure to enter our contest at the bottom of the post, we’re giving away a free 16X24 lustre print.to one lucky reader.
African Elephant
A Lone Elephant Walks on the African Plains
Click here for desktop download and to learn about the African Elephant
Dave chose these photos specifically for your desktop. They’ll look amazing on a computer screen without being too distracting. Stay tuned for many more striking photos of the animals of Africa and watch out for features on Expedia.com who sent us to Africa on safari.
Leopard
A rare sight to see a leopard walking
Click here for Downloads and to learn more about the leopard
The White Rhino drinks at a watering hole
Click here for desktop downloads and to learn more about the Rinos
Something catches this Male Lion’s attention
Click here to download and learn more about the Lion King
The Cape Buffalo is the most dangerous big 5 to man
Click here to download and learn more about the Cape Bufallo
Enter to win a free animal Print
FeedboxComments
24 Responses to The Cheetah and The Big 5 – A Photo Wrap Up
Leave a Reply
Partner with Us
ThePlanetD is one of the top travel blogs on the Internet. We work with brands and tourism boards to help bridge the gap between the corporation and consumer. To find out how you can work with us, visit our Media/Advertise page.Write for Us
Travel Resources
Connect with Us
Log in -
Development by MWL Development -
Designed by Gabfire Themes
Google+
The cheetah shot is amazing!
These photos are great! I especially like the Cape Buffalo one.
Great photos! I feel like I’m checking pictures from National Geographic.
Amazing pictures of wild animals. Looks real when you stare at it for long.
Really Great Shots…
I like very much is The African Elephant and The King Lion shot…
Really nice wildlife photograph. I love so much…
Thanks
GREAT pictures man!!! That lens you rented served you well I see. Beautiful background blur and sharp images. Good work!
Dan
Amaaaazing photos! Seriously! The elephant one might be my favorite.
Yes! Amazing shots. It seems like you guys had a great time in the Masai Mara. We loved our time there as well, it’s such a special place. The feeling of spotting these majestic animals in the wild is pretty indescribable! We don’t have a favourite, all of these photos are spectacular.
Cheers.
Goats On The Road
Some really great photos. My personal favourite has to be the photo of the leopard.
These photos are stunning. I like the one of the cheetah in particular, such fascinating an beautiful creatures.
Wow – what good luck to spot a cheetah! I have been on 4 safaris in Kenya and never spotted a cheetah or leopard.
Stunning captures! How exhilerating it must be to see wild animals with your own eyes!
Gorgeous shots – I’m dying to go on safari!
Lovely photography. Each photo speaks about it self ….
I love the lion face. Excellent.. It is really great to watch these animals in their natural habitat..
Great photos! I especially love the one of the lion.
Wonderful photos – thanks for sharing.
Thank you for coming by Rob!
Fantastic shots, I would so love to see this majestic creatures myself!
It was first time for us to see them all as well. It really does take your breath away when you spot each animal for the first time. They are beautiful.
Pingback: Cool Hats, A Winter Giveaway | Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D
Pingback: Cool Hats, A Winter Giveaway | Visa for Tourist
Wow, incredible shots! You can almost feel those animals breathing on you. Amazing!
Turtle recently posted..Flowers in the air
It is great to see that people enjoy Africa so much, especially with a camera in hand. I run a little photographic competition on one of my websites, where I offer the opportunity to beginner and amateur photographers to share their experiences and their talents. It is great to see the entries that we receive, especially from people who took up the hobby only a few months earlier.