In today’s journal, I would like to write about this wonderful family of four. The Matriach cheetah named Malaika – swahili for Angel. Daughter of another famous Cheetah Queen.
Malaika is about eight years old and lives in the Maasai Mara with her three cubs (they were four but one left) She has raised many cubs to adulthood successfully and is an excellent hunter.
Cheetahs generally are successful hunters. With accelerations of 0 to 60mph in 3 seconds half of their hunts are a success. In petrol head terms, that’s faster than a 2014 Dodge Viper, Aston Martin DBR9, Audi R8, or a 2015 Bently Continental GTR.
After a successful hunt, they feed as quickly as possible because they could lose the kill to bigger or more aggressive carnivores. When this happens, cheetahs have to go back and hunt again.
In my most recent visit to Mara I managed to spend almost every day with Malaika and her cubs, watching their behavior, this charming family never ceased to amaze me, especially at dawn and dusk when they were energetic and full of life. Giving me unforgetable memories and images that i will keep sharing here.
It was in one of these many moments that a successful hunt was planned and executed right in front of my eyes, I was front row, witnessing the chase and finally take down of an impala. Breathtaking is an understatement. It had been a cold morning and the beautiful morning light was just starting to streak from the heavy clouds when i saw Malaika burst into action.
Please see below the pictures, I managed to capture at lightning speed (the whole hunt was about 20-40 seconds) I hope you enjoy. This is just another amazing day in #WILDKENYA
