[Leica] IMG: cheetahs on the Serengeti grasslands

[Adam Bridge]

We encountered a family of cheetahs: three cubs and the mother. The mother left the cubs where a small watercourse cuts through the plain. Staying out of sight was too much for the cubs who climbed up to look for their parent.

Here the mother is stalking through the wind-blown grasses:

<https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/2017-Europe-Tanzania/Tanzania/On-Safari/i-kWDWHJZ/A>

Two of the cubs seeking mom:

<https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/2017-Europe-Tanzania/Tanzania/On-Safari/i-JVT8RmJ/A>

The mom finally found a place and called her cubs to her - a high pitched cry that is closer to something a bird would make than I expected from a cat. The cubs exploded out of their hiding area and sprinted to their mother where much rolling around, licking and good times ensued before they all settled down.

I think it was going to be a long day because as we swept the area with our binoculars we didn’t see a single gazelle or antelope.

Thanks for looking. Again, shot with Fuji X-T2 and the 100-400mm zoom. Focusing in the tall, waving grasses was difficult!

Adam