When visiting Africa, many people dream of seeing the magnificent Big 5. By all means, the Big 5 is an iconic piece of the African wilderness puzzle, but the graceful cheetah is just as special as any of them.
Cheetahs: Built for Speed, Not Power
Unlike the Big 5, cheetahs are not considered to be dangerous. Due to their nature, they typically avoid conflict, fleeing dangerous situations rather than standing their ground and risking potential injuries—injuries that could be a death sentence in the African wilderness. Because of this, they are often pushed off their kills by other predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas, and even packs of jackals. Cheetahs tend to gorge themselves on their kills, usually consuming the nutrient-rich rump and liver first, before their prized meal is stolen away.
The Challenges of Being a Cheetah
Built more for speed than power, cheetahs often take some time to subdue their prey. The distress calls of their prey can attract other hungry mouths, making every kill a race against time. As diurnal predators, cheetahs hunt during the day to avoid pressure from the much larger nocturnal predators of the night. Their prey ranges from small rodents to large wildebeests.
The Cheetah: A Marvel of Speed and Design
The cheetah may not be the strongest, but it is certainly the fastest of all land mammals. With a streamlined head shaped like a bullet, the cheetah’s near-aerodynamic design allows it to reach incredible speeds. Their anatomical design is further enhanced by a collarbone that acts as a shock absorber during sharp turns in the chase. And like any good runner, the cheetah relies on quality “footwear.” Its claws, which are not fully retractable like those of other cats, provide essential traction during high-speed pursuits.
A Regular Sight at Mhondoro
The cheetah may be underrated, but it is certainly worthy of more recognition. Thankfully, it remains a regular sighting here at Mhondoro. I hope you too will be fortunate enough to see a cheetah on your next visit!
