We embarked on what turned out to be the best game drive ever—one that exceeded all our expectations. As always, our guests asked to see elephants, but I had something even more exciting planned for the day.
A Scenic Journey in Search of a Cheetah
I informed my guests that a cheetah had been spotted and suggested we go searching for it. Everyone eagerly agreed, and off we went, stopping for nothing in hopes of finding the cheetah still where it was last seen. We took a scenic route, offering breathtaking views of a valley that looked like the Garden of Eden. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, reminiscent of a scene from Jurassic Park, and we even joked about the possibility of spotting dinosaurs in this stunning valley. Despite the risk of running late and potentially missing the cheetah, we couldn’t resist stopping to take some photographs of the mesmerizing landscape.
An Unexpected Encounter with Elephants
As we continued our journey into the valley, I called on the radio to check if any other rangers had seen the cheetah. We slowly approached the area where it was thought to be, but as we rounded a bend, we were suddenly met by a breeding herd of elephants crossing the road. One of the females clearly didn’t appreciate our proximity. She approached us, gave a long, hard look, and waved her trunk, signaling for us to move. We carefully assessed the situation before I set the vehicle in reverse, backing off to give the elephants an extra 10 meters to cross the road safely. I was struck by the intelligence of the female elephant and the way she ‘communicated’ with us, clearly indicating the herd’s intention to cross and urging us to make way, ensuring we all stayed out of danger.
Finding the Cheetah and Toasting the Adventure
After this incredible elephant encounter, we drove only 20 meters further and there she was—a beautiful young female cheetah with her impala kill. She hadn’t yet started feeding and was resting, still alert but clearly recovering from the hunt. We watched her closely for a while, and as the sun began to set and daylight faded, she started eating. Respecting her space, we eventually left her in peace.
As we drove away, we found a perfect spot in the bush to stop and celebrate the day’s excitement with a super classy, delicious gin and tonic. It was the perfect end to an extraordinary game drive. Cheers to adventure!
