Kgalagadi Cheetah Sightings - CURRENT

[Mel]

Gertie and 2011 cubs: Merty, Nertie & Zertie
05 May 2012 around Auchterlonie

Nertie (female)
© WillieV

Nertie on the left, Zertie on the right.
© WillieV

Zertie (female)
© WillieV

Gertie and Merty were around as well.

Photos posted with permission from the photographer.

[Mel]

Charlie's Angel Two
March 2012 near Nossob

© Snorkel
© Snorkel

4 cubs were around at this sighting.

[AstroMatt]

2011-02-28 Simon
Between Gemsbokplein and Batulama at 10:50
This was my first cheetah sighting in the park on my second day (oddly we'd seen a leopard on the first day which was a bit of a surprise!)
He was sat under this tree for a while and then moved to a tree to the right.




We had to leave as we were on the way to Nossob.

[AstroMatt]

Storm, Vrystaat & Blue
2011-03-01 - This was right at Lijersdraai picnic spot at 14:48.

We'd just finished lunch and were heading back to Nossob. 100m after leaving we bumped into these three crossing the road (it's the bit where there are two tracks). The quickly disappeared into the very long grass!




They are obviously still quite young.

[AstroMatt]

2011-03-04 Smith & Smit
14th Borehole, 10:04
We came across these two because we saw a crimson breasted shrike alarm calling on top of the bush. They had a kill under the tree. You could hear them eating and obviously see the blood! Again it was really long grass so not the best pictures for identification but it is a good match.

Smit


Smith

[AstroMatt]

2011-03-04 Lennon, McCartney, Star and Georgie
This was the last cheetah sighting of my first trip just before we were to leave the park.

It was between Kamfersboom and Munro at 14:53
We found them feeding on a very fresh kill right beside the road. Thankfully this meant we could actually see them (or some of them) for a lot of the sighting

Lennon gave us the best show coming right over and walking back and forth.




McCartney


Star was sat on her own for most of it and didn't really show herself


Georgie

[AstroMatt]

2011-06-17 Erica
Houmoed at 17:18

Gus and Margie only have one other record of her at the same waterhole on the same day. They don't know anything further about her. Initially we found her in the tree right beside the road at the waterhole. She came down and scent marked, a sign she is in oestrus. G+M have found that females in oestrus often travelled long distances out of their usual home ranges when in this state only to return after they have mated. She then crossed the river and walked up the other side.

[AstroMatt]

2011-06-18 Caster
Rooibrak at 15:58

We thought there was going to be fire works at this sighting. Initially we had stopped because we had been told there was a leopard in the tree right above the waterhole. We found the leopard lying on a lower branch. It was either Khomani or Miera who we'd seen here the previous day but far too obscured to make a positive identification at the time. Much later on I eventually identified the leopard as Miera. After 45mins we suddenly noticed a cheetah walking over the ridge towards the waterhole. In the space of a second the leopard had moved and we were braced for it to jump out of the tree and scare this cheetah away. As it turned out the leopard stayed hidden. Caster came to the waterhole drank and then continued walking north. She walked right by the car at the side of the road scanning the riverbed for prey. We eventually lost her when she crossed over and went up the !Xaus road.

Miera was in this tree to the left of the image.

[AstroMatt]

2011-12-01 Lisette with her cubs Hanri, Monica, Corinne and No. 4
Top of 14th Borehole 14:36.
This was a far sighting right across the river bed. You could make out the collar with binoculars.
Luckily Lisette stood up and moved and you can get an identification from this shot (heavy crop). All 4 cubs were there.

[AstroMatt]

Flirty with her cubs Beauty, Precious & Gift
2011-12-03 between Rooiputs and Kij Kij on the Botswana road 14:20 - 17:42.

This day turned out to probably be my best ever cheetah day. I found these 4 lying about 10m from the side of the road going north to Kij Kij. I spent the next 3 hours just sat with them watching the cubs playing and moving around. Unfortunately some people weren't too behaved at the sighting and because of the narrow road they ended up driving around the other side of the tree that you see in the pictures to get passed the cars!! Luckily the cheetah's were too worried and they continued to rest. Eventually they decided to leave and headed north. I wanted to follow them but time being what it was i decided to head back....good move as you shall see ;)

Going from left to right, Beauty, Precious, Flirty and Gift.


Left to right, Flirty, Gift and Precious.


A cheetah pile!! Left to right: Beauty, Gift, Precious and Flirty


Flirty