HARVEY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

African Wildlife: Cheetahs

I love taking cheetah pictures. With an excelleration speed of 0-60mph in under 3 seconds, they are faster in that first three seconds than a 911 turbo porsche. Their speed can make for very interesting cheetah photos of cheetahs running. They are incredibly powerful animals and yet are the weakest of the big cats. I haven't had any success taking pictures of cheetah cubs yet. The mortality rate of cheetah cubs is very high. Most cheetahs don't live to adult hood. The male siblings that survive will stay together their entire lives, while the females remain solitary. Check out my wildlife greeting card of a cheetah running.

These cheetahs have been photographed in South Africa and the Masai Mara in Kenya.

Video of the Great Cheetah Race

This cheetah lives in a cheetah sanctuary in South Africa. The sanctuary's purpose is to breed cheetahs and release them back into the wild as they are an endangered species. They are put on a running course chasing after a lure regularly to ensure they get their exercise. Charlotte here was chasing after a lure.
   
This cheetah cub was about six months old. It looks like he was posing for the camera, but his tail was twitching, so he was likely irritated with my presence, so we took a few pictures and moved on.
   
These twin cheetahs enjoy some cuddle time.
     
  
This mother and cub enjoy some shade in a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa.
   
  
When there is food involved everyone wants their share and cheetahs are no exception. This photograph was taken at a wildlife cheetah sanctuary in South Africa. It is lunch time and this cheetah displays his dominance to ensure he gets his share.
     
  
This is one of the three famous cheetah brothers from the Masai Mara. They have been in several nature documentaries about cats in the Masai Mara.
   
This cheetah spotted her prey off in the distance so starts her chase. Unfortunately for her she wasn't successful. The chase only lasted what seemed to be a few seconds, but by the time she gave up, she was already a kilometer or so away from us.
   
This cheetah just woke up from a long afternoon nap. He looks over a field full of wildebeast and starts thinking about dinner.
     
  
This picture is of two of the three cheetah famous cheetah brothers in the Masai Mara. They can be seen in many documentaries of cheetahs and wildlife in the Masia Mara. Cheetah brothers will form a coalition and stay together their entire lives where as female cheetahs remain solitary, raising cubs and getting together with males for mating purposes only.
   
These cheetah brothers enjoy a short play session after their leisurely afternoon nap. It seemed to be a good warm up before chasing down dinner.
   
This cheetah is looking out over a field of wildebeast and impala thinking about what's for dinner.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
  
On our second day in the Mara, we saw this mother cheetah and her two month old cub. This was my first sighting of a cheetah cub.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Cheetahs generally look so gentle and playful. They even chirp like a bird. When it is time to get serious and hunt though they mean business. This cheetah just took down an impala for her and her two month old baby. After she finishes with the impala she looks up with her ears still back as if to say "Who's Next!?"
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
Our sighting of this eight month old cub wasn't long but the light was fantastic. He played with his mom for a bit, then posed for us in the great golden afternoon sun,
   
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
This mom was fantastic. She had four cubs and played with them and let them attack her practicing their "take down" skills.
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
After hanging out in the vicinity of this cheetah mom and cub duo for several hours, we lost the light and they settled down in the tall grass for one last pose before went back to the lodge.
     
  
   
  
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
   
A cheetah mom and her eight month old cub enjoy some play time. Cheetahs' claws don't retract so they really have to be careful that they don't get scratched in the eyes when they play.
   
A cheetah mom and her eight month old cub enjoy some play time. Cheetahs' claws don't retract so they really have to be careful that they don't get scratched in the eyes when they play.
     
  
A cheetah mom and her eight month old cub enjoy some play time. Cheetahs' claws don't retract so they really have to be careful that they don't get scratched in the eyes when they play.
   
A cheetah mom and her eight month old cub enjoy some play time. Cheetahs' claws don't retract so they really have to be careful that they don't get scratched in the eyes when they play.
   
A cheetah mom and her eight month old cub enjoy some play time. Cheetahs' claws don't retract so they really have to be careful that they don't get scratched in the eyes when they play.
     
  
A cheetah mom and her eight month old cub enjoy some play time. Cheetahs' claws don't retract so they really have to be careful that they don't get scratched in the eyes when they play.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
     
  
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.
   
Our guide knew we wanted to see cheetah cubs and knew of a mom and four cubs that were located in the South Mara area. On a hope and a prayer we drove 45 minutes to see if we could find them. 30 minutes after arriving there we found the family. The long shot paid off and we had some really great sightings.