The Serengeti is one of the most incredible destinations for a safari in East Africa, yet it certainly does not get as much media attention as it should.
Whilst people rant and rave over the Masai Mara, the harder to access Serengeti is an absolute gem for photographers. Not only is the Serengeti home to the Great Wildebeest Migration all year round, it has one of the highest big cat densities in Africa.
Cheetahs are lithe, nimble and arguably the most vulnerable of the big cats. Not only are they in competition to the much stronger and bulkier lions, but they have to try their best to avoid confrontation with clans of hyenas that roam the plains.
Yet for all the dangers, the Serengeti eco-system has seen the cheetah population thrive, and none more so than the Eastern Plains.
Situated an hour and a half away from Seronera Airstrip, central Serengeti, the grassy plains that used to be a predator research area and shut to tourists was recently opened. This part of the Serengeti has seen cats of all sizes thrive, from the melanistic serval family, to an abundance of cheetahs.
Organised by the company I work for, I was out in the Serengeti on a beautiful May morning when we came across a cheetah family. A mother and her three offspring were moving through the long grasses. Whilst the mother was on the lookout for some breakfast, the three youngsters were busy play fighting when two of them ran up to the top of a termite mound. The left sibling sighted a herd of Thompsons Gazelle and instantly its demeanour changed. Immediately I saw a playful adolescent without a care in the world, turn into the apex predator we know cheetahs to be. It provided a perfect photo opportunity but was also a stark reminder of just how quickly instincts can kick in for these big cats.
This limited-edition print is available in two sizes which you can see on the online store, as is Alert and Aware which also features in this article..
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