This was the astonishing moment various visitors witnessed a cheetah take down an impala right in front of their eyes – ch asing it into a BMW!
On Sunday, the 20th of March 2022, Hardus Lubbe, Petrus de Kock, and Thabane Malatji were some of the lucky visitors to the Kruger National Park who witnessed a cheetah make a kill right next to their vehicles! This unbelievable sighting happened on the Gasanftombi junction, near Crocodile Bridge.
“We did not quite understand why she at some point lay down, inviting the cubs to play with her. One of the cubs started to walk towards the impala – and she called him back. Next thing, she slapped at them – whilst still laying down. This must have been the communication to them that they must stay put – and watch her as she does the stalking and hunt!”
“We managed to count over 50 impalas in the vicinity before she started the run. She is such an experienced hunter – waiting for the right prey to seize her opportunity. The cars were not even a factor to her – she knew exactly what she was doing.”
“The cubs were 150m away from the impala – far out of sight. The impalas were unaware of the lurking danger. The white herons did try their utter best to create some warning for the impalas, but alas.”
Another visitor, Hardus tells that on their way to Crocodile Bridge, they bypassed Gasanftombi junction and saw the cars waiting, so they stopped and waited too. After only a few minutes, he witnessed as the female cheetah chases the impala into the BMW right next to their vehicle, whereafter she took it to her little ones.