Malaika

Malaika

Malaika is a big celebrity in the Masai Mara at the moment – the sight of her and her 4 approximately year-old cubs is indeed something all visitors are clamouring to see. We spent some time with her and her family in June 2015 – we saw them hunting, playing and just lounging around doing nothing. Malaika, apart from being known as the supermom, is also very well known for jumping onto vehicles – a mischievous behaviour she has also taught to her cubs. However such behaviour should be discouraged as cheetahs may hurt themselves jumping from vehicle slippery surfaces, and there is no telling what could happen if in a moment of panic a cheetah accidentally injures a tourist while trying to claw out of a vehicle. So please if you are visiting the Mara and come across her and her family make sure your guide moves away if she tries to join you on your game drive – a hurt foot is a death sentence for a cheetah. We had to drive off in quite a hurry when she tried to surprise us at one point – she is getting quite sneaky!

Techs: Canon 7D Mark II | Canon 200-400 f4 IS USM Extender 1.4 @ 506mm | f5.6 | 1/1000 | ISO 500