After our Champagne breakfast the balloon company sent us off in a small Jeep to meet up with the rest of our group who had been on a game drive from around 7am. Turns out the driver knew all about the cheetahs we had seen the previous evening. He knew their favourite routes and soon tracked them down. As luck would have it they were on the hunt for their breakfast. They had their eyes on a group of impala and ignored any humans around – totally focused on the job at hand. Cheetahs communicate with flicks of their tails. The group of 5 split into two. 3 staying downwind of the impala as a distraction while 2 headed upwind. Then in a pincer movement they attacked. We only saw a scatter and dust cloud, not an actual kill.

We eventually joined our group and had lunch on the plain before an afternoon game drive.

This afternoon we saw more of “the big five”. Lion, leopard, elephant as well as hyena, Thompson’s gazelles (one of my favourites), Topi (one of Margaret’s favourites)

Male lion shading from hot sun.

Pregnant leopard looking hot but not bothered

A pair of spotted hyena

Thompsons Gazelle

Warthogs are difficult to get good shots of as these are shy animals.

Family of warthogs

Below are photos of Margaret’s favourite – Topi. These guys are great lookouts and can often be seen standing on the only available high ground. If the Topi start to run all other animals around follow suit.

I spy with my little eye….