The sighting happened just off the H1-4 which is the road which stretches between the Lower Sabie and Skukuza camps in the reserve.
This is one of the park’s most famous game-viewing routes because it follows the Sabie River for much of the way. For this reason, the region is abundant with wildlife, especially elephants, hippos, buffalo, and big cats like leopards and lions.
The riverine vegetation also makes it a scenic route.
On this particular day, a lone cheetah was wandering through the terrain and having spied a herd of impala, had its sights set on a kill.
Cheetah launches surprise attack
The cheetah had remained unnoticed, well-camouflaged by the long, pale grass and scattered shadows.
In a sudden surge of energy, it launched forward. It moved like lightening, with its stride lengthening as it pushed towards its target.
A cheetah can reach speeds of up to 100 to 110km/h in short bursts. This makes it the fastest land animal on earth. Its acceleration is extraordinary and it is able to go from a standstill to 96km/h in just a few seconds!
This incredible speed is matched with a lightweight build, averaging 67 to 72cm at the shoulder and weighing between 21 and 72kg, depending on the cheetah’s age and sex.
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Diego watched as the cheetah’s form moved at incredible speed across the horizon.
Impala are far from an easy target. While not as fast as a cheetah, an adult impala can run at around 80 to 90km/h and has the advantage of remarkable agility.
Male impala weigh between 53 and 76kg and stand around 90cm at the shoulder. They have a muscular build designed for both speed and leaping.
Their ability to make sudden, unpredictable changes in direction and leap distances of up to 10m makes them difficult prey even for the fastest predator.
Impala manage to escape blitz-quick attack
The impala herd miraculously noticed the cheetah and its members scattered in a flurry of leaps and sharp turns as it approached. They relied on agility to escape.
Even a waterbuck turned to see what was happening. The lone cheetah had stirred up a commotion with its speed and blitz attack on the impala.
A brief but intense ambush
The speed of the onslaught made it difficult to fully fathom what had just happened. The chase was over soon after it had begun, and the bushveld was once left in a peaceful state.
The ambush had been brief but intense. The cheetah’s body is built for sprinting. It has long limbs, a flexible spine, and large nasal passages for oxygen intake. However, it can only maintain top speed for around 20 to 30 seconds before overheating.
This incredible yet lightening-fast sighting showed just how fast and intense a cheetah hunt can be. While the cheetah was unsuccessful, Diego witnessed first hand just how impressive a cheetah running at full speed can be.
The cheetah’s speed was unmatched, however, it was challenged by the quick reactions of its prey.