... the owner told me about a trip he took to the Maasai Mara a month earlier. He said that he encountered a coalition of five cheetahs in the Maasai Mara. Adult female cheetahs are solitary. But male cheetahs often form coalitions after they are weaned from their mother. Usually the coalitions consist of brothers. Coalitions of two or three are not uncommon. A coalition of four is rare. A coalition of five cheetahs is unheard of.
Several days later while staying in Naboisho Conservancy, I tell my guide that while in Nairobi, I had heard about five male cheetahs in the Mara. My guide knew of them. They were first sighted in Naboisho Mara in February 2017. They remained together and mostly resided in Naboisho until June when they disappeared. For several weeks after that, the Five Boys were spotted a few times passing through a few local communities between Naboisho and the Mara. And at their own peril, they were picking off some livestock along the way. In early July they were first spotted in the Maasai Mara National Reserve where they have since taken up residence; coincident with the arrival of the Great Migration.
I was hesitant to go to the Mara because of the potential for very crowded sightings. In the past I've seen sightings in the Mara where there were so many vehicles at a sighting that I thought the resulting pressure on the animals was terrible and inexcusable.
But the continuing thought of potentially seeing five cheetahs together continued to tempt me; never-minding the additional thought, however remote, of perhaps seeing them hunting.
Aug 26, 2017, Maasai Mara National Reserve
So on my final day at Naboisho Conservancy, we leave camp extremely early, in the dark, and drive to the Maasai Mara with the plan to arrive at sunrise in the hopes of finding The Five Boys before traffic starts to pick up.
My guide tells me that this coalition of five is actually a coalition of three bothers, and another coalition of two brothers that for some reason decided to join forces. Since joining together in February they have been inseparable. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6H89xfP/0/f6471986/X3/i-6H89xfP-X3.jpg
After a few minutes, we notice some of the wildebeest looking into the bushes. The cheetahs are there. A few minutes later, a hyena walks along the bush line where the cheetahs are. This could spoil everything. Hyenas will sometimes follow cheetahs to steal their kills. Cheetahs know this. So if the cheetahs see that hyenas are following them, they will often give up their hunting until the hyenas go away. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-8r5q93t/0/dd4407b5/X3/i-8r5q93t-X3.jpg
It's difficult to tell which cheetah to track. They're coming in from different positions at the same time. The wildebeest seem confused and don't know which direction to run. One of the cheetahs picks up speed and starts to jog in. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kGfRs72/0/b20b7e36/X3/i-kGfRs72-X3.jpg
Within moments a third cheetah is there. The remaining two of the Five Boys have also seen the attack and are on their way to help. With multiple cheetahs there, any thought of a rescue attempt by nearby wildebeests is dashed. They back off. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-7RZ64Jk/0/af6d9823/X3/i-7RZ64Jk-X3.jpg
While the first cheetah continues to suffocate the wildebeest, the other cheetahs are on the lookout for other predators. The spectacle and sound of the panicked heard and the racing cheetahs are bound to bring in other predators such as hyena and lions, who frequently try to steal cheetah kills. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3rd83RC/0/3d05324b/X3/i-3rd83RC-X3.jpg
The Five Boys waste no time. Cheetahs are built for speed. They are not particularly strong and are not able to protect their kills from other top predators such as lions and hyena. If confronted, they will give up their kill rather than risk being injured. If a cheetah becomes injured and cannot hunt, it is not likely to survive. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-BRR8GSR/0/8d2625be/X3/i-BRR8GSR-X3.jpg
... and head into thick brush near the border of the Maasai Mara and one of the Conservancy areas. We cannot follow any further. We bid farewell to the Five Boys.
It's only 9:32 am. After a phenomenally exciting and heart-stopping morning, we still have the entire day ahead to explore the Masaai Mara. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-XN4HZf5/0/863277fa/X3/i-XN4HZf5-X3.jpg
And to think that I almost passed on a day in the Mara!
What an amazing series of events! Congratulations on the once in a lifetime experience.
Incidentally, thereis a TV showherecslled Safari Live where they show safaris in real time, and they showed that coalition a few weeks ago!
This makes me want to return for safari trip number 7.
Bob
Hobbes,
what a experience it must have been. So happy for you, but internally like all photogs, a bit jealous
Congrats on the experience and the solitude to enjoy it. Voted.
Wow, what a set !!! Amazing shots and what an amazing story you have told. Congratulations on not only seeing the 5 boys, but witnessing and documenting this. Very nicely done.
An amazing set of images and story to go with them! You had a little luck and a lot of skill both to get in position and then to get the shots. Excellent!
I recall a year or two ago you posted another amazing set of images about tracking a family of cheetahs for a few days. You are posting some memorable images!
Bobg657 wrote:
What an amazing series of events! Congratulations on the once in a lifetime experience.
Incidentally, thereis a TV showherecslled Safari Live where they show safaris in real time, and they showed that coalition a few weeks ago!
This makes me want to return for safari trip number 7.
Bob
Thanks Bob! Glad to hear that this coalition is still together!
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kdacharya wrote:
Hobbes,
what a experience it must have been. So happy for you, but internally like all photogs, a bit jealous
Congrats on the experience and the solitude to enjoy it. Voted.
Thanks! It was too much to hope for. Then when it started to unfold, it was intense and surreal.
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birdied wrote:
Wow, what a set !!! Amazing shots and what an amazing story you have told. Congratulations on not only seeing the 5 boys, but witnessing and documenting this. Very nicely done.
Birdie
Thanks Birdie! The sight of the five cheetahs together was just enchanting. They're such elegant cats!
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louie champan wrote:
Most impressive documentary, very nicely done.
You have some great stough in this longggggggggggggg post
Morris
Thanks Morris! I debated with myself whether to just post a few of the better shots, but decided that the story makes it more interesting.
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surfnron wrote:
Very well documented, very well photographed, and very well told Hobbes ~ Ron
kwilliam8 wrote:
Thanks for putting this together!
Keith W.
Thanks Keith! Glad you enjoyed it.
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dclark wrote:
An amazing set of images and story to go with them! You had a little luck and a lot of skill both to get in position and then to get the shots. Excellent!
I recall a year or two ago you posted another amazing set of images about tracking a family of cheetahs for a few days. You are posting some memorable images!
Dave
Thanks Dave. It was a lot of luck. The Mara is such a big place. And timing is everything. And I have to give my Maasai guide big accolades for positioning us in the perfect spot when the attack went down. He was phenomenal; not only at this sighting, but at many others as well! Incredible tracking skills!
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Well documented Hobbes, my fingers swiping/scrolling down the images have never been given such a workout!
My 7th and last trip to the Mara was back in 2010, and vowed not to return again (in migration season) due to the crowding and more importantly the behaviour of others, I would however consider a return (outside migration) if the boys hung around Naiboisho again.
The post is long, but wow!! It's so worth reading the whole thing! I have always dreamed capturing the image of these animals in their habitats like that!
marc2307 wrote:
Well documented Hobbes, my fingers swiping/scrolling down the images have never been given such a workout!
My 7th and last trip to the Mara was back in 2010, and vowed not to return again (in migration season) due to the crowding and more importantly the behaviour of others, I would however consider a return (outside migration) if the boys hung around Naiboisho again.
Cheers
Marc
Thanks Marc! I know what you mean, which is why I nearly decided not to go and just stay in the Conservancy, which was fantastic. But the possibility of seeing the Five Boys kept nagging at me. Really really glad I went for it. My guide was also hoping that they return to the Conservancy.
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soupy wrote:
Wow, what a magnificent day you had!! Congratulations on the once in a lifetime experience.
Sue
Thanks Sue. It was amazing to just find them and see them all together. But then when they starting walking into the wildebeest herd and it was clear they were going for it, it was just surreal. Even my Maasai guide was giddy.
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bbourizk wrote:
These are amazing and what a great sight to see there.
I thought I was lucky to see two but 5 is just out of this world. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks bbourizk. I can't help but think that if more people had the chance to see such majestic creatures in their natural habitats, they would appreciate them so much more and perhaps help conservation efforts.
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polaris-14 wrote:
The post is long, but wow!! It's so worth reading the whole thing! I have always dreamed capturing the image of these animals in their habitats like that!
Thanks! Appreciate the comments. Every time one goes out trying to photograph nature, you never know what you are going to find. And sometimes you come across some amazing and beautiful things!
