Cheetah on the Mara

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aj500

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While on Safari in Kenya (2014) we found this cheetah lounging in the grass . This same cheetah came over and jumped up on the back / top /hood of our truck. This did create a lot of panic inside. I did manage to get a few nice photos. I used a Nikon D90 and Nikon 80-400 f4.5-5.6 (f5.6, 1/500 sec, ISO 900, for the first photo. Then switched (in panic mode) to a Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 lens (f2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO 1400).
Cheetha-4.jpg
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Cheetha-8.jpg
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Great images, nice switch under a bit of pressure!! There are some cheetahs in the Mara that use the safari wagons as lookout spot!! Must have been an interesting existence. I live in Kenya and have so far avoided this ‘interesting’ experience. One for your memory books.
 
Wow!
If the claw hanging inside the vehicle weren't enough, the head (mouth!) comes inside.
I have no idea how you had the wherewithal to execute a lens swap in these conditions.
Great set and story!
 
Here is a quick follow-up to a couple of questions. Yes, things did get intense, but the cheetah was calmer than us. Here she is checking us out. The image quality isn't the greatest but under thr conditions I think you can understand. They still bring back great memories. The other truck traveling with us videoed the entire event. Chris uses that video on his tour travel site.
Cheetha Looks In.jpg
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Cheetha Checking us out.jpg
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Welll...if she'd have wanted you, she would have definitely had you! Under the conditions, any picture is by definition, EXCELLENT! Switching lenses approaches a Superpower!(y)
 
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Have you got a link?
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I have the camo lens cover in the back. The other gentleman in the back and I kept saying "Go for the girls, they are younger and more tender". After the event was over we laugh and talked about it for days.
 
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