This is why I get out of bed!

It had been storming all night and was slightly drizzling when my alarm woke me at 5:00am. “Do I really want to get up and go on drive?” I asked myself but the answer had to be yes. I couldn’t turn down a chance to sit in the back of the vehicle where the vantage point is higher and I am able to take better photos. Especially since Ouma, one of our rhino gave birth to a calf three weeks ago, a leopard with four cubs has been seen and most recently Ketsweri’s, our collared cheetah, has finally come out of her den with five little cubs. Baby cheetah was at the top of my list.

So out of bed I crawled, made sure I had a fully battery in my camera and climbed onto the back of the truck. The morning started out slowly and cold. Luckily the rain stopped but the sky was cloudy. We were having no luck finding the cheetah boys so attempted Ketsweri instead. We realized we were getting closer to her and as we turned the corner there she was right in the middle of the road with 5 fuzzy bundles jumping and playing all around her. As soon as it sunk in what I was seeing I let out a squeal, very similar to the noise I made upon seeing wild dog for the first time, Sarah and Joni I’m sure remember the sound. I was so excited I could hardly remember to take photos but luckily I managed a few. Ketsweri was much more relaxed them I expected her to be and the cubs played in the road for about five minuets before heading off deep into the bush and out of sight. Not a long sighting but more than made up for not being able to sleep in.