Predator in action: Tanzanian Cheetah takes down young gazelle

A Tanzanian safari offers you a front row seat to nature at its grandest, and on occasion, a glimpse into moments that truly make it tick.

We were lucky enough to witness one of these marvels during our recent visit to the Southern Serengeti earlier this month: cheetah predation.

We had an early start from the Ndutu region and had already found six cheetah, a pride of lion, and a fair share of the migration's most popular attendees: wildebeest, zebra, and Thompson's gazelle. It was almost 11 a.m. and now our search involved finding the perfect spot to stop to enjoy a breakfast in the bush when we saw it: our seventh cheetah of the day.

I could barely make out it's silhouette in the distance. The heat bearing down from the sun overhead gave the horizon a hazy mirage effect. The cat was scanning its surroundings, taking in a sizable herd of gazelle, hartebeest, and a pair of curious jackals. Our Nale Moru guide, Thompson, explained the jackals were likely interested in the cheetah's next move hoping if the cat successfully they could walk away with a portion of the catch.

We watched from afar and after about 30 minutes the jackals lost interest and wandered off to find their own meal. Like the cheetah, all three of our stomachs were rumbling and we wanted to ensure we too could get our own first meal of the day, so we decided to change the position. It was agreed that, at least for the moment, the cheetah was more interested in window shopping than actually putting in an order.

We made sure to give the cheetah and herd of gazelle an extra wide birth. As we drove on, Thompson spotted a young gazelle grazing separate from the rest.

"You better find your friends, or you'll be lunch," Thompson said jokingly as we passed.

We settled on a spot about a half mile from where we first spotted the cheetah, who now was nothing more than a tiny dot on the horizon. My husband and I jumped out of the rig to help Thompson with grabbing the box of food and assembling the table. We were just pulling the metal table legs from a cloth bag when Thompson looked past us and said "the cheetah's coming."

I turned around and could now clearly see the cheetah trotting in a straight line toward us, stirring the herd of gazelle. The tiny antelope begin to scamper and scurry every which way in a fearful frenzy.

"Time to get back in the truck" we each say aloud as we quickly shove the table back into the truck and lock the tailgate. I grab my camera, step up onto the seat and ground myself on the open roof. The rest happens in a blur.

The cheetah opens up into a full sprint, its focus locked onto a young gazelle separated from the rest of the group. A trail of dust follows the pair as they dip and dodge back and forth. It doesn't take long for the cheetah to close the gap, ending the chase in a giant cloud. As the dust settled, we could see the cat heavily panting, holding the gazelle by the neck within its jaws.

The cheetah's efforts were rewarded, and soon his muzzle dripped with the blood of the kill. Between mouthfuls, the cat would sit up and scan the landscape and ensure no other predators or scavengers were making their way to steal the spoils. Thankfully this time, none have come and the success can be enjoyed in peace.

It was a privilege to witness such a dynamic moment. Nature at its core - raw, and real.