A peaceful moment in Kenya’s Masai Mara was captured when a cheetah, seemingly unbothered by the attention of a curious group of giraffes, decided to take a break.
Wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein was in the Olare Conservancy on Saturday when he came across the cheetah, Musiara, resting on the sun-baked plains.
At first, he only noticed the giraffes but soon spotted Musiara nearby, appearing to enjoy a lazy weekend.
Goldstein, who is based in Wimbledon, shared his excitement about the unpredictability of the area: “Even after countless game drives, the Olare Conservancy never ceases to surprise. We started the morning watching giraffes at sunrise, which is always a pleasant sight. But the real surprise came when we found Musiara, one of the local cheetahs.”
He explained that Musiara looked hungry but wasn’t in a hurry to hunt. “She flopped down in the open plains after being noticed by her potential prey,” he said.
Meanwhile, the giraffes, collectively known as a ‘journey,’ were gradually joined by more of their kind, forming what Goldstein described as a ‘neckline.’
Despite the giraffes’ curious gazes, Musiara remained indifferent. Goldstein explained that Musiara, who has raised three litters of cubs over seven years, is a skilled hunter, but in this case, the challenge of hunting one of these towering creatures would have been too much. Eventually, the giraffes lost interest and wandered off, signaling the end of the encounter.
Goldstein was guiding from Kicheche Bush Camp, one of several eco-camps he co-owns in Kenya while working with Exodus Travels.
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