Photographers Get Treated To The Sight Of Five Cheetahs Crossing A Flooded River Infested With Crocodiles

A group of individuals were touring Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. They were about to leave when they noticed a cheetah family gathering on the side of a river. The river was flooded, and the water was fierce, but the animals didn’t seem to mind. They just had one aim in mind: to cross it, and they decided to go for it.

The biggest cheetahs rushed into the river, and the tourists instantly gasped. The other two soon followed. As everyone waited in anticipation, wondering if the swimmers would make it to the other side, photographers Arnfinn Johansen and Buddhilini De Soyza took advantage of the situation and pulled out their cameras. Both of them were able to properly capture the unfolding drama.

Arnfinn Johansen, a photographer, claimed he had been watching the five cheetahs for a long period. “They hunt on both sides of the Talek River, so it’s no surprise that they wanted to cross it.” Normally, they would cross the river by stepping on stones, but it had been raining for a long time this year, and due to the floods, it was quite difficult for them to do so,” Johansen stated to Bored Panda. “They had been wandering up and down the river for quite some time, looking for a way to get to the other side. It was quite risky due to the high current. Also, that river is home to the Nile Crocodile, which can easily devour a cheetah.”

According to Johansen, casualties were unavoidable that day. “Not long before, another well-known cheetah drowned or was attacked by crocs while crossing the same river, so there was a serious risk. The five cheetah brothers went for it after studying the area for a long time.”

“First, the leader cheetah jumped into the river, followed by two others. The two smallest cheetahs in the group hesitated a few seconds before following.”

According to Johansen, the group was swimming as quickly as they could. “You could see they didn’t like it.” Fortunately, all of the cheetahs made it over alive, and as the leader cheetah shook his fur and tail, he even snarled at the water.