And when I manage to keep my eyes on the chase, those few seconds are pure drama: incredible speed, instinct and survival unfolding right in front of me. I hardly dare to blink, because by then, it might already be over. It’s one of those moments when I simply forget about everything else and think: Wow, this is wild Africa!
0 to dinner in three seconds
So it goes on the savannah. The cheetah explodes into action, but if it fails to catch its prey during that short, furious chase, it often gives up and watches dinner disappear across the savannah. For the cheetah, fast food really does mean fast food.
One time in the Kruger National Park in South Africa I remember, this huge cat sat half-hidden in the tall golden grass, his head turning slowly from side to side. He was looking for his next meal. Hopefully it was not me. I knew I couldn`t escape by running from him.
After a while everything exploded. Several other well-hidden cheetahs showed up too, and the running competition started. Think you are fast? Think again. Cheetahs can reach speeds of around 100 km/h in short bursts, making them the fastest land animals on Earth. It`s like a Ferrari with fur. Their long legs, flexible spines and enormous strides are built for explosive acceleration.
For the cheetah, this was just another hunt. For the prey, it was the race of its life. One was running for dinner, and the other was running not to become dinner. For me, watching the chase was a real thrill: so fast and almost impossible to look away from. But at the same time, it was brutally shocking. For the cheetah, it was dinner. For the prey, it was a race for its life. Nature doesn’t do happy endings for everyone.
A body designed for one thing: explosive speed
Maybe I'd have had a chance against the cheetah in a marathon. This animal is built for the sprint. As mentioned, they can reach top speeds of 100 km/h, but they are all about that short sprint life. Not endurance. They can only hold this pace for 20 to 30 seconds before needing a proper breather. The cheetah is also built-in football boots. Unlike an average house cat, a cheetah’s claws are semi-retractable. They stay exposed 24/7 to act like sports cleats, giving them unbelievable grip on the pitch, or, well, the savannah.
Black “sunglasses” against the strong African sun
Another mind-blowing fact is their natural sunnies. Those iconic black tear marks running from their eyes down to their mouths aren't just for style. They block out the blinding glare of the sun so they can keep their eyes firmly on their prey.
Cheetah teamwork
Male cheetahs often form lifelong groups with their brothers, known as coalitions. But I prefer to call them the “Band of Brothers”. They are hunting together, defending their territory and watching each other’s backs. If one cheetah misses, another can take over the chase. And that`s without roaring. Cheetahs can’t roar at all. Instead, they communicate by chirping like a bird, purring, and hissing. Meanwhile, the males organise a hunting party, often working together as a coalition. Females, by contrast, are usually solitary except when raising cubs.
When nature puts us in our place
Travelling has a habit of reminding me where humans fit in the natural world. Sometimes adventure is about testing human limits. And sometimes it is about discovering, very quickly, that nature has limits of its own, and we humans are nowhere near them. And then I started thinking about some friends who acts like a cheetah: full speed for 20 seconds in 5 km/h, and then they immediately need a nap!
For a cheetah, there’s rarely a second chance: catch dinner fast, or watch it disappear over the horizon. This time, the cheetah gave up too. Luckily for me, I wasn’t dinner.
Stein Morten Lund, September 2026
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