Page 15 - Cornwall_Issue 3_2022

THE BIG PICTURE

NJOZI, THE CHEETAH,

RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE

I started my bird photography hobby in January 2021. The close proximity of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve
with its abundant bird life was a great boost for my new hobby and my wife Cheryl and I became
regular visitors. The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is not just about birds, it also has a great variety of wildlife,
not least of which is a mighty herd of buffalo, rhino and of course its most celebrated and reclusive
resident, Njozi the female cheetah. It took us a full year before we eventually saw her in January 2022 for
the first time, with a kill nogal! We watched her for a good half hour before she had her fill and walked
off into the tall grass. We still commented on how large her tummy was with all the feeding - little did
we know she was actually pregnant and has since given birth to five cubs! I hope it doesn't take another
year to see them!

P H O T O G R A P H Y BY I VA N M U L L E R , JA N UA R Y 2 02 2

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