At the end of our Satara Summer, on the way to the Kruger National Park’s Orpen Gate from where we were to head back home to Pretoria, we were lucky to see a lone Cheetah resting in the shade of a small thorn tree. Having stopped for a last photo or two, it was Marilize who noticed a Spotted Hyena heading straight towards the Cheetah. Knowing just how hateful the relationship between Africa’s large predators are, we were sure we were probably going to witness a tremendous fight when the two meat-eaters meet, especially when the Cheetah noticed the Hyena, snarled at it viciously, and got up to defend its turf. But turns out this Hyena was not a fighter; he walked straight past the Cheetah as if it wasn’t even there, and not paying the cheetah’s tantrum any attention whatsoever. It was rather amusing seeing the Cheetah standing by himself, looking decidedly confused, as the Hyena disappeared from view…
DeWetsWild 
All’s well that ends well. Great photos, Dries.
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Thanks, Sylvia – some of them are Joubert’s again.
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You must be very proud of Joubert. He obviously has a good teacher.
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You are way to kind, Sylvia, but it is wonderful to be able to share so many loves with my son!
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As you say there was no food to compete over and perhaps neither was hungry. I guess the cheetah thought rather be safely defensive than sorry.
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All that adrenaline and nowhere to direct it!
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Makes me wonder… was the hyena going to collect the family? They tend to bully in packs, don’t they?🤣🤣
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One hyena is more than a match for a sinewy cheetah! 😀
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Fortunately the scrawny one can run faster that the ugly one… well, for a short dash at least! 😃😃
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Sjoe, dis ongelooflik!
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Net een van baie wonderlike goed wat ons in ons Satara-vakansie gesien het, Aletta. Wat n plek!
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Fantasties! Julle was baie bevoorreg
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Ag ek is tog so bly … bloederige gevegte staan my nie aan nie
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Dit is so, Tina – altwee van hulle het ongedeerd voortgegaan met hul dag.
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What an amazing encounter (non-encounter?!) this must’ve been to witness. Fascinating that you observe these behaviors right before your eyes.
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Places like Kruger is so important for exactly that reason; offering a glimpse into a world where humans play no part.
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How marvellous to have witnessed this interaction!
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A great reminder that animals don’t always react in the way the guide books tell you they will!
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Just think how much adrenaline that cheetah must have had left over when the hyena didn’t engage. 🙂 An unusual sight is fun, isn’t it?
janet
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Great entertainment, Janet. Al it needed was that canned behind-the-scenes laughter of American sitcoms.
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I love how you are putting together the play by play action!
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Thank you very much, Pam!
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The two rivals were not in the mood! Next time…maybe? Great series, D. 🙂
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I’m sure the lack of a sizable carcass played a big part in the hyena’s disinterest, H.J. If there were meat at stake, things would probably have been much different.
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Yay for this non-confrontation! I know the nature of the food chain but I cannot look. This–this was great. Thank you, hyena, for walking right by. That poor cheetah–he is looking at you for help in understanding what just happened. Poor thing–dazed and confused.
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We had a good chuckle at the cheetah’s expense, Lois. He must have felt so silly!
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