There’s an impala in my lap!

Tuesday 7 June started like any other day in the Kruger Park. My husband Andries and I went on a game drive with our son Danie, his wife Rina and their daughter Liyah (1). On the S82 near Lower Sabie, we saw a cheetah lying in the middle of the road. We switched off the engine and rolled down the windows. After about 10 minutes the cheetah got up and walked into the veld, keeping parallel with the road. We followed her slowly. Suddenly a young impala ram darted out of the bush. The cheetah stiffened, ready to pounce… Liyah started to babble in the back seat. The impala heard the strange sound, stopped, and looked in her direction. At that moment the cheetah struck. The terrified impala tried to jump over our bakkie, but instead came right through the passenger window and landed on my lap! Acting on impulse, I gently pushed the antelope back out of the window. It fell to the ground where the waiting cheetah grabbed it by the throat and dragged it into the veld. An honorary ranger met with us when we arrived back at Lower Sabie. He took photos of the clump of impala hair on the window edge and the wet mark on the inside of the windscreen made by the antelope’s nose. The photos published here were taken by Stefan Visagie and Leuka Christensen. ELIZE FOURIE, Little Brak River Send your letters to editor@gomag.co.za – please include your name, surname and where you live. Please also include a photo if you have one. We reserve the right to edit and shorten letters, and use your photos elsewhere in the magazine, on our digital platforms and in our marketing material.