Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
On the top of a termite mound

Many times I've been looking for cheetah in this area in Samburu National Reserve in north Kenya. And my secret dream was to see one cheetah, one day, on top a giant termite mound like this one. That afternoon at the end of december, I was totally alone in this area and the light was beginning to be better as the sun was going down when I spotted a cheetah. I waited there for a while because he was not moving. After a while he decided to move and walk away towards this termite mound. He climbed it in order to scan the landscape and the territory. He stayed there for a while, went down and ant to another termite mound, not so high. It was my gift for Christmas as it was December 25th.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Kenya
Copyright: © Nicolas Urlacher