21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Tongue and Groom

A mother cheetah grooms and cleans her precious two cubs just after dawn in Mara North Conservancy, Kenya. The playful cubs cautiously explored their surroundings under the watchful eye of their mother. It was a privilege to witness their bond and witness their hunting instincts come alive. As the sun continued its ascent, I captured this extraordinary encounter, forever etching the memory of this extraordinary wildlife spectacle in the Masai Mara.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Kenya
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Charlotte Keast