The team describe what happened:

"We got a number of atmospheric shots of the windmill and reservoir with a sultry sky in the background. As beautiful as the shots were, the highlight was the appearance of a one-eyed jackal that had its sights set on the kori bustards feeding around the reservoir.

"The grasses surrounding the reservoir were a perfect height for the jackal, breaking up its silhouette and allowing it to sure footedly get within a 100 m of the birds without them knowing. Their attention was fixed on sifting out small insects from the parched soil.

"It was only as the jackal got closer that we noticed that it was missing an eye. The wound was an old one and had healed remarkably well. It proves that you don’t need to be in perfect physical shape to survive in  Kruger, just determined. Certainly this jackal didn’t seem too hindered by its missing eye as it resolutely made a beeline for the kori bustards.

"Unfortunately for the jackal, the swirling wind changed direction and within seconds the kori bustards stopped feeding and moved off. The jackal didn’t seem too discouraged by this and carried on its way, perhaps to meet its partner (jackals mate for life so are often spotted in pairs).

"A short while after leaving the reservoir we found a pair of cheetahs, probably brothers out marking their territory. They both looked in great condition and their extended bellies suggested they had recently eaten. No matter how many times you get to film cheetah it is hard not to be mesmerised by their elegant gait and the intensity of their stare.

"They appeared to be totally at ease with the camera and bakkie as we followed them, at times appearing to almost stop and allow us to catch up. The “money-shot” moment was when they decided to scent mark a tree, with each cheetah rubbing up against opposite sides of the tree before spraying it. After covering 3-4 km the pair decided to stop for a rest on a bare patch of ground, which is where we left them to enjoy the warmth of the midmorning sun.

  © This video belongs to the Southern African Natural History Unit.