THE FLOOD
The Kalahari, the largest expanse of sand on the planet, holds within its center a remarkable phenomenon: the Okavango Delta. Each year, during the driest period, distant rainfall replenishes its veins, causing a great flood that breathes life into this land. This flood transforms the Kalahari into a wildlife paradise unlike any other on Earth. Currently, the land is dry, the rivers have disappeared, and the anticipation for the upcoming flood is palpable. Thousands of hungry quillia scour the floodplains in search of food, while the grasses have withered, leaving only dormant seeds in the dry sand. A scramble for food ensues. In this arid landscape, a cheetah, especially a mother with three growing cubs, finds the unbroken floodplains to be ideal hunting grounds. However, the cubs are still too young to join in the hunt and instead observe and learn from their skilled mother. The cheetah relies on her speed and agility, as Impala horns can be lethal. She must make no mistakes. Meanwhile, her cubs depend entirely on her for food. The Impala would make a perfect meal, but the cubs are not yet ready to hunt. As the dry season continues, survival becomes a matter of timing. Just when most plants have withered away, the kagelia trees burst into life, attracting vervet monkeys with their sweet nectar. These monkeys, in turn, help pollinate the trees. The vibrant red flowers of the kagelia trees are irresistible to the Impala, drawing them to the feast. It is precisely during this moment that the leopard seizes the opportunity to hunt the Impala. She patiently waits for the monkeys to leave, ensuring there are no witnesses to her hunt.