But, nevertheless, the bold animal hopped into the back seat of a jeep as it drove through the African plains – much to the shock of an Irishman inside – Photo: DAVID HORSEY/CATERS NEWS
The wild cat, with its razor sharp claws and teeth, sure is one moggy you’d rather not have curling up on your lap.
But, nevertheless, the bold animal hopped into the back seat of a jeep as it drove through the African plains – much to the shock of an Irishman inside.
After entering the vehicle, it slowly sauntered over to holidaymaker Mickey McCaldin until it was barely a foot away from his face.
Family friend David Horsey captured the tense standoff between the pair as it looked like the cheetah was going to make himself comfortable on Mickey’s lap.
David, 62 from Mombasa, Kenya, said: ‘I’ve been living in Kenya all my life and I’ve never seen anything like this.
‘The cheetah just wasn’t scared of getting up close and personal. At first Mickey was really relaxed but I think he was quite concerned it might try and sit in his lap.
‘Unlike a domestic cat, you certainly don’t want that.’
David captured the pictures on June 12, as the group tracked a well-known family of cheetahs, whose mother is called Malaika.
Having followed them for a couple of days previously, they observed that the family hadn’t had a kill for several days.
David said: ‘The family had been looking for a gazelle for a few days with no luck.
‘As we’d been around for a couple of days, I think they were used to the jeep so the mum jumped on top to get a better view.
‘I think the other cheetah tried to follow her up but went a different way.
‘Once it had got bored of Mickey it turned away and looked out of the vehicle for a few minutes.
‘It just jumped out afterwards.’
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