The Moment I Saw My First Cheetah
- enquiries3323
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
A story of patience, wild dreams, and one unforgettable encounter in Loisaba.
By Basil Sarguroh
Editor’s Note
At Loisaba, we love it when visitors connect deeply with the land, the wildlife, and the conservation work taking place here. Basil Sarguroh — a biologist and storyteller — recently joined the Cheetah Project and shared a personal story with us that beautifully captures the wonder of seeing a cheetah in the wild for the very first time.
"My name is Basil Sarguroh — I’m a biologist and storyteller who recently had the privilege of participating in the Cheetah Project at Loisaba Conservancy. The experience was deeply meaningful to me, and I’ve written a personal story capturing my first cheetah sighting and the profound impact it had on me."
We’re honoured to share his reflection below.

When I think back to the first time I saw a wild cheetah, it doesn’t feel real. I was standing on a hillside in Loisaba Conservancy, eyes scanning the land, heart quiet with anticipation. It was during a static spotting session one of many we did as part of the Cheetah Project.Then suddenly something shifted in the golden distance. A flicker of movement, nearly lost in the landscape. At first, I thought it was a shadow cast by the afternoon sun on the rocks. But then it moved again. Smooth. Intentional. A cheetah. We were three days into the Cheetah Project, driven by the shared hope of spotting one of these elusive cats. Countless hours had passed with our eyes glued to binoculars, scanning Loisaba’s endless mosaic of land which include savannahs, hillsides and bushlands. Each drive began with quiet optimism and ended with a bit more urgency in our hearts. The silence of no sighting began to weigh heavier.
But we weren’t ready to give up. And then there it was. That flicker of movement down the slope. I didn’t say a word for almost a full minute. My heart pounded with disbelief. A boy from India who once sat cross-legged in front of the TV watching cheetahs on Nat Geo, dreaming of being a wildlife conservationist someday was now here. In the wild. In Africa. Seeing his first cheetah not through a screen, but through his own eyes. Not just as a spectator, but as someone contributing to their conservation.
The dream had come true.
It was more than a sighting. It was a reminder that wild dreams, no matter how distant they seem, are worth chasing.
Loisaba isn’t what most people picture when they think of cheetahs. It’s not just endless grasslands, though those exist too. It’s a living mosaic: sprawling savannahs, tangled bushland, steep rocky slopes, and woodlands tucked between the Mathews Range and the Laikipia Plateau. This diversity doesn’t just support cheetahs, it tests them. It’s here that I truly saw what these animals are capable of. Spotting a cheetah on a rocky hillside rather than in open plains was something I hadn’t imagined. But in Loisaba, adaptability is survival and these cats are masters of it.
We followed the cheetah for hours, weaving through brush and over hills. It moved with practiced precision, slowly edging toward a group of antelope in the distance.There’s a stillness to a cheetah hunt that’s almost meditative. It began with observation long, silent minutes of waiting. Then, it stalked forward, step by careful step. From a slow crawl to a measured trot, and then like a tightly coiled spring an eruption of speed.It wasn’t just breathtaking. It was humbling.
Loisaba Conservancy is more than a wildlife haven it's a blueprint for what conservation can be. Through a powerful mix of science, community partnership, and Eco-tourism, it has built a space where cheetahs and other vulnerable species can thrive.
The Cheetah Project is part of that mission. It supports long-term monitoring and research to understand the challenges cheetahs face in these changing landscapes. Being part of that work, even briefly, changed how I see the wild and our role in it.
Loisaba proves that conservation doesn’t have to be a compromise it can be immersive, intelligent, and deeply inspiring. Visitors aren’t just observers here; they’re part of the story. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing big cats in the wild, witnessing a cheetah hunt, or exploring a landscape that defies expectations,Loisaba is the place. I’m endlessly grateful to Loisaba Conservancy and the Cheetah Project for letting me be part of this story, even for a little while. I carry it with me still.
About the Author
Basil Sarguroh is a biologist turned storyteller. He writes about nature, science, and the space in between—making the complex feel clear and the wild feel closer.
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