An impala was in a full out sprint attempting to escape a cheetah when it appeared to jump feet first straight into a safari-goers vehicle.
Obviously, the impala didn’t plan this; the animal saw the car at the last minute and was likely trying to leap over it. Instead, into the window it went.
Antelope travel in herds like this to protect themselves; there’s safety in numbers. The grazers are elegant animals known for their athleticism, speed, and leaping abilities thanks to their slender, powerful legs. When pursued, the animals can reach top speeds of 60 miles per hour in short bursts, and can maintain speeds of 30 miles per hour for longer chases of up to 20 miles.
They need this agility when outrunning cheetahs, the fastest land animals on the planet. The large cats are capable of running up to 65 miles per hour, but only for short distances. While they’re only slightly faster than antelope, they can accelerate extremely quickly which gives them even more of an advantage.
The unbelievable sighting occurred at Kruger National Park in South Africa. The park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, spanning an area of 7,576 square miles in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The region is well known as one of the best safari destinations available, with visitors given the opportunity to spot Africa’s Big Five (elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, and buffalo) in addition to animals like cheetahs and antelope.
Watch:
Click here to watch a video of a speedy impala delivering itself to some lions.
