Cheetahs in the Kalahari desert survive only by adapting to one of Africa’s harshest environments. These big cats are well suited to dry climates, but even they depend on one crucial factor: an abundance of prey.

A cheetah mother in the Okavango Delta faces the same challenge as she raises five growing cubs on her own. For female cheetahs, motherhood is a solitary task. Males rarely help with raising offspring. Instead, they often form small groups with other males, roaming together and conserving their energy. At times, they can even become an added burden, pursuing females that are already fully occupied with the demanding job of protecting and feeding their young.

For a mother cheetah, every day is a balancing act between finding enough food, avoiding danger, and ensuring her cubs survive long enough to become independent.