Most people would hesitate to get close to a wild predator, but photographer Winfried Wisniewski, 64, embraced the challenge, capturing striking close-up shots of a cheetah in Namibia.
Wisniewski approached the big cat, calmly sitting on a dirt mound just meters away. Despite being one of nature’s fastest and most efficient hunters, the cheetah remained still, allowing the photographer to snap several portraits.
Though the animal’s powerful paws can bring down prey in seconds, it seemed comfortable in front of the camera.
“I wasn’t scared at all,” Wisniewski, from the Ruhr district of Germany, shared. “Some of the animals on this farm felt pretty tame. My only concern was whether the light settings on my camera were working. I was worried about missing the perfect shot.”
The photos were taken at an animal orphanage in Harnas, Namibia, where Wisniewski also captured his friend Werner Bollmann photographing a cheetah from just a few yards away.
In another fascinating image, a cheetah is seen casually resting on the bonnet of a Jeep, surrounded by surprised tourists.
Some visitors had even closer encounters, with two women enjoying the rare chance to hug cheetah cubs.
Wisniewski also recalled an earlier experience in East Africa, where wild cheetahs climbed onto his car, allowing him to come face to face with the majestic animals.
“It was an unforgettable experience,” he said.
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