When they grow up to become some of the fastest land animals alive, these adorable baby cheetahs won't need a lift to get from A to B.

But as they are still growing, a couple of these young big cats opted for a cheeky piggyback off their siblings as they scampered around Tanzania's dusty savanna.

The playful ten-week-old cubs were practicing the renowned sprinting skills which will see them reach speeds of 75mph when fully grown.

Rather than use their own paws, a couple of cheeky cubs hitched a ride on the backs of their brothers and sisters as they playfully tore around Tanzania's Ndutu Plains.

The magical moments were captured by wildlife photographer Paul Sounders, who camouflaged himself in long grass to capture the intimate close-up shots earlier this spring.


Paul, 51, from Seattle, said: 'They raced and scrambled in all directions. Despite being young they had an insane amount of energy and speed.

'One of them kept trying to catch a lift on another cub's back, even though he was still running full pelt.


'It would have been a very fast piggy back. The cubs have an amazing sense of balance and agility.'

Earlier, several cubs wrestled in the dust as their mother watched on.

The four tearaways gnawed at each other's tufts of fur as they rolled on the parched grasslands.


Paul, a professional wildlife photographer for 25 years, added: 'These cubs were at that special age when they're just beginning to explore their world.

'The play is part of their training to live on their own in 18 months' time.

'You could actually see them applying the lessons their mother had taught them. They'd stalk each other, give chase, tackle one another and grab hold of each other's throats playfully.'
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