Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Nat'l Geographic Vid
• VHS Release Date: July 11, 1997
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304474490
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,036 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Dogs might chase cars, but only a cheetah could actually catch one. These big cats, the fastest land animals in the world, can attain speeds of 60 miles per hour, if only for short sprints. Still, that's all they need to nab a hapless Thomson's gazelle in Season of the Cheetah, a still-timely National Geographic Video Classic. Following small groups of these lithe, graceful killers as they return to the Serengeti for the spring rainy season, we can see their complicated social life, their struggles with competitors such as (much larger) lions, and their reliance on quick kills for their everyday sustenance. While their situation and numbers have improved somewhat over the years, their fight for life is just as gripping as ever. Add to that the absolutely smashing footage of the Serengeti during and after a storm--the inescapable torrents, the churning clouds, and the eerie light that follows--and you'll find Season of the Cheetah irresistible. --Rob Lightner

Product Description

In Africa's Serengeti, the beginning of the rainy season marks the return of the fastest animal on land - the cheetah. For him this is a time of plenty and a season of danger. In this beautifully photographed film, National Geographic follows three cheetah brothers as they hunt for prey. Sleek and quick, the cheetahs are a formidable match for the abundant wildlife of the plains. When the cheetahs wander into an isolated valley, a timeless drama of life and death unfolds to this, the SEASON OF THE CHEETAH.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Savannah Showdown, July 8, 2000

By 

Kellyannl (Bronx, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic's Season of the Cheetah [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a remarkable look at the cheetah.

Hostilities from lions and hyenas are touched upon, but the video's focus is really on the cheetahs' relationships with eachother. We follow three groups through a rainy season on the African savannah - a mother and her cubs who join up with a young female for mutual hunting benefit and companionship, male/female twins who have left their mother but have a year to go before they can be successfully independent, and three young brothers who terrorize them all.

The footage of the three brothers stalking in perfect symmetry is simply unforgettable. You'll be on the edge of your seat when they finally face the twins, with the outnumbered young male's life depending on their mood de jour - and his sister's sexual maturity or lack thereof. This is one of the greats.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Edge of the seat action, August 30, 2005

By 

Y. Deshmukh "Yogibear" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic's Season of the Cheetah [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is definitely one of the best wildlife videos I have ever watched. It's extremely well-shot and has a very coherent story line, but that's not why I have ranked it so highly. It's because this video has action scenes that will chill you and have you literally on the edge of your seat while watching it.

The film follows two different sets of cheetahs around as they hunt, lounge around and generally go on with their lives. One set is three brothers who are absolutely menacing, the other set consists of twins - one brother, one sister. There's also some footage of a mother with her cubs who are joined by a stray adolescent that wants to band with them so as to have a better chance at surviving. The film has gripping footage of the interaction between these sets of cheetahs and also some incredible hunting scenes.

My wife and I watched another National Geographic film called THE FILMMAKERS - that one follows different wildlife filmmakers around on location and gives you a deep appreciation for how incredibly hard it is to shoot these kinds of movies.

Buy both these movies if you are into wildlife films. You will not regret it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE CHEETAH VIDEO, August 15, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: National Geographic's Season of the Cheetah [VHS] (VHS Tape)

PACKED WITH ACTION!Watch 3 cheetah brothers chase down a gazelle, wildebeest, and hare. 60 minutes, covers points of this cat. No, I DON'T think this video is dull. If you like cheetahs, you will enjoy it.