Cheetah

The southern Serengeti, especially around Ndutu, Naabi Hill and the Gol Kopjes, is the most reliable cheetah country in East Africa. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area holds strong populations along the western plains. Legend Expeditions plans southern Serengeti stays around this region on our migration safaris.

January through March is the peak window in the southern Serengeti, when the calving season of the wildebeest brings high prey density to the open plains and daylight hunting is frequent. The dry season from June to October also gives good sightings with better vehicle access. Our guides time southern Serengeti camps to the calving herds.

Yes, and it is one of the few high action wildlife events you have a realistic chance of seeing in person, because cheetahs hunt in daylight. A patient morning drive on the open plains gives you a good chance over a multi day safari. The hunt itself lasts under a minute, so you need to be ready before it starts.

The fastest accurately measured wild cheetah hit 98 km/h, which is 61 mph, in pursuit of prey. They accelerate from a standing start to full speed in roughly three seconds, though they can only sustain that pace for around 400 metres before overheating. After a sprint they need fifteen to thirty minutes to recover.

Cheetahs are exceptional sprinters but poor competitors. They are out muscled by lions, leopards and hyenas, lose roughly half their kills to scavengers, and lose most of their cubs to predation. Add habitat loss outside protected areas, and the global wild population has fallen to around 7,000. Tanzania holds one of the strongest strongholds.

Cheetahs are genetically closer to the puma than to lions, tigers or leopards. They cannot roar, they purr and chirp, and they are usually classified separately from the true big cats. This is why their behaviour is so different from a lion or a leopard on safari.