THREE WEEKS AT ENKISHUI SAFARI CAMP
5 August 2025
TREKKING GORILLAS IN UGANDA
2 September 2025THREE WEEKS AT ENKISHUI SAFARI CAMP
5 August 2025TREKKING GORILLAS IN UGANDA
2 September 20255 BEST PLACES TO SEE CHEETAH IN THE WILD
There are few things that get close to the thrill of watching a cheetah in its natural habitat. Muscles coiled, eyes fixed on a target and then that explosive acceleration across the savanna. By now it is no secret that cheetahs carry the label of being the fastest land mammal on Earth, although this is true there are so many other facts that make cheetah interesting. For me it has to be their general behaviour, once you spend a bit of time with them one of the first things you would notice is the lack of confidence cheetah have. They always look nervous, and probably should be as they are on the smaller/lighter side of the big predator spectrum. A cheetah stands no chance in defending its meal against lions, leopards or hyenas- I have even seen vultures chasing cheetahs of kills. What they do have to their advantage though is speed, not just in terms of running but also devouring their meals as quickly as possible before it gets stolen from them.
We often get asked where the best places are to see these iconic big cats and this, especially in recent times, have become a really good question as cheetah numbers have declined so drastically, so much so that they are labelled as critically endangered. Luckily a lot of conservationists stepped in and there are now multiple successful cheetah breeding programs on the go. This blog however is not about the conservation of cheetah but rather where you as a guest have the best chance of seeing a cheetah in the wild.
SOUTHERN SERENGETI
Arguably the best place to look for cheetah. The Southern Serengeti has everything a cheetah would need, from open spaces to run at full speed to hunt, to mounds and boulders to use as vantage points. Because of this there is also a higher density of cheetah compared to other places. They thrive especially between January-March when the Great Migration is down in the Southern parts of the Serengeti and they wildebeest drop their calves.
The clouds can often be very dramatic, the sunrises and sunsets are also on another level. The Southern Serengeti truly delivers when it comes to wildlife photography especially if your target is cheetah.
DID YOU KNOW
We have our very own camp in the Mara Triangle, Masai Mara?
Masai Mara
The Masai Mara is very similar to the Serengeti seeing as it is basically just a river that separates these reserves, in other words the Mara also offers perfect habitat for cheetahs. The Masai Mara has open plains, rolling hills and a high density of prey species for cheetah. There are also lots of mounds for them to climb on top of and use as vantage points. Their biggest threat in the Mara would be lions as there is also a very healthy population of lions in the Mara.
If timed correctly the Mara also has some of the most dramatic cloud formations making for the most amazing backgrounds for photos of cheetahs.
Okavango Delta
People often associate the Okavango Delta with great lion and leopard sightings, and rightly so, but so often overlook the fact that the Delta also has really good habitat for cheetah. There is actually a very healthy population of cheetah in the Delta, but because of the density of other predators the cheetah can be skittish and well hidden. What I do really enjoy about cheetah sightings in the Delta is that often they encounter other predators making for interesting game viewing.
There are also ample places for cheetahs to hide their cubs which is another reason why cheetahs thrive in this environment.
Kalahari desert
The cheetahs in the Kalahari have adapted to the desert conditions there. The Kalahari is a very unique destination and animals like cheetah often need to cover great distances in the search for food. This means that they can often be active for longer portions of the day. The predator density is also lower in the Kalahari putting less pressure on the cheetahs, this is why there is a higher density of them here.
Because of the unique terrain in the Kalahari, it makes it extra special seeing cheetah here and even more so photographing them.
Phinda (Northern Kwazulu Natal)
andBeyond's Phinda Private Game Reserve in the Northern Kwazulu-Natal province on the Eastern side of South Africa do incredible work when it comes to cheetah conservation work. It is one of the few places where you as a guest can also get involved with cheetah conservation work for example of a cheetah gets badly injured on Phinda the conservation team will tranquillize the animal and treat it and guests could join in on this.
Phinda is further known for its diverse landscapes, from mountain ranges, to forests, woodlands and open savanna all within a 30 minute drive from each other. There aren't many prey species for the cheetah in the open savanna though, so they need to go into the thicker woodlands to go and hunt and when they are in there it can be difficult to photograph them but man is it rewarding.
It is thus evident that there are still multiple reserves and countries that you could visit that could deliver spectacular cheetah viewing within their natural habitat. I hope that if you were concerned about where to see cheetah that this has helped in any way and that you will have the best cheetah sightings possible.
They really are incredible creatures and should be on any safari goer's wishlist.
I find purpose in educating people about wildlife and the most iconic wildlife destinations, as this contributes to conservation. Creating memories, chasing sunsets and building lasting relationships with like minded people is what fulfils me.