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  • Kenya safari: cheetah cubs

Everything you need to know about a cheetah safari

Staying in the heart of big cat country, a haven for cheetah, you encounter them out on the vast plains. Often perched on rocks for panoramic views of potential prey, or if you’re lucky, you might see them break out into a wild, fast chase to catch impala.

 

With access to camps built specifically for their conservation, and with game drives and walks, we put you in the right place at the right time to see cheetah in their wild and natural environment.

Cheetahs are a real treat to see on safari and we have some excellent camps and conservation areas that give you the best chances of seeing them.

NEXT STEPS

• Browse our Kenya holidays
• Download our free Kenya guide
• Contact our  Destination Specialist for advice

cheetah safari gallery

Cheetah running
Cheetah on a tree stump
Namibia safaris; cheetah photography
Cheetahs in Namibia
Namiri Plains, Tanzania

Record speeds

During chase, cheetahs reach record speeds in short bursts. Highest recorded is currently 75 miles per hour.

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Great heights

Cheetahs hunt in the day in open spaces, using rocks for a good vantage point. This allows them to chase down prey without obstacles.

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Cheetah photography

Places such as the AfriCat Foundation in Namibia give you the opportunity to get fabulous photos of cheetahs.

Explore the AfriCat Foundation
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Cheetah cubs

Cheetah cubs look a little like honey badgers when they're born as a defense mechanism.

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High populations

Namiri Plains in Tanzania is built on an old conservancy and claims to have the largest population of cheetah in Africa.

Explore Namiri Plains
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Experts view: Oliver Greenfield

Experts view: Oliver Greenfield

Cheetahs can be easy to spot if you know how and where to look for them, we have access to prime cheetah areas outside of the main reserves for excellent encounters.

Cheetahs in Namibia

the cheetah

Sometimes confused with leopards, cheetahs actually have very different markings; from their solid spots, opposed to the rosettes of a leopard, to the black ‘tear’ marks running down their cheeks. They have more slender bodies and longer legs and, unlike all other big cats, cannot retract their claws. Cheetahs hunt during the day to avoid competition with the larger cats, including lion and leopard. Their ‘tear’ marks help to absorb the bright sunlight and prevent glare and they will hunt anything, from baby antelope and ostrich to wildebeest.


Rather than hide in the foliage, cheetahs are usually found in open spaces – this allows them to chase down their prey without obstacles. Usually solitary animals, you may find a family group sticking together or a group of dominant males forming a coalition. The young cubs are born to resemble honey badgers as a form of defence.


Found in fragmented parks from South Africa through to Kenya and Tanzania with an extremely small population (50) found in Iran.


Some of the bigger populations of these cats are found outside of the major reserves where there is less competition from lions.

cheetah facts

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CONSERVATION STATUS Cheetah are included on the World Conservation Union list of vulnerable species with an estimated 12,400 animals left in 25 countries.
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HABITAT Cheetahs stay out in the open, preferring vast flat plains in which they can chase their prey.
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LENGTH Males can grow up to 4.9 feet in length, from head to tail.

The Best Cheetah Safaris

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Why book with us

We are destination specialists

Our team of specialists have extensive on-the-ground knowledge and have all lived, guided or explored in great detail the destinations that they sell. They will design your journey around you, at the right place at the right time.

We are wildlife specialists

As a leading specialist operator we have excellent partnerships with naturalists and conservationists. We know our wildlife and do what we can to preserve its natural habitat.

We really care about our destinations

At Natural World Safaris we frequently monitor the social, economic and environmental impact of our travel operations to ensure we are at the forefront of a sustainable and ethical tourism industry. 

Snow Leopard3 Tambako The Jaguar Flickr

Your Next Steps

Download our big cat travel guide, or talk to one of our specialists for more details on tracking big cats in the wild. Please note we recommend a budget of from £7,000 / $10,000 USD per person for our style of trip to this destination.