Planning a trip to Kruger National Park? Download opspoor to see recent sightings in the park and log your own.
Your chances of seeing Cheetah in Kruger National Park
Needs some luck. Cheetah live in Kruger National Park, but you need a good drive or some luck to see them. opspoor shows you where they've been seen recently, so you know which roads to drive.
When to see Cheetah in Kruger National Park
Cheetah are most active early morning (05:00 to 09:00), during the day (06:00 to 18:00) and late afternoon into dusk (16:00 to 19:00). In the heat of the day (11:00 to 16:00) Cheetah usually rest in shade, so scan under trees and in thickets.
This is Cheetah's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Kruger National Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Cheetah in Kruger National Park: best roads and waterholes
Drive
H1-3 Satara-Tshokwane Road, H10 Lower Sabie-Tshokwane Road and S25 Crocodile River Road run through open grassland and mixed bushveld: good country for Cheetah.
- H1-3 Satara-Tshokwane Road48.6 km · open grassland
- H10 Lower Sabie-Tshokwane Road43.9 km · open grassland and mixed bushveld
- S25 Crocodile River Road43.4 km · open grassland and mixed bushveld
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Cheetah have actually been seen recently.
Wait at water
Cheetah are drawn to water, especially in the dry season (May to October), so waiting at a waterhole is one of the best ways to see them.
How to spot Cheetah in Kruger National Park
About the Cheetah
The cheetah is a specialised African predator built for speed, with a slender body, long legs, a deep chest and a long tail used for balance during high-speed pursuits. Its golden coat is covered with solid black spots and it has distinctive dark tear markings running from the eyes toward the mouth. Cheetahs primarily hunt during daylight, using stealth and short bursts of extreme speed to catch small and medium-sized antelope, especially young or smaller prey. They are generally solitary, although females may live with dependent cubs and males may form coalitions.
How to identify the Cheetah
Slender, long-legged cat with a small head, deep chest and very long tail. Coat is golden to pale yellow with numerous solid black spots, black tear marks running from the eyes toward the mouth and a distinctive white-tipped or dark-tipped tail.
Other species to look for in Kruger National Park
Other parks where you can see Cheetah
Easiest first.
Heading to Kruger National Park? opspoor shows where Cheetah have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.