Cheetah
CheetahCheetahCheetahCheetah

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Pilanesberg National Park
31 Verified records at Pilanesberg National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a species of large feline and the only living member of the genus Acinonyx. The cheetah is a pursuit predator and the fastest land animal, capable of running at 93–104 km/h (58–65 mph); it has evolved for speed, having powerful hindlimb muscles, long limbs and a flexible spine. The cheetah has a tawny to creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid black spots. The head is small and rounded, with a short snout and black tear-like facial streaks. It has a height of 67–94 cm (2.20–3.08 ft) at the shoulder, and the head-and-body length is between 1.1 and 1.5 m (3 ft 7 in and 4 ft 11 in). Adults weigh between 21 and 65 kg (46 and 143 lb). Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Cheetah sighting in Pilanesberg National Park, based on 31 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Pilanesberg National Park

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

30–40% · Possible
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

20–30% · Possible
Serval
LC

Serval

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leptailurus serval

10–20% · With luck
Caracal
LC

Caracal

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Caracal caracal

Insufficient data
African Wildcat
LC

African Wildcat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Felis lybica

Insufficient data
Banded Mongoose
LC

Banded Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mungos mungo

30–40% · Possible
Brown Hyaena

Brown Hyaena

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Hyaena brunnea

20–30% · Possible
Slender Mongoose

Slender Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Galerella sanguinea

10–20% · With luck
Common Dwarf Mongoose
LC

Common Dwarf Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Helogale parvula

Insufficient data
Painted Hunting Dog
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

Insufficient data
White-tailed Mongoose
LC

White-tailed Mongoose

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ichneumia albicauda

Insufficient data
Honey Badger
LC

Honey Badger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Mellivora capensis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
20–30
Apr
<5
May
30–40
Jun
10–20
Jul
20–30
Aug
30–40
Sep
30–40
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
60–70%
2 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
60–70%
3 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
50–60%
4 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
5 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
6 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
7 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
30–40%
8 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
30–40%
9 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
10 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
20–30%
11 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
12 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
20–30%
13 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
14 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
15 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
16 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
17 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
18 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
19 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
20 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
21 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
5–10%
22 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
23 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
24 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
25 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
26 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
27 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
28 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
29 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cheetah in Pilanesberg National Park?

About 24% of wildlife watchers report a Cheetah sighting in Pilanesberg National Park, based on 31 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cheetah in Pilanesberg National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Cheetah in Pilanesberg National Park in our monthly data.

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