The annual Kruger Cheetah Census for 2026/2027, led by the Endangered Wildlife Trust, in partnership with SANParks, began on the 1st of September 2026, and will end on 31 August 2027.
If you see a cheetah anywhere in the Greater Kruger landscape (as highlighted on the map in the poster below, inclusive of Ingwelala and the UPNR), please consider contributing towards this ongoing census.
With more regular cheetah sightings in the UPNR this year, it is the perfect opportunity to contribute towards something larger. As a vulnerable species, with an estimated global population of only approximately 6,500 mature individuals, cheetah sightings are rare, and it can therefore be challenging to gather accurate data of populations and distributions. This is particularly relevant in areas where habitats are not necessarily favoured by cheetahs, and sightings may be fleeting or rare.
Any data would be immensely helpful towards this ongoing census. A cheetah’s spots are like fingerprints, so photographs of cheetahs are particularly helpful to identify each individual. If possible, try to photograph both sides of the cheetah, but please don’t put yourself or the animal at risk for photographs!
Photographs can be used to:
- Identify individual cheetahs
- Track where they move
- Keep track of mothers & cubs
- Estimate population sizes
- Understand the threats cheetahs face
If you don’t have photographs of the cheetah, please consider reporting the sighting regardless, as any information is useful.
What to send:
- Photographs (the more the better!)
- Date
- Location (road name on a property, general area, or GPS location, if you have it)
- Number of cheetahs
- Anything interesting you may have noticed
Every sighting counts, even if you’ve seen the same cheetah before, or think someone else may have reported the sighting already. As mentioned above, this census will continue until the end of August 2027, and your input would be greatly appreciated.
Please send sightings directly to
Thank you for your assistance and participation!
Words by Tess Woollgar. Images courtesy of EWT.