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Cheetah Pictures

To capture the ultimate cheetah image - a shot of this sleek cat running at full speed - must be high on the wish list of every aspiring wildlfe photographer.

After all, the cheetah is the fastest land mammal on the planet, reaching top speeds of 90 - 112 kph (60 - 70 mph).

Heck, if I saw a cheetah sprinting at full tilt, I'd savor the moment and not even worry about lifting my camera! But their blinding speed is not the main reason it's hard to capture exceptional pictures of these elegant cats.

Cheetah portrait
Cheetah Portrait, Mashatu Game Reserve

Click on any picture to enlarge

Cheetah on the hunt, Mashatu Game Reserve Cheetah on the hunt, Mashatu Game Reserve
Cheetah mother with cubs Cheetah mother and cubs, Mashatu Game Reserve
Cheetah walking, Sabi Sand Game Reserve Cheetah in green grass, Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Cheetah on tree stump, Mashatu Game Reserve Cheetah on tree stump, Mashatu GR
Cheetah spots, close-up Cheetah close-up of fur and spots
King cheeta, side-on King Cheetah standing, side-on view
Cheetah on impala kill, Mashatu Game Reserve Cheetah pair on Impala kill
Cheetah pair grooming each other Cheetah pair grooming each other
Cheetah on the prowl, close-up Cheetah on the prowl, close-up

 Cheetah T-shirt

 Big 5 Kenya Pride T-shirt
Cheetah walking down slope, Mashatu Game Reserve
Cheetah in rocky terrain, Mashatu Game Reserve
Cheetah feeding  on antelope
Cheetah feeding on impala, Mashatu GR
Cheetah licking its paw while grooming
Cheetah licking and grooming itself
King Cheetah Portrait
King Cheetah close-up, Endangered Species Centre
Cheetah looking back over shoulder
Cheetah looking back over its shoulder
Young cheetah standing, three-quarter view
Cheetah standing, three-quarter view
Cheetah close-up head and shoulders
Cheetah close-up head and shoulders
Cheetah on its haunches
Cheetah sitting on its haunches watches for prey
Inquisitive young cheetah Inquisitive cheetah, Endangered Species Centre
Cheetah scanning for prey and predators Cheetah sitting in open terrain, Mashatu Game Reserve
Cheetah in green vegetation, Mashatu  GR Cheetah in green vegetation, Mashatu GR
Cheetah walking in green grass Cheetah walking in green grass, Sabi Sand
Cheetah sensing danger, Mashatu Game Reserve Cheetah sensing danger, Mashatu Game Reserve
Cheetah in black and white, Mashatu Game Reserve Cheetah in black and white, Mashatu Game Reserve

Cheetah Now Perilously Endangered
The harsh reality is that cheetah, once widespread through Africa, Asia, and India, are now perilously endangered, so you don't get to see them very often.

In South Africa's huge Kruger National Park, there are about 10,000 elephant and 25,000 buffalo. Lions? About 2,000. Leopards? A thousand. But there are only 200 cheetah.

Unlike most other cats, cheetah do hunt by day, which improves chances of spotting them when on safari. The terrain is also important and your photo opportunities will be better in flat, open savanna than in hilly or forested areas.

The plains of the Serengeti and Masai Mara provide good hunting grounds for cheetah, while the shorter grass makes it easier for tourists to find and view these graceful, streamlined predators.

If you're lucky enough to go on safari in Tanzania or Kenya, look out for that classic shot - a cheetah on its haunches on a termite mound, scanning the open plains for potential prey.

See also Cheetah Photos Bonus page for older images of cheetah and, for more about these endangered cats, see Cheetah Information and Cheetah Cubs Practice Hunting Skills.

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