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WORDS BY: JANE HORGAN IMAGE BY: DEVON JENKIN, JACK GAMBLE AND SCOTT RAMSAY
Botswana is home to the world’s largest population of cheetahs, with an estimated 1,700 wild cheetahs traversing the variable habitats across the country. This constitutes just under a quarter of the world’s remaining population of 7,100 individuals. As a wide-ranging, low-density species, they can prove difficult to spot (pun intended), especially in the national parks and reserves where out-competing lions and spotted hyenas result in lower cheetah densities. Local NGO, Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB), is sharing their insider information as to the best places around Botswana to see Africa’s most endangered big cat.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP)
Boasting one of the world’s densest population of cheetahs, the KTP’s open rangelands and healthy population of small and medium ungulates makes this area a paradise for cheetahs. Often seen both inside and outside the park, the movements of the area’s cheetahs are documented thoroughly (though with a preference for the South African side of the park) on Facebook’s “Cheetahs of the Kgalagadi” page. The KTP was home to one of the world’s leading cheetah ecologists, Gus Mills, whose books on cheetah ecology are the perfect companion to anyone wanting a self-drive adventure in this expansive two-country park.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR)
Cheetahs don’t usually survive in high densities wherever there are large populations of lions. Despite this, cheetahs are regularly seen in Deception Valley in the north of the CKGR. One particular female, nicknamed “Miss Deception” is seen in the valley with almost a constant stream of cubs by her side. Cheetah mums look after their cubs for 18 months and usually wait a full year after their cubs reach independence before falling pregnant again. Miss Deception, however, chooses to reproduce frequently without a break in between – a true Supermum! Check out Lengau Wilderness for guided tours into the reserve.
Moremi Game Reserve
Moremi Game Reserve is a veritable smorgasbord of wildlife. The unfenced reserve abuts the beautiful waters of the Okavango Delta, drawing an abundance of diverse wildlife from the dry Kalahari surrounds. Despite the abundance of lions and spotted hyenas, cheetahs are often seen within the reserve and in its surrounding concessions. Once home to a cheetah mother with eight 12-month-old cubs (an unconfirmed world record of cubs at such an age), the abundance of ungulates, particularly impala, makes this area a cheetah haven. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on roads both inside and outside the reserve for your chance to see Botswana’s spotty cat.
Ghanzi farmlands
Surprisingly, 77% of Botswana’s cheetahs live outside of formally protected areas, traversing farmlands and wildlife management areas. Ghanzi farms are bountiful in their cheetah population, mostly due to the local extirpation of lions in the area in the 1950s and 60s. Although conflict between farmers and cheetahs occurs, efforts by Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB) are helping farmers to protect their livestock to reduce risk and promote human-wildlife coexistence. Historical conflict has meant that the cheetahs in this area can be fearful of humans, and the thick bush is not ideal for viewing, however, this area has one of the highest densities of cheetahs in the country. Cheetahs in this area survive off the plentiful wild game species, adapting a preference for larger kudus rather than usually targeted smaller antelope. As a result, the cheetahs in the Ghanzi District have been found to be larger than anywhere else in the world! The largest cheetah ever captured for research purposes “Legolas” was found in Ghanzi, weighing in at an incredible 68.5kg. Research by CCB indicates that the cheetahs prefer to reside on the local game farms where their natural prey is present. Several game farms, including Tholo Safaris and Dqae Qare Game Farm reside in a local cheetah hot spot area.
Since the majority of Botswana’s cheetahs reside outside of formal protected areas, our work at CCB is cut out for us as we strive to create an environment where coexistence of host communities with cheetahs becomes a viable way of life. This entails working with farmers to protect livestock, reduce the risk of predation and engage in practices that are holistic, environmentally sustainable and wildlife friendly. CCB’s recent Best Farmer Competition saw six farmers from the district awarded prizes for just this! Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony at the Ghanzi Agricultural Show in July, Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Honourable Fidelis Molao summarised the synchronicity of farming and wildlife conservation. “As Ghanzi residents, you have long paved the path in livestock agriculture in our nation, and now you are paving the path of doing this in a manner that actually enables coexistence with these endangered animals! You are demonstrating that the days of “livestock versus wildlife” are fading out, and those of “livestock and wildlife” are on the horizon.” The farmer competition was supported by Haskins, Flotek, and Classic Auto (Pty) Ltd. To offer the winners a chance to celebrate themselves and appreciate the beauty of Botswana’s wilderness, each of the finalists received an additional treat of a luxury safari trip courtesy of Wilderness, Natural Selection, and Great Plains. What better way to celebrate an appreciation of nature than an immersive trip into some of Botswana’s most beautiful wild landscapes.
Whether it is in the reserves or on the farmlands, we wish you the best of luck at seeing Botswana’s amazing cheetahs! You can send your sightings information and photos to Cheetah Conservation Botswana (info@cheetahconservationbotswana.org), with all the information contributing to the research of this threatened species.
