Cheetah hunting in Africa

Cheetah Remains a Popular Trophy for any Game Hunter.

When it comes to game hunting in Africa, the Cheetah remains a popular choice for big game hunting enthusiasts the world over. Known as the fastest land animal worldwide, the Cheetah remains a challenge to hunt due to its vast territory and constantly moving.

The Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) is native to Southern and Eastern Africa, and they thrive in areas with vast expanses of land where prey is abundant. Cheetahs live in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, savannahs, dense vegetation, and mountainous terrain.

On average, a Cheetah will consume between 6-8 pounds of food a day, with their diet consisting of a wide range of prey, including rabbits, warthogs and birds, and small and large antelope. An amazing fact about cheetahs is their ability to go without water between 4-10 days. This is possible as they hydrate from the moisture of their prey’s bodies.

Cheetahs usually hunt early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and their hunting style relies heavily on the spotting of game as they scan the countryside from rocky hills or termite mounds. Once the cheetah spots its prey, it creeps closer before closing in on it at a top speedy spring of up to 70 miles per hour. They chase down the prey and then bite its throat, killing it by cutting off its air supply and suffocating it.

When Cheetah hunting in Africa, remember that Cheetahs never return to a kill and will only eat fresh meat, and this is why baiting is not a very successful hunting method. It will not scavenge for food. Therefore, should they become sick or injured and unable to hunt, they will starve to death.

The Cheetah is preyed upon by hyenas, lions, and leopards. However, due to the Cheetah’s speed, it is usually its cubs that are preyed upon.

Wild females tend to live alone and are only with other Cheetahs during mating, or while caring for their cubs. On the other hand, males can also be solitary but found in groups called coalitions. The coalitions comprise 2-3 male Cheetahs but can have as many as five males living within the coalition.

There are five different subspecies of cheetahs:

Asiatic Cheetah
Northwest African Cheetah
South African Cheetah
Sudan Cheetah
Tanzanian Cheetah

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Acinonyx Jubatus

Adult Weight:
75-140 Pounds

Male Shoulder Height:
30 Inches

Range:
Eastern and Southern Africa

Habitat:
Grasslands, Savannahs, Dense Vegetation and Mountainous Terrain

Mating Season:
Throughout the Year

Life span:
10 years

Hunting African Wildcats

Feel the adrenaline as you pursue the fastest land animal—the Cheetah.

Size and Appearance

The Cheetah is a large cat with a tawny to creamy white or pale buff fur with evenly spaced, solid black spots. One cheetah can have up to 2000 spots on its body! The head is small and rounded, with a short snout and black tear-like streaks running down its face. It reaches roughly 30 inches at the shoulder, and the head-and-body length is between 3.6-5.2 feet. Cheetahs typically weigh between 84 to 143 pounds, with males slightly heavier their female companions. Their length can range from 45 to 55 inches, with their tail up to 33 inches. Not only are cheetahs the world's fastest land animal, but they are capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 mph! The unique body shape of the cheetah, including its thin, long legs, flexible spine, lightweight and long tail, helps it attain such impressive speeds.

Hunting Methods

Hunting Cheetah during a hunting safari is challenging, even for an experienced hunter. Firstly, they are always on the move and cover a large territory, making them difficult to find. Secondly, once they are spotted or known to be in an area, baiting is not a very successful method of hunting them. The reason for this, is that they don’t eat game killed by somebody else. The only way that baiting might work is if a cheetah was disturbed during a kill, and there is a chance that they could come back for it. The most common technique of cheetah hunting in Africa is the spot and stalk method. A large area of ground is usually covered before cheetah tracks are seen. This is also not an easy task, as cheetahs are very alert. They themselves are not only predators but are also preyed upon, resulting in them being extra vigilant. To be noted, is that it is illegal to hunt cheetah in South Africa and a permit cannot be obtained. It can, however, be hunted in other African countries.

Challenges and Rewards

Known as the fastest land animal worldwide, the cheetah remains a challenge to hunt due to its vast territory and constantly moving. Cheetah hunting in Africa is an adrenaline rush not to be missed. The success rate for this game hunting experience may be low (around a 20% harvest rate in Namibia), but should you be successful, the trophy is worth every mile walked and every chance taken! To take down a cheetah while hunting in Africa is a huge accomplishment for any hunter and one worth celebrating!

Rifles and Requirements

Cheetah hunts cannot be completed from a blind. Any caliber from a .270 to the 30 calibers will get the job done when it comes to cheetah hunting in Africa. Shots may be at a great distance where accuracy and speed are critical. Ensure that the rifle is shooting an expanding bullet and fitted with a high-quality tactical scope.