Mammals Active during the day

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Witness the incredible elegance of the Cheetah, the fastest land animal on the planet. Built for speed and precision, this sun-loving predator is a master of the high-speed chase across the African plains.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Head-and-body length 1.1–1.5 m (3.6–4.9 ft); shoulder height 67–94 cm (26–37 in); weight 21–65 kg (46–143 lbs)

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Colors

Tawny to pale buff fur with evenly spaced, solid black spots; white underbelly; black 'tear' streaks running from the eyes to the mouth

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Key Features

Distinctive black 'tear' streaks on the face
Solid black spots (unlike leopard rosettes)
Long, slender limbs and a deep, narrow chest
Long tail with a white-tipped tuft that acts as a rudder

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM and 4-7 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Carnivorous pursuit predator specializing in medium-sized ungulates like gazelles, impalas, springbok, and kudu calves; occasionally hunts hares and birds.

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Habitat Open grasslands, savannas, scrub forests, and semi-arid desert regions where visibility for hunting is high.

Behavior

The cheetah is a unique outlier among big cats, primarily because it is diurnal—meaning it is most active during daylight hours. This behavior likely evolved to avoid competition with larger, more aggressive nocturnal predators like lions and spotted hyenas, which frequently steal cheetah kills. They are famous for their incredible acceleration, reaching speeds over 100 km/h in short bursts of 20 to 30 seconds to overtake agile prey.

Socially, cheetahs exhibit a fascinating split. Females are generally solitary, raising their cubs alone and navigating massive home ranges that overlap with other individuals. In contrast, males often form small, permanent groups called 'coalitions,' usually consisting of brothers. These groups work together to defend territories and hunt larger prey, providing a significant survival advantage in the harsh savanna environment.

While cheetahs are naturally wary of humans, they are less aggressive than lions or leopards. In areas with high eco-tourism, they have been known to jump onto safari vehicles to get a better vantage point for spotting prey. However, they are highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation and human encroachment, often coming into conflict with livestock farmers when their natural prey becomes scarce.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of a cheetah, placement is everything. Unlike many other cats, cheetahs are highly visual and frequent high-vantage points to scout for prey. Look for 'playtrees' or 'marking trees'—sloping trees or fallen logs that allow a cheetah to climb a few feet off the ground. These are communal hubs for cheetahs; males use them to mark territory, and females use them to scan the horizon. Mounting your camera 3-5 feet high, angled toward these landmarks, is a winning strategy.

Since cheetahs are diurnal, you don't need to rely heavily on infrared night vision. In fact, settings that prioritize high frame rates (60fps or higher) during the day are ideal. This allows you to capture the fluid, athletic movement of the cat without motion blur. Because cheetahs have incredible eyesight, ensure your camera is well-camouflaged and the 'no-glow' LEDs are covered if you are using them at dawn or dusk, as the faint red glow can sometimes startle them.

If you are setting a camera in a wide-open area, try to find a 'scent post.' Cheetahs frequently visit termite mounds or prominent rocks to leave scent marks. Positioning your camera about 10-15 feet away from these landmarks will give you a full-body profile shot. Avoid using meat-based baits, as these will more likely attract hyenas or lions which may damage your equipment or drive the cheetah away. Instead, focus on natural corridors between water sources and high-ground vantage points.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Cheetah.

Leopard

Leopards have rose-like 'rosettes' instead of solid spots and lack the cheetah's black facial tear streaks.

Serval

The serval is much smaller, has much larger ears, and has a combination of spots and stripes on its coat.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cheetahs are diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day. They typically hunt during the cooler parts of the day, specifically in the early morning shortly after sunrise and in the late afternoon before sunset, to avoid the midday heat and competition from nocturnal predators like lions.

The best way to attract a cheetah to a camera is to place it near a 'marking tree' or a 'scent post' like a termite mound. These are natural landmarks cheetahs visit to communicate with one another. Avoid using food bait, as this attracts scavengers that may scare the cheetah away or damage the camera.

Cheetahs eat a variety of small to medium-sized hoofed animals. Their favorites include Thomson's gazelles, impalas, springbok, and steenbok. In coalitions, males may occasionally take down larger prey like wildebeest calves or zebras.

No, cheetahs are not common in suburban areas. They require vast, open spaces and high densities of wild prey. While they may occasionally roam near remote farmland or rural edges in Southern Africa, they generally avoid human settlements and high-traffic areas.

The easiest way to tell them apart is by the spots and the face. Cheetahs have solid, round black spots and black 'tear streaks' running from their eyes to their mouth. Leopards have 'rosettes' (circular spots with a hollow center) and do not have the black tear streaks.

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