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Animal Guide

South African Cheetah

80 destinations · 35 states

Native Range
Southern Africa, especially South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe

South African cheetahs are built for speed, but watching one up close reveals plenty happening before any sprint. Their slim bodies, long legs, and oversized nasal passages are all part of a design made for short bursts of acceleration. Look at the face and you'll notice the dark tear marks running from the eyes toward the mouth, which may help reduce glare while hunting in bright conditions. Cheetahs spend much of their time resting, scanning the landscape, or moving quietly through grassland rather than constantly running. When they do hunt, the chase is usually brief. Their flexible spine, long tail, and powerful legs help them make rapid turns as they pursue fast-moving prey. Unlike most big cats, cheetahs cannot roar. Instead, they communicate with chirps, purrs, growls, and other sounds. At a zoo or wildlife destination, a relaxed cheetah may seem almost sleepy, but watch the head and ears. A sudden change in attention can show just how quickly this specialized hunter can switch from resting to alert.

South African Cheetah

Where to see South African Cheetah

80 destinations across 35 states

80 destinations

ABQ BioPark Zoo

Albuquerque, NM

Animal Adventure Park & Preserve

Harpursville, NY

Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary

Reno, NV

Austin Zoo

Austin, TX

Binder Park Zoo

Battle Creek, MI

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo

Baton Rouge, LA

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Tampa, FL

Caldwell Zoo

Tyler, TX

Cape May County Park & Zoo

Cape May Court House, NJ

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation

Waldo, FL

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Sanford, FL

Chahinkapa Zoo

Wahpeton, ND

Chehaw Park & Zoo

Albany, GA

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Cincinnati, OH

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland, OH

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

Dickerson Park Zoo

Springfield, MO

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

West Orange, NJ

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth, TX

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Glen Rose, TX

Frank Buck Zoo

Gainesville, TX

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, CA

Giraffe Ranch

Dade City, FL

Gulf Breeze Zoo

Gulf Breeze, FL

Honolulu Zoo

Honolulu, HI

Houston Zoo

Houston, TX

Indianapolis Zoo

Indianapolis, IN

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

Lincoln Children's Zoo

Lincoln, NE

Little Rock Zoo

Little Rock, AR

Memphis Zoo

Memphis, TN

Metro Richmond Zoo

Moseley, VA

Milwaukee County Zoo

Milwaukee, WI

Montgomery Zoo

Montgomery, AL

Myrtle Beach Safari

Myrtle Beach, SC

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Naples, FL

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

San Antonio, TX

NOVA Wild

Vienna, VA

Oglebay Good Zoo

Wheeling, WV

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Omaha, NE

Oregon Zoo

Portland, OR

Panther Ridge Conservation Center

Loxahatchee, FL

Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia, PA

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, AZ

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Pittsburgh, PA

Project Survival "Cat Haven"

Dunlap, CA

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Providence, RI

Sacramento Zoo

Sacramento, CA

Safari North Wildlife Park

Brainerd, MN

Safari West

Santa Rosa, CA

Safari Wild Animal Park

Como, MS

Safari Wilderness

Lakeland, FL

Saint Louis Zoo

St. Louis, MO

San Diego Zoo

San Diego, CA

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Escondido, CA

Scovill Zoo

Decatur, IL

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Vallejo, CA

Six Flags Great Adventure

Jackson Township, NJ

Southwick's Zoo

Mendon, MA

Sunset Zoo

Manhattan, KS

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

Goddard, KS

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

Palm Desert, CA

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Baltimore, MD

The Wild Animal Park

Chittenango, NY

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

Keenesburg, CO

The Wilds

Cumberland, OH

Tigers For Tomorrow

Attalla, AL

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Toledo, OH

Topeka Zoo

Topeka, KS

Utility Park & Zoo

Clay Center, KS

Virginia Safari Park

Natural Bridge, VA

Virginia Zoo

Norfolk, VA

Wildlife Safari

Winston, OR

Wildlife Safari Park

Ashland, NE

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Zoo Miami

Miami, FL

Zoosiana

Broussard, LA

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