Cheetahs may soon once again roam the open plains of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. According to the Zambian Carnivore Programme’s (ZCP) 2024 Annual Impact Report, plans to reintroduce cheetahs to this iconic landscape are now being formalised, following years of groundwork, feasibility studies, and partner collaboration.
If successful, this would mark a significant milestone in Zambia’s conservation story, restoring a charismatic species that has not been seen in the Luangwa Valley for over 20 years—and possibly longer. It also reflects a growing global effort to protect and recover one of Africa’s most endangered big cats.
A Species in Decline
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 7,000 left in the wild. Threatened by habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and competition with larger carnivores like lions and hyenas, the cheetah has vanished from 90% of its historical range in Africa.
One of the lesser-known but increasingly serious threats to cheetahs—particularly in East Africa—is the illegal pet trade. Cubs are smuggled through the Horn of Africa into the Middle East to meet demand for exotic pets. The trade is not only devastating wild populations but also deeply cruel, with a high mortality rate among trafficked cubs.
Cheetah in Zambia
In Zambia, cheetahs are now found only in the Greater Kafue and Greater Liuwa ecosystems, where ZCP and its partners are actively monitoring and protecting small populations. In 2024, ZCP tracked 44 individuals in 18 social groups and conducted 387 snare checks to safeguard them.
The return of cheetahs to South Luangwa is part of a larger restoration initiative led by ZCP in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Conservation South Luangwa, the Cheetah Conservation Initiative, Frankfurt Zoological Society, and supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The aim is not only to re-establish the species but also to secure ecological corridors between protected areas through community support and resource protection.
Have Cheetahs Ever Lived in South Luangwa?
Historically, cheetahs ranged widely across Zambia, including parts of the Luangwa Valley. While some reports suggest sightings as recently as the 1980s, they have not been recorded in South Luangwa for decades. Some speculate a tiny remnant population may persist in remote areas, but there is currently no evidence of a viable or breeding population.
Why Habitat Matters: What Makes a Landscape Cheetah-Friendly?
Cheetahs thrive in open grassland and savanna environments that allow them to spot prey from a distance and unleash their explosive speed in pursuit. Unlike other big cats, cheetahs do not rely on stealth or ambush; they chase prey in short, high-speed bursts. For this reason, visibility and space are critical.
Some of the world’s last strongholds for cheetah—like Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara—are characterised by vast, open plains with abundant medium-sized antelope like Thomson’s gazelle and impala.
South Luangwa, by contrast, is a more wooded ecosystem, which makes the habitat suitability more marginal. However, there are open floodplains and grasslands—especially in the northern and southern extremes of the park—which could provide suitable hunting grounds, particularly with active landscape management and anti-snaring measures.
Best Places to See Cheetah in the Wild
While cheetah numbers are declining, there are still several reliable locations for sightings:
- Serengeti National Park, Tanzania – Possibly the best place to see cheetahs hunting on open plains.
- Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya – Another classic destination, especially during the Great Migration.
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana – Vast and remote, but rewarding with patient tracking.
- Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia – One of Zambia’s hidden gems, with cheetahs actively monitored by ZCP.
- Liwonde and Majete, Malawi – Successful reintroduction sites managed by African Parks.
- Etosha National Park, Namibia – Open plains and salt pans suit cheetahs well.
What Makes the Cheetah Unique Among Africa’s Big Cats?
The cheetah is unlike any other African big cat. Built for speed rather than power, it holds the title of the fastest land mammal—capable of reaching speeds of 100–120 km/h in short bursts. With a slim, aerodynamic build, semi-retractable claws (for grip), and a long tail for balance, the cheetah is a specialist hunter of small- to medium-sized ungulates.
Cheetahs are also more diurnal than lions or leopards, often hunting in the morning and late afternoon. Socially, males sometimes form coalitions (often between brothers), while females lead solitary lives except when raising cubs.
But their specialisation comes at a cost. Cheetahs are poor defenders of kills, often chased off by larger predators. They are highly sensitive to disturbance and require expansive, undisturbed landscapes—making them one of Africa’s most fragile carnivores.
Learning from Other Reintroduction Efforts
Zambia’s strategy for reintroducing cheetahs to South Luangwa is informed by lessons from both successful and more challenging projects across Africa and beyond.
In Malawi, reintroductions to Majete and Liwonde National Parks—led by African Parks—are widely viewed as models of success. These efforts combined strong community engagement, careful habitat preparation, and long-term monitoring, resulting in stable, breeding populations of cheetah in both reserves.
In contrast, India’s Project Cheetah has highlighted the complexities and risks associated with large-scale translocations. Launched in 2022, the project sought to reintroduce cheetahs to the subcontinent after more than 70 years of local extinction. In a world-first intercontinental relocation, twenty adult cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa—non-native subspecies—were released into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, a reserve with a core area of 289 square miles*.
The project drew widespread political support and international attention, but has faced significant setbacks. Experts questioned the park’s ecological suitability, noting that wild cheetahs often require vast ranges—up to 39 square miles or more depending on prey availability and other factors. Kuno is also home to other large predators such as leopards, leading to concerns about prey competition and carrying capacity.
Additional challenges included high summer temperatures, stress from translocation, and inconsistent post-release monitoring. Mortality among the released cheetahs was comparitively high, and in response, authorities moved surviving individuals into protected enclosures for closer observation and management. Of the 12 remaining adults, some are still in enclosures. 14 cubs born on Indian soil survive to date.
While Project Cheetah continues to evolve, its early difficulties underscore the importance of long-term habitat planning, local ecological suitability, robust monitoring, and veterinary oversight.
These contrasting case studies reinforce the need for science-led, locally grounded, and carefully phased approaches—the very foundation of Zambia’s restoration plan.
Why the Reintroduction to South Luangwa Matters
The return of cheetahs to South Luangwa is not only about restoring a species—it’s about restoring ecological function. As a predator, the cheetah helps regulate prey populations and supports the balance of savanna ecosystems. Their presence could also enhance the diversity of wildlife experiences in the park, supporting conservation tourism.
Zambia’s approach is refreshingly measured: grounded in science, driven by local expertise, and supported by international partners. With successful cheetah reintroductions already under its belt—in Liuwa, Kafue, and the Bangweulu Wetlands (2020)—Zambia is emerging as a leader in carnivore restoration.
We believe this kind of collaborative, evidence-based conservation holds the key to protecting our planet’s most endangered species. We’ll be following the cheetahs’ journey back to South Luangwa closely as and when it happens—and we hope you will too.
Further Reading & Resources
🟢 Zambian Carnivore Programme
🟢 African Parks: Cheetahs Return to Bangweulu (2020)
🟢Cheetah Conservation Fund Project Cheetah Update (June 2023)
Safari in Zambia? Explore our responsible wildlife travel programme and support conservation in the process.
*Buffer zone is 188 sq miles
Image: Cheetah with Cub in Kafue, Anna Kusler, ZCP
