Greater Kruger Cheetah Census Turns Guest Photos Into Conservation Data
SANParks and the Endangered Wildlife Trust have launched a year-long photographic census of cheetahs across Greater Kruger, running from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027, spanning the transfrontier area shared with Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Unlike prior counts, this one formally invites visitors to submit their own sightings and photographs as citizen-science data, feeding directly into the population estimate that will update the last count from 2021-22 (roughly 116 individuals). For advisors, this is a ready-made talking point for conservation-minded clients booking Kruger: guests aren't just viewing cheetahs, they're contributing identifiable data to a scientific record. Camps and guides in the region should be briefed to flag distinctive individuals and encourage photo submissions during game drives. It's also a signal that scientific and funding interest in the transfrontier cheetah corridor remains active, worth referencing when positioning Kruger against other cheetah-viewing destinations.
- Census window: 1 September 2026 – 31 August 2027
- Covers Greater Kruger and the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park (SA/Mozambique/Zimbabwe)
- Visitor photos accepted as citizen-science submissions
- Prior estimate (2021-22): ~116 cheetahs, now due for revision