Kruger Enlists Visitor Cameras for Year-Long Cheetah Census

SANParks and the Endangered Wildlife Trust have launched a year-long photographic cheetah census across the Greater Kruger and Greater Limpopo Transfrontier area, running through August 2027. The last full count, done in 2021–22, drew 196 photo submissions but confirmed only 86 individual cheetahs, with the modeled population for Kruger itself sitting around 116 — a useful baseline for calibrating client expectations on sighting frequency, since cheetahs remain one of the rarer Big Five-adjacent sightings in the park despite its size.

For advisors, this is a ready-made engagement hook: guests photographing cheetahs (with date, time and GPS location) during self-drive or guided stays can contribute directly to the count, giving conservation-minded clients a tangible reason to choose Kruger over other cat destinations this booking cycle. Worth flagging to repeat Kruger clients and photographic-safari groups specifically, since participation requires nothing beyond what they're already doing.

• Census window: September 2026 – August 2027, Greater Kruger/Greater Limpopo Transfrontier area
• Prior count (2021–22): 86 confirmed individuals from 196 submissions; modeled Kruger population ~116
• Visitors submit photos with date, time and GPS data to aid identification