Maasai Mara National Reserve cheetahs.
Cheetahs in Maasai Mara National Reserve are one of the most recognisable cats out of all the big cats, known especially for their speed. These graceful cats have very flexible spines, and when they are sprinting, their spines flex and straighten, allowing their powerful hind legs to achieve longer, more effective strides, making them capable of reaching speeds of 110 kilometres per hour (70 miles per hour).
These cats are capable of accelerating from 0 to 64 kilometres per hour (40 miles per hour) in just 2 strides. Their long tails (28 inches) act as rudders and allow the cheetah to achieve extremely tight turns when pursuing agile prey. In Kenya, these cats can be seen on a game safari in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Cheetahs are classified as a critically endangered species by the IUCN. It is estimated that there are only between 10,000 and 12,000 cheetahs existing in the wild. As of 2023, about 34-41 cheetahs were recorded in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and its surrounding conservancies. These numbers represent and show how fragile the population of cheetahs is, and this is due to habitat changes, prey availability and human-wildlife conflict.
Appearance and habitat of Cheetahs
Cheetahs are famous for their tawny coats covered in black spots, each arranged in a unique pattern. This helps the animals to identify one another. The bold black strips streak like tears from the inner corners of their eyes down to both sides of their mouth, and the ends of their bushy tails are encircled by black rings. Cheetahs are the only big cats with semi-retractable claws, rather than the fully retractable claws that help lions tear flesh and climb trees. Cheetahs are the sole members of the genus Acinonyx.
The coats of cheetahs can vary depending on their habitat. Although cheetahs prefer open grasslands, they live in a range of habitats across eastern and southern Africa.
Social Structure and Reproduction of Cheetahs
Cheetahs do not live in groups; female cheetahs live on their own, each with a large home range. Females in the plains of the Masai Mara, where the prey is migratory, typically follow the herds. While the males are either solitary or form small coalitions with one or two other males, typically their littermates. Some males establish small territories in areas where they are likely to find mates.
Both male and female cheetahs mate with several partners, and studies show that it is possible for cubs of the same litter to have different fathers. Female cheetahs typically have a litter of three cubs that live with them for about a year and a half. The young cubs spend this time learning from their mother and practising hunting techniques with playful games. After leaving the mother litter, littermates stick together for another six months before the females strike out on their own.
Meet the Cheetahs in Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The Mara Cheetah Project, led by Femke Broekhuis as the project manager, has the enviable task of monitoring the many cheetahs in and around Maasai Mara National Reserve. Over time, she and her colleagues have got to know the different animals that live in the area and their social groups. Sometimes, unknown cheetahs also enter the reserve, changing the dynamics and hierarchies between the groups.
Here are some of the interesting cheetahs and a few other newbies in Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Nolari
Nolari has been known by the research team since she was a cub and has been sighted with her mother and brother (Narasha), teaching them how to hunt. The family stayed together for a while, and then the brother disappeared. Nolari, however, is frequently sighted with her little cubs.
Unfortunately, Narasha was killed earlier this year.
Two: Male Coalition
There is a coalition of two males in the grasslands of Maasai Mara who have managed to displace several young singletons. They have mastered the art of taking down wildebeests, and they often encounter hyenas.
Three: Male Coalition
Recently, the research team of the Mara Cheetah Project came across a coalition of three unknown males, one with half a tail. We have no idea where they have come from (which is a very exciting aspect), but since they arrived in the Mara, they have covered a huge distance, probably in search of their own territory.
Adult Female with Five Cubs
Recently, the team collared an adult female called Noroosha with five big cubs. The amazing data shows that she spends a significant amount of time outside of the protected area. Unfortunately, she can no longer be found, and her collar has gone down, so we think she might have been killed.
Best Places to See Cheetahs in Maasai Mara National Reserve
When you think of cheetahs in the Maasai Mara, you may think they are often seen in the open grasslands and rolling plains covering the reserve. The best areas to see the cheetahs are Musiara Marsh, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Naboisho Conservancy and the eastern regions near Ripoi. These areas offer a perfect combination of open terrain, prey and safety from large predators.
Cheetah sightings in Maasai Mara National Reserve are often concentrated in the areas where guides and researchers track individual cheetahs as well as coalitions.
Best Time to See Cheetahs in Maasai Mara National Reserve
To get incredible sightings of the cheetahs in Maasai Mara, timing is crucial. The dry season from late June to early October and again from December to early March is the best time to see cheetahs in the Maasai Mara. During these months, the grass cover is shorter, making it easier to spot cheetahs as they hunt or rest on termite mounds. Also, this period coincides with the Great Migration when millions of wildebeest, together with thousands of zebras and gazelles, enter the Maasai Mara, attracting predators and offering excellent opportunities to cheetahs to hunt.
Early mornings and late afternoons, the golden hours are the best times to see cheetahs, as they are most active during these cooler parts of the day.
