Facts about the cheetah; the world’s fastest but weakest mammal- Kidepo National Park

Take a Uganda safari to Kidepo National Park for a morning magical Uganda wildlife safari game drive to this beautiful cheetah habitat situated in the hills of this isolated national park, described by many as the most magnificent and Africa’s finest wilderness. As part of your adventure, you will drive through open grasslands in the park and bushy areas of the park, and by luck, you will spot cheetah’s walking, sunbathing or resting in the Park’s lush green hills amidst the bushes. Get your camera ready and take a memorial photography before you lose sight of the cheetah. Once you miss spotting one, you will not have chance to see a cheetah in any other park apart from Kidepo National Park. Cheetahs are endangered species in Uganda as listed under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna (CITES).

Kidepo Valley National Park hosts over 86 mammal species including lions, leopards, bat-eared fox, giraffes, spotted hyena and black-backed and side stripped jackal, including the cheetahs that are unique to only this park, as well as almost 500 bird species.

Location

With an area of about 1,442-square-kilometre (557 square miles), Kidepo Valley National Park is situated in the Karamoja sub-region tucked in Uganda’s most remote north-eastern corner, in Kaabong district. Kidepo Valley National Park is an isolated park placed near two borders; Sudan and Kenya. It is located approximately 600 km by road via the Kampala-Gulu highway driving for about 10-12 hours.

Climate

Kidepo Valley National Park is characterized by semi-arid climate with just one rainy season per year and it happens between April – September and the rainfall is light. The Narus River Valley found in the southern part of the park receives about 890mm of rain a year, while just about 635mm of rain falls in Kidepo valley to the north per year.

Facts about cheetahs

A cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal and Africa’s most endangered big cat.

They are also the fastest animals in the cat family, but are not the strongest of cats, even a huge predator can chase it away from its kill.

It is also the poorest breeder of all cats. A cheetah has a unique narrow body structure characterized with long legs, a flexible spine, semi-retractable claws, a long tail and the specialized muscles allow for a greater swing to the limbs increasing acceleration making it the fastest animal in the world running an unbelievable top speed of 110 km/hr.

Cheetahs are more active during day because this is when they go hunting which is their major activity. Cheetahs in Kidepo Valley National Park mainly prey on antelopes and gazelles which they stalk within 100 – 300 metres, charge towards them and kill them by tripping them during the chase and biting their throats to suffocation.

Cheetahs are mainly found on flat savannah plains giving them advantage to chase their prey to exhaustion making it easier for them to kill it.

Cheetahs are 99 per cent genetically identical and a virus could wipe out entire populations.

The adult male cheetahs are more sociable compared to others.

Cheaters purr like domestic cats but they cannot roar.

They have semi non-retractable claws which distinguish them from other cats.

Cheaters have beautiful tear marks that run down the face and usually reflect light from the sun.

The gestation of Cheetahs

The cheetahs’ gestation period is three months. Their litter is about 3-8 cubs. Weaning occurs at about six months and that siblings tend to stay together for some time.

Research has it that the Cheetah cubs usually face higher mortality rates than other mammals This means that if nothing is done to protect them or their habitat, they will become extinct in the near future.

People that have under taken safaris in Uganda to Kidepo National Park Uganda have had chance to spot these cheetahs during their game drive in the park as they admire the different wildlife in the park. Uganda wildlife safaris in this park are rich for you will have chance to site very many animals. Besides Uganda wildlife safaris, we can also tailor for you a tour in Uganda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park for a Uganda gorilla trekking safari/ Uganda gorilla safari/ Uganda gorilla tour Or to Kibale National Park for a chimpanzee trekking safari.

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