Cheetahs primarily live in various regions across Africa and a small population persists in Asia. Their native habitat spans a broad section of Africa including North Africa, the Sahel, eastern and southern Africa. They are most prevalent in Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, and Namibia and Botswana in Southern Africa
. Cheetahs inhabit a range of habitats such as savannahs, grasslands, shrublands, open woodlands, dry forests, rocky mountains, and deserts. They prefer open areas with good visibility and abundant prey, including grasslands like the Serengeti and Kalahari, arid mountain ranges in the Sahara, and hilly desert terrain in Iran
. The Asiatic cheetah, critically endangered, survives only in Iran, mainly in central desert areas with sparse vegetation
. In summary, cheetahs live mainly in:
- Eastern and Southern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia)
- North Africa and the Sahel region (less common)
- Central Iran (Asiatic cheetah population)
They thrive in open habitats that support prey availability and allow them to use their speed for hunting
