Cheetah

The cheetah is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds of up to 112 km/h (70 mph) in short bursts covering distances of up to 500 metres. Unlike other big cats, cheetahs cannot roar — instead they purr, chirp, and yelp.

The Masai Mara and Serengeti plains are the premier destinations for cheetah watching. The open grasslands provide the perfect habitat for these speed specialists to hunt gazelles and other small antelope.

Cheetahs are distinguishable from leopards by their distinctive "tear marks" — black lines running from the inner corner of each eye down to the mouth, which help reduce glare from the sun during high-speed chases.