Four cheetahs have been reintroduced to Eswatini, marking the return of the species to the Kingdom after an absence of more than 35 years. For travellers interested in wildlife, the reintroduction adds another potentially exciting species to Eswatini’s safari offering.
Two females and two males are now living in Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve, where conservationists hope they will establish a breeding population.
Cheetahs return to Eswatini
The four cheetahs are currently the only cheetahs in Eswatini. The females arrived from Nyosi Wildlife Reserve in South Africa in late 2025, while two males from Dinokeng Game Reserve were added in April 2026.
The animals have been monitored closely since their release. The females have already adapted well to their new surroundings, hunting successfully and establishing territories. The males are ranging through the northern and eastern parts of Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve.
Importantly, tracking data shows the males and females now occupying neighbouring areas. This raises hopes that the cheetahs could eventually breed, although there is no guarantee that cubs will be born.
If breeding is successful, the new population could become part of the wider southern African cheetah metapopulation, helping to strengthen the species beyond Eswatini.
Why Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve was chosen
Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve covers around 13,000 hectares and supports a healthy range of prey species, including impala, nyala, kudu, wildebeest, warthog and reedbuck.
The reserve also offers an important advantage for cheetahs: there are no lions and relatively few leopards and hyenas. These larger predators can compete with cheetahs and pose a particular threat to cubs.
The four animals are fitted with tracking collars and are monitored daily, allowing conservationists to follow their movements and respond to potential problems.
What the cheetah return means for travellers
For visitors, the reintroduction gives Royal Jozini Private Game Reserve and the wider Lubombo region another attraction for wildlife enthusiasts.
Seeing a cheetah in the wild is already a highlight of a southern African safari, and the possibility of encountering one in Eswatini adds a new dimension to the country's wildlife experiences. However, travellers should not expect guaranteed sightings. With only four animals in a large reserve, finding them will depend on their movements and the effectiveness of ongoing monitoring.
The more significant tourism benefit may therefore be longer term. If the population breeds successfully and expands to other protected areas, cheetahs could become an increasingly important part of Eswatini's safari offering.
For now, the return of four cheetahs represents an important conservation milestone — and another reason for wildlife-focused travellers to keep an eye on Eswatini.
A first step towards a breeding population
The immediate priority is to establish a viable breeding population. The males and females are already using neighbouring areas, but conservationists caution that successful breeding and raising cubs cannot be taken for granted.
If the project succeeds, however, Eswatini could once again have a self-sustaining cheetah population after more than three decades without the species.
For travellers, that makes this a development worth watching: Eswatini's cheetahs are back, and the next important sighting could be the first cubs born in the Kingdom in decades.
Subscribe for updates:
Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, border info, road alerts, and travel inspiration for Southern Africa.
