This book is the story of six years that the authors devoted to the study of an iconic large cat, the cheetah. Their study area was the large, remote, and pristine Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on the border of Botswana and South Africa.

Their aim here is to relate what they consider to be a fascinating story about the lives of these cats in a different habitat from the one most people associate the cheetah with – a sandy desert rather than a grassy plain. They hope to entertain and inform the reader with what they learnt about the daunting challenges cheetahs face, and the wonderful adaptations cheetahs have evolved to survive in the competitive world of natural selection.

The book is divided into five parts: Part One gives the background to this adventure; the why, when, where, who and how aspects. Part Two discusses the fundamental question of what cheetahs eat and how they go about obtaining their food; the fascinating evolutionary arms race between predator and prey, some of the behavioural, physiological, and ecological ramifications, as well as the relationships of cheetahs with the other carnivores. Part Three turns to social affairs; the way cheetahs distribute themselves in the landscape, the way they find and choose mates, and the trials and tribulations of raising a family. In Part Four, the authors switch to more personal and human matters; the challenges of living and working in an isolated and infrastructurally limited environment, and two chapters written by Margie: one on their experiences with the Bushmen, the other relating a selection of memorable incidents, not specifically related to the cheetah study. The final part addresses two practical topics; the first comparing how cheetahs have adapted to two different environments: the lush Serengeti plains and the arid Kalahari, the other giving the authors' perspective on cheetah conservation.

The landscapes and vegetation, the antelope, the hyaenas, cats and other carnivores, the birds and the smaller creatures … all are included in this comprehensive guide.

Plus: Tips and advice for getting the most out of your visit to the arid Kalahari

The cheetah, the fastest terrestrial animal, has widespread appeal amongst wildlife biologists and enthusiasts alike. However, like all all large carnivores, it is increasingly threatened by habitat loss and its status is now classified as 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN. This is the first comprehensive study of cheetah biology in an arid environment, a major component of its current distribution range. The book brings together results from an intensive six year study of the cheetah by the authors in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa and Botswana. It documents a wealth of detailed and direct observations of cheetah population biology and behavioural ecology, adopting an evolutionary approach and providing a conceptual framework for future research and applied management in the context of global environmental change. Kalahari Cheetahs covers topics such as optimal foraging theory, hunting strategies and predator prey relations, mating systems and reproductive strategies and success, inter-specific competition, demography, social organisation, and population limitation. Comparisons with previous cheetah studies reveal the variability of ecological determinants on behaviour, and the behavioural flexibility and ability of these carnivores to adapt to different environments. This advanced textbook is suitable for graduate level students as well as professional researchers in felid behavioural ecology and conservation biology. It will also be of relevance and use to conservationists, wildlife managers, and African wildlife enthusiasts.