Founder Annie Beckhelling launched the project with a hectare of land provided by Spier Wine Estates located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Cheetah Outreach then set out to introduce cheetah to the South African community. Educational efforts began with two cheetahs: Shadow, a one-year-old male, capable of traveling to community events, and Inca, a six-year-old male, whose role was to greet Spier visitors.

With such a successful year behind this new project, Cheetah Outreach is quickly expanding. In September of 1997, three cubs were born at the cheetah breeding facility also located at Spier. The inquisitive cubs are currently in training to assist Shadow with the ever-increasing outreach responsibilities.

Other additions to the Outreach family include two adult female cheetahs presently on breeding loan to the organisation. Cheetah Outreach is in a strong position to educate both tourists and the local community about one of Africa's finest treasures – the cheetah.

The aims of the Cheetah Outreach :

• Increase awareness of the diminishing numbers of free ranging cheetahs in the wild;
• Assist Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in efforts to ensure the survival of the cheetah by fundraising;
• Where possible to breed cheetah in captivity and promote co-operation between captive breeding facilities in Southern Africa.