Cheetah

Cheetah

Year: 1989

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: English

Director: Jeff Blyth

FamilyDrama

An American boy and girl live for six months in Kenya with their parents and adopt a cheetah, soon realizing it must be released to learn to hunt and live freely. When poachers capture the animal to race it against greyhounds, the two kids join an African goat herder they befriended and trek into the dangerous wilderness to rescue the cheetah.

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Timeline – Cheetah (1989)

Trace every key event in Cheetah (1989) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Family arrives in Kenya and meets the savannah

Ted and Susan join their parents at a NASA tracking station in Kenya, and the idea of roughing it on the Savannah seems far from their reality. Their mother’s insistence on staying indoors clashes with Ted’s dreams of adventure. The family settles into a house that feels out of place for them.

early in the stay Kenya (near the Johnsons' home)
2

Ted and Susan meet Morogo at the watering hole

Against their mother's rules, the siblings sneak out to explore. There they meet Morogo, a friendly Masai boy who shows them the local wildlife. They also discover they can teach him how to play video games, sparking an unlikely friendship.

shortly after arrival Watering hole near the Johnsons' home, Kenya
3

Morogo becomes part of the family

One day the mother finds Morogo in their home, and the siblings argue that he could help keep them safe. The parents, hesitant at first, reluctantly agree that Morogo can stay with them. The household begins to adapt to a new and unusual guest.

early in the stay Johnson household, Kenya
4

A day of soccer and a close call with a rhino

The trio plays soccer, and Morogo retrieves the ball from a sleeping rhino, prompting Kipoin to scold him for neglecting his duties. Morogo reveals his unease about making new friends who are different. The incident shows the household balancing curiosity with caution in the savannah.

early in the stay Savannah near the Johnsons' home
5

Duma the cheetah cub is found and brought home

They come across a cheetah cub whose mother has been killed by a poacher. Susan insists they take the cub home, and their parents reluctantly allow Duma to join the family as a household pet. The cub bonds with the siblings and becomes part of daily life at the house.

shortly after discovery In and around the Johnsons' home, Kenya
6

Six months later: training Duma to hunt

Six months after adopting Duma, the Johnsons convince the children to train the cheetah to hunt, following the advice of an Australian game warden named Larry. The family learns to balance care for the animal with its natural instincts. Ted and Susan begin to understand the dangers of black-market exploitation surrounding Duma.

six months after adopting Duma Kenya; training grounds
7

Patel's scheme to exploit Duma

Patel, the Indian storekeeper, hires Nigel and the ruthless poacher Abdullah to profit from Duma by racing her against greyhounds. They intend to cash in on betting on the speed of a cheetah in a sport people love. The plan foreshadows the danger the family will face.

before the departure Patel's store and associated camp
8

Duma is captured as the night before departure

The night before Ted and Susan are to leave Africa, Patel breaks into the Johnsons' house to steal Ted's whistle, and the three gamblers capture Duma. The family is unaware of the full danger as they prepare to depart.

the night before departure Johnson home, Kenya
9

Ted uncovers Patel's conspiracy

The morning after the break-in, the family says goodbye to Morogo, but Ted notices Abdullah's shoe marks and realizes Patel's role in the crime. He tries to convince his parents of the conspiracy, but they remain skeptical. The siblings delay their flight by sending a telegram to their grandmother and begin to plot a rescue.

the morning after capture Kenya; Patel's camp
10

Morogo joins the rescue

The children persuade Morogo to help them rescue Duma, and Morogo agrees despite fearing to leave his family. He provides directions to the Jamhuri camp and joins the trio on their perilous journey. The teamwork shows their shared determination to save the cheetah.

shortly after the telegram From Kenya to Jamhuri camp
11

Escape from police and journey toward Nairobi

The trio reach the camp but are captured by a roaming policeman; they trick him into letting them use a restroom at a gas station and escape. With help from a sheep farmer, they make their way toward Nairobi, clinging to hope that they can reach Duma in time. The sequence shows their resourcefulness under pressure.

nighttime during the escape Kenyan roads to Nairobi
12

Duma wins the Nairobi race

The siblings arrive at a Nairobi racetrack just as the cheetah-greyhound race is announced. Ted retrieves his whistle to help Duma accelerate, and she surges to victory, thwarting Abdullah's scheme. The authorities arrest Abdullah and Patel's plans unravel.

race day Nairobi racetrack
13

Release at Cheetah Valley and the reluctant departure

Back with their families, they head to Cheetah Valley to release Duma and meet another cheetah. Ted resists extending the family holiday, but Susan convinces Duma to stay with her new companion. The moment cements Duma's place in the Kenyan landscape and family life.

after the Nairobi race Cheetah Valley, Kenya
14

Final adage and friendship

As Duma frolics with a newfound cheetah friend, the siblings recall Morogo's Kenyan adage: 'Though we are far apart, our spirits share the same earth and the same sky.' They watch Duma play and feel a renewed connection to the land and to each other. The ending emphasizes unity across distances.

final scene Cheetah Valley, Kenya

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:31

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