In a remote stretch of the Zambezi Valley in Mozambique, Africa, a team of wildlife conservationists are hiring for a job they call “a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The Panyame Cheetah Project, based in the vast 210,000-hectare Panyame Wildlife Conservancy, is looking for a full-time Cheetah Monitor to live deep in the bush and be involved in tracking, feeding and safeguarding the fastest land animals on Earth.
The job role is no desk job, involving rugged daily treks through Jesse bush and riverine forest, telemetry-based tracking across the cheetah territory—all while living off-grid in a bush camp on the banks of the Zambezi River.
“This is a hands-on, field-based position where the successful applicant will play a vital role in the ongoing success of the Panyame Cheetah Project,” Katie Rodger from the Panyame Conservancy told Newsweek.
Pictures of the big cats being helped by the Panyame Conservancy.
Pictures of the big cats being helped by the Panyame Conservancy.
Panyame Conservancy
“We’re looking for an adventure-loving, passionate individual who thrives in remote, wild settings,” Rodger said. “The ideal candidate is: Deeply committed to African wildlife conservation, physically fit, reliable, honest, and self-motivated, comfortable working alone or in small teams and with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.
“This is a paid, full-time position. The salary is competitive and negotiable based on the individual’s experience and qualifications. Accommodation and food are also provided.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list has listed the cheetah as a threatened species since 2021. With an estimated population of 6,517 mature animals in the wild, their numbers are decreasing. The threats to cheetahs are varied, from hunting and trapping to residential development and wildfire risks.
Founded in 1993, the Panyame Wildlife Conservancy supports four of Africa’s “Big Five” species. The job will require collaboration with anti-poaching units, helicopter-assisted tracking, and an ability to manage large datasets using EarthRanger and Microsoft Excel.
While English fluency is a must, Portuguese and Shona speakers may have an edge. More than anything, however, Panyame is looking for someone who thrives in isolation and is willing to trade creature comforts for conservation impact.
The job has captured plenty of attention online after Panyame shared the job posting on their Instagram page last week. It’s amassed thousands of likes, and in the comments, people shared thoughts from well-placed jokes to amazement at the unique role.
A picture of the location successful applicants would be working in.
A picture of the location successful applicants would be working in.
Panyame Conservancy
“What happened to the last employees?” said one commenter.
While another wrote: “Do they respond to pspspsps?” One Instagram user joked: “Work from home available?? I’ll take cheetah’s to my home.”
Meanwhile many people longed for the idea of the one-of-a-kind job. “In another life perhaps. What an amazing opportunity!” wrote one commenter.
Applications for the role are still currently open and available via a Google form here.
While the salary for the role hasn’t been confirmed, replying to a comment on the Instagram post, the Panyame Conservancy said: “The salary will be dependent on the successful applicants experience and qualifications.”
Update 07/24/25, 03:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from The Panyame Cheetah Project and new images.