{"id":524,"date":"2018-01-05T10:22:24","date_gmt":"2018-01-05T10:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amanziguesthouse.co.za\/blog\/?p=524"},"modified":"2018-01-05T10:22:24","modified_gmt":"2018-01-05T10:22:24","slug":"ann-van-dyk-cheetah-centre-also-known-de-wildt-cheetah-wildlife-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amanziguesthouse.co.za\/blog\/ann-van-dyk-cheetah-centre-also-known-de-wildt-cheetah-wildlife-centre\/","title":{"rendered":"Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre also known as The De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre"},"content":{"rendered":"

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]<\/p>\n

The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre<\/a> is just over an hours drive from Amanzi Guest House<\/a> in Johannesburg.\u00a0 Its a lovely country drive towards the Magaliesburg Mountains and the view of the Hartebeespoort Dam<\/a> is lovely.\u00a0 Rob and I took our grandsons to this Cheetah Centre also known as the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre a couple of days ago.\u00a0 What an adventure.\u00a0 Such a fun thing to do as an adult, or a child.<\/p>\n

We booked for the Cheetah run \u2013 (I wasn\u2019t sure if we were running with the cheetahs or how it would work)\u00a0 but it turned out that we walked behind a shoulder high grass fence and watched the cheetah chase a lure on a specialised track.<\/p>\n

\"Amanzi<\/a><\/p>\n

The handler getting ready to set the lure in action, and checking to see where our Ambassador Cheetah is\u00a0 photo source: Pam H<\/em><\/p>\n

A truck drives up and an Ambassador cheetah<\/a> lazily hops out, not a lot different from my cat hopping down from a table.\u00a0 Simultaneously a lure was mechanically jerked along a 200 metre line.\u00a0 Our cheetah sprang into action, and I mean sprang \u2013 from zero to 80 km\/hour in a couple of seconds.<\/p>\n

\"Ambassador<\/a><\/p>\n

Yeats, the Ambassador cheetah chasing the lure at top speed.\u00a0 Cheetahs spend half of the time they are sprinting in the air and use their tails to balance<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Cheetah<\/a><\/p>\n

Yeats uses his tail to turn at an incredible speed, dust flies\u00a0 photo source:\u00a0 Pam H<\/em><\/p>\n

An easy run for Yeats, the cheetah.\u00a0 Yeats pounces on his \u201cprey\u201d and is rewarded by the handler who leads him back to the truck hurriedly.\u00a0 I can only assume the hurry is to divert him from investigating us behind the grass fence.<\/p>\n

\"reward<\/a><\/p>\n

Yeats gets a reward from his handler for “catching his prey”.\u00a0 She tells us that the cheetahs are very proud of their prey\u00a0 Photo source:\u00a0 Pam H<\/em><\/p>\n

Together with our guide we walk past about 20 Ambassador cheetahs each in a separate enclosure.\u00a0 Our guide explains that these cheetahs have been used as Ambassadors to create awareness of their species and help with fundraising initiatives.\u00a0The Centre has bred over 800 cubs since its opening in 1971.\u00a0 This is an amazing achievement, as there are only about 10,000 cheetahs world wide now. \u00a0She works with the cheetahs so they know her, and deep purring erupts as she scratches many of the cats.\u00a0 Its so tempting to do the same, they look so tame.\u00a0 But we are strictly warned about keeping our distance.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>\u00a0 A purring Ambassador Cheetah. The guides take the cheetahs for walks every day, which they LOVE!\u00a0 \u00a0Photo source:\u00a0 Pam H<\/em><\/p>\n

Our guide tells us that The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre is the first breeder of the rare king Cheetah – so named not because of its size.\u00a0 Its coat is different with larger black blotches – there are no King Cheetahs in the wild now, so they are a must see.<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a><\/p>\n

Yeats, our Ambassador Cheetah, is brought into the meeting room, where he hops up onto a table- Fascinating information is shared by the handlers, but my eyes are riveted on the purring cat licking his handler.<\/p>\n

\"Yeats<\/a><\/p>\n

All the facts I had read about on the internet don\u2019t come close to how it feels to be in the presence of these magnificent creatures. The Ambassador Cheetahs are trained to allow people see them up close.\u00a0 Being close to a cheetah, and listening to it purr is an amazing experience and privilege.<\/p>\n

\"Yeats,<\/a><\/p>\n

The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. They can reach a top speed of around 113 km per hour in a few seconds.\u00a0 However they tire quickly and can only keep up their top speed for a few minutes before they are too tired to continue.<\/p>\n

Then we climb into a large game drive vehicle, and drive around the rest of the Centre.\u00a0 I love seeing the Wild Dogs.\u00a0 The programme at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre has saved these animals from extinction, so they are no longer on the endangered list, but rather vulnerable list.<\/p>\n

\"Amanzi<\/a><\/p>\n

The Wild Dogs have been successfully bred at the Centre, and you will now see them at many Game reserves, like Madikwe\u00a0 Photo source:\u00a0 Pam H\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Wild<\/a><\/p>\n

The African Wild Dog, also known as the Cape Hunting Dog, or African painted dog is an endangered species, and the Centre has been assisting with increasing their numbers through their breeding programme.\u00a0 tip:\u00a0 record the yipping of the dogs\u00a0 Photo source:\u00a0 Pam H<\/em><\/p>\n

The Centre also has programmes for other smaller cats, Brown Hyena, and the Cape Vulture.<\/p>\n

Treat yourself, and make a visit to the De Wildt Cheetah Centre soon!\u00a0 You might even be inspired to become part of the Adoption programme!<\/p>\n

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