Otjiwarongo is the starting point for a visit to the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), a unique place in the world to observe these wild animals at close quarters.
The Namibia is the country with the highest concentration of cheetahs in the world! The Cheetah Conservation Fund est the world leader in cheetah research and conservation. This unique place in the world dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild, an animal often found outside protected areas, in areas where humans live. Here, you can observe cheetahs, giraffes « cheetah » in English. Please note that this is not a zoo or a farm where animals are kept in confinement, but a cheetah protection center founded by Laurie Marker in 1990.
Right from the start, cheetahs were blamed for the death of hundreds of goats in the country – wrongly, since they accounted for only 3% of deaths in herds. The farmers sought to protect their livestock by killing the cheetahs, thus causing a threat to the species, which is now endangered!
The foundation is therefore looking for ways to combine respect for cheetahs and herd protection. It therefore organizes visits to raise awareness, particularly among young children and farmers, with the aim of preserving the species. An effective solution: provide farmers with pedigree and guard dogs trained to detect cheetahs and protect their herds. The center breeds Kangal, Turkish dogs weighing up to 70kg that were once used to protect sheep from wolves. The dogs bark to frighten the cheetahs away, but in no way kill them; they simply alert the farmers. To date, the CCF has already placed more than 400 dogs on farms and succeeded in reducing herd losses by 80%.
The money raised by the training is used to finance the rehabilitation of cheetahs where possible, but also to provide care for these animals, buy them food, maintain the park, raise baby cheetahs taken in because they were orphaned when their mother was killed, and pay staff salaries. By visiting the foundation, you can make your own contribution to cheetah conservation in Namibia. You can also make a donation to the foundation on their website, if you wish.
The CCF is also an opportunity to attend cheetah race training, an amazing activity that must be booked in advance.
These activities start at 7.45 am:
- The best known is the Cheetah Run where you can watch the cheetahs training: a 30-minute race where the cheetahs run up to 120km/h. Sensations guaranteed!
- The Cheetah drive tour A 1-hour jeep trip to see the cheetahs in their natural environment and take magnificent photos. You’ll also have the chance to visit the museum, clinic and guard dog center, trained to protect cheetahs.
- The Cheetah Feeding allows you to see at around 2pm how injured cheetahs that cannot be rehabilitated in their natural environment are fed.
- Other tours like the Game drive are on offer to discover the savannah and their immense reserve.
You can drink coffee and tea in their coffee shop, then have lunch on site, even if the place is a bit small. It’s a great place to visit as a couple, with family or friends. You won’t get the chance to see the cheetahs up close and personal, and watch them training in their enclosure.
Please note that as an accredited bespoke tour creator, I offer to help you create your tailor-made trip to Namibia and create a personalized itinerary to suit your needs. Please send me an email at : contact@mademoiselle-voyage.fr
Before you leave, I invite you to read our various articles to prepare your trip to Namibia:
- Where and how to see the Himbas
- 7 reasons why you should visit Namibia
- The practical guide to planning your trip to Namibia
- Our top 10 things to do in Namibia
