The visit to the Ann van Dyke Cheetah Centre was a very special experience. The Centre is located just a couple of hours north and west of Johannesburg, an easy ride for a weekend adventure. Cheetahs are near endangered and this farm breeds them and and works with parks for release. It is an incredible operation and I suggest anyone interested in preserving wildlife go to the website. http://dewildt.co.za/
They also breed wild dogs and serve as a home for some injured birds. It was a great visit and I had the opportunity to pet a male cheetah. In a very careful environment, they have the ambassador cheetah (not all cheetahs are ambassadors) lie down on a table and one by one the visitors are allowed to pet his back. So cool. And he was so big!
Even though the cheetahs are absolutely beautiful animals, I think my favorites on the farm were the wild dogs. We were able to watch them drink at a waterhole and there were fed by the workers. We were able to watch both the cheetahs and dogs feed - they are well aware that when the jeeps come by food is to follow. I really enjoy watching animal behavior and this was a very special event.
Here are a few pictures of the beautiful animals and the Centre. (Separate post for cheetahs.)
Several vultures were at the Centre. They had been injured elsewhere and are brought here to love.
Vehicle to take visitors to few the animals.
African civet.
Wild dogs. They have unique color patterns. Look at those teeth in some of the pictures.
Meal time.
This one was my favorite.
They also breed wild dogs and serve as a home for some injured birds. It was a great visit and I had the opportunity to pet a male cheetah. In a very careful environment, they have the ambassador cheetah (not all cheetahs are ambassadors) lie down on a table and one by one the visitors are allowed to pet his back. So cool. And he was so big!
Even though the cheetahs are absolutely beautiful animals, I think my favorites on the farm were the wild dogs. We were able to watch them drink at a waterhole and there were fed by the workers. We were able to watch both the cheetahs and dogs feed - they are well aware that when the jeeps come by food is to follow. I really enjoy watching animal behavior and this was a very special event.
Here are a few pictures of the beautiful animals and the Centre. (Separate post for cheetahs.)
Several vultures were at the Centre. They had been injured elsewhere and are brought here to love.
Vehicle to take visitors to few the animals.
African civet.
Wild dogs. They have unique color patterns. Look at those teeth in some of the pictures.
Meal time.
This one was my favorite.
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