KEEPING PACE WITH THE CHEETAH
Tracking cheetah provides a whole new way of enjoying these big cats
There’s something truly special about encountering a lithe and graceful cheetah in the bush.
Often referred to as the greyhounds of the bush, these beautiful big cats are not only the fastest land mammals but also the most endangered. Although the jury is still out on the status of majestic lions, the cheetah has been at the centre of big cat conservation efforts for some time and still remains classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red list with just 9 000 to 12 000 still living in Africa.
BREAKING ALL THE RULES
The cheetah is not counted amongst the Big Five which, to some extent, supports the belief by many wildlife conservationists and photographers that that moniker is just for tourists and is not necessarily any indication of the actual value of the many beautiful creatures that deliver far more prized sightings.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion – although this iconic big cat, with its vivid black spots, long legs and distinctive tail, makes for some of the best wildlife shots with many being snapped on top of ant hills or rocks gazing towards the horizon.
This probably means that the cheetah is scanning for prey and, with its distinctive black tear ducts, it has the best eyesight of almost all of the large felines. The fact that it is not nocturnal and usually hunts at dawn and dusk makes it all the more likely to be spotted by game lovers.
But the differences do not end there. Apart from its the extremely long legs which equip this cat to achieve speeds of up to 100km perhour more quickly than other mammals, it has an extra-long tail that acts as a rudder to help it make rapid twists and turns that go with chasing down and tripping up the smaller antelopes that are its favoured prey.
Despite being the most successful of predators when it comes to hunting, cheetahs are also more likely to have their meals snaffled by competitors. Nature, to some extent, has compensated for this, by designing an overbite. Unlike other cats, the cheetah’s canines have no gap behind them when the jaws close which mean they can tear through meat more rapidly and devour their kills quickly.
Unlike even the domestic cat, the cheetah does not fully retract its claws. However, the cheetah’ s slightly curved and far shorter claws are ideal for navigating rough terrain – but unlikely to make them good climbers.
Where cheetahs are most like your feline pet is that they are the only big cat that purrs. Other big cats are able to roar though, an expression that is denied the cheetah which has to settle for chirping or churring in order to call lost cubs or communicate at mealtime.
Although cheetahs are often loners, they are just as often viewed in male coalitions or family groups with cubs that are, sadly, extremely vulnerable and often killed by other aggressive predators.
WALKING WITH THE CHEETAHS
As cheetah sanctuaries were established to conserve these endangered big cats, many unfortunately became glorified petting farms with tourists encouraged to meet a cheetah. The end result was that many became far too habituated to humans and almost impossible to return to the wild.
With petting farms all but outlawed and certainly less popular these days, the way is open for a far better option, tracking cheetahs and enjoying these fascinating felines just where they should be – in the wild.
Samara Karoo Reserve, which counts the cheetah as its signature species, will launch a new three-night cheetah trial this September.
Samara is widely regarded as one of the best places on the continent to view wild cheetah.
The award-winning, Big 5 game reserve – a conservation journey on 67 000 acres (27 000 hectares) of born-again wilderness in the breathtakingly beautiful Great Karoo in the Eastern Cape – is situated in a global biodiversity hotspot.
It is an astonishing, semi-arid paradise of vast landscapes, dramatic escarpments, mountains and grasslands and aside from the iconic cheetah, is home to elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard.
Other wildlife includes vast herds of springbok, black wildebeest and Cape Mountain zebra, eland and blesbok and flocks of endangered blue crane (South Africa’s national bird), Cape vultures and black eagles.
The Cheetah Trail in this magnificent reserve is for those who appreciate the delights of a safari with a difference – a walking outing that offers the opportunity of exploring the diversity of the reserve’s rich plant and wild-life with the exciting prospect of sharing time with the reserve’s cheetahs.
This is what is known as slackpacking. Couch conservationists will be pleased to know that the hiking is not too strenuous, and every walk focuses on tracks and signs, flora and fauna and the geology of the area. Guests will learn, first-hand, all about the cheetah and identify other tracks along the trail with the help of expert guides and trackers. This is certainly a better option than National Geographic!
As the sun sets, you can camp out under the stars around a campfire where you’ll learn about ‘Khoisan candles’ and ancient springbok migratory routes and fall asleep under the Milky Way.
The Samara Cheetah Trail Package includes accommodation at Plains Camp, an off grid, luxury tented camp (first and third nights) and Samara’s mobile fly camp on the second night. All meals are provided.
The SADC launch rate – R14 995 per person for the 3-night trail – is valid until 15 December 2024.
Booking is essential.
Reservations: +27 (0) 49 940 1111 | reservations@samara.co.za |www.samara.co.za
Facebook & Instagram: @SamaraKaroo
