Price 1 Adult
ZAR 5290.00Price 2 Adults
ZAR 6500.00Price Per Extra Adult More Than 2
ZAR 2260.00Description of Trip (Approx 6 hours from Johannesburg return)
Lying just north of Pretoria at De Wildt in the picturesque extremely ancient Magaliesberg mountains (2nd oldest mountain range in the world – over 3 billion years old) is the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre. It is clear when visiting the cheetah centre that the driving ideals here are not overtly commercial like other wildlife venues in the area but ones of conservation and the promotion of ecologically sound principles and awareness. Despite excellent sponsorships and support it relies very heavily for its existence on you the visitor. You can be reassured that your attendance fees here contribute mostly to the welfare of the centre and the animals in particular cheetahs and the less favoured African Wild Dog.
Although the Cheetah breeding programme was the main initiative that led to the foundation of the centre in 1971, there are many other animals whose continued existence and genetic diversity is supported by various breeding programmes at the centre. Here one can see African Wild Dog, Brown Hyena, Honey Badger, Caracal, Vultures, Ostriches, Impala and Meerkats in various projects.
The African Wild Dog is greatly threatened in the wild mainly by domestic dog diseases to which it has no resistance.
Spending a morning or afternoon at the cheetah centre is one of the most worthwhile experiences while visiting this part of Southern Africa. You will surely learn something affirming about the existence of people dedicated to nature and preserving it for the benefit of the present and future generations. The beautiful natural surroundings enhance the entire experience.
The staff are young, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, and interacting with the cheetahs during the three-hour programme and tour there is a great pleasure. We try to arrive early with tour groups and spend some time in the gardens around the reception, there are wonderful birdlife and indigenous plants and inside the reception lapa (South African for a hall or outside meeting area) are tea and coffee making facilities. Indeed if you have to leave your hotel early for the morning programme ask your hotel for a packed breakfast and you can enjoy it on a picnic there while you wait for the programme to start.
Please take along a sun hat and sunscreen and in the summer months, light clothing is recommended as the climate to the north of the Magaliesberg is considerably warmer than Johannesburg. Comfortable walking shoes are a must as well. But the venue is also wheelchair friendly.
At the centre of all, of course, are the Cheetahs and it’s being up close to these wonderful creatures and experiencing their company that is the crowning glory of your visit. You might like to consider while in the region visiting other attractions. This area to the northwest of Johannesburg and Pretoria is Gauteng’s and the North West’s province’s most scenic region. The Cradle of Humankind is close by as too is the Lesedi Cultural Village, Chameleon African Craft Market, The Elephant Sanctuary, The Monkey Sanctuary, and the Harties Cable Way to the top of the Magaliesberg Mountains.
You can easily spend three to four days in this area seeing all its attractions, so why not stay in the region save time and see more? Leave your centre city hotel for the peaceful relaxing countryside. Please enquire with Mmilo Tours for various levels of attractive accommodation available.
General Information and Prices
Pick up and drop back anywhere in the Johannesburg/Pretoria/OR Tambo included in price.
All tours are conducted by fully qualified English-speaking tour guides in approved vehicles with tourism permits. Other language guides on request.
14.00 Standard Tour The prices above are for the standard two and half hour guided tours of the cheetah centre which include, an introductory lecture and, a drive-through of the larger enclosures with the feeding of the larger groups of Cheetahs and African wild dogs followed by a drive-through of the small reserve with antelope and other animals and are available daily (including weekends and public holidays) at 14:00 If this is not convenient please feel free to contact us about a 9.00 am tour which can be arranged if there are sufficient participants on the day.
8.00 am Cheetah Run with Standard Guided Tour On Wednesdays and Sundays at 08h00, there is “The Cheetah Run ”where you can witness Cheetahs at their amazing running speeds. This is then followed by the two-and-a-half-hour standard guided tour as described above. ZAR300.00 pp for extra time and fees is added to the price for this extra feature.
If either of the two options above do not suit one-and-a-half-hour walking tours at a time that does suit you are also available on an arrangement to see all the smaller enclosures and animals. ( Cheetahs, African wild dogs, Meerkats, Caracal, Serval, African wild cats, Brown Hyena, Vultures various large birds and more. Please deduct ZAR300.00 per person from the tour price above if just doing this shorter programme.
Free Mineral water is included on all our trips!
