The AfriCat Foundation, a cheetah rescue centre at Okonjima in Namibia, is to star in its own 12-week wildlife series on ITV called Cheetah Kingdom (8pm on Fridays from 10 September). Most of the animals at Okonjima have been rescued from various desperate situations, being orphaned or caught in traps.
The series will follow the life in captivity and the eventual release of the captive cheetahs into the new Okonjima 16000 hectare private reserve. Filming has been taking place since April of this year and soon, the cats - Cyclops, Hammer, Bones, Spud, Coco, Twiggy, Charlie and Trish – will be household names up and down Britain.
Here are two ways in which you can visit the AfriCat Foundation to witness the extraordinary work that takes place there and to meet the famous cats.
Families Worldwide – Cheetahs and Dunes (15 days)
This two week family holiday will include a full day and night spent camping at Okonjima towards the end of the trip. During the afternoon, specialised guides will take you on a tour during which you will be able to meet, close-up-and personal some of the cheetah, and other Big Cats, that are part of the AfriCat rehabilitation programme.
Other highlights include the Namib Desert, the world’s highest dunes at Soussuvlei, quad biking, a dolphin trip, the Skeleton Coast, meeting tribesman and visiting the Etosha National Park. The holiday departs on 17 December and costs from £2499 per child (min. age 5) and £2899 per adult which includes flights, all transportation, 11 nights’ accommodation, most meals and expert guides/tour leader. Call 0845 051 4567 (www.familiesworldwide.co.uk)
Wildlife Worldwide – Big Cat Volunteering (15 days)
This tailor-made trip from Wildlife Worldwide provides a fantastic opportunity to spend some time at Okonjima getting close to the famous cats. Each day’s itinerary on the volunteer trip will be in two parts; early in the day, time will be spent working as part of a team to help restore an old cattle station back to a game reserve. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to help gather vital data by tracking and monitoring (using a telemetry system) the leopards and cheetahs.
You will also get behind the scenes of the daily feeding run of over 100 big cats in the welfare programme. Staying in simple, but comfortable, accommodation and working as part of a closely knit team of volunteers, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The trip can be taken any time from mid-September until November or from January to March and costs from £1799 pp. This includes flights, transfers, 13 nights’ accommodation at the project, most meals and expert guides.
Call 0845 130 6982 (www.wildlifeworldwide.com)
