Zululand Cat Conservation

27/08/2024

At Zululand Cat Conservation, it's all about teamwork! Our dedicated team collaborates seamlessly to ensure our cats receive the best care and attention.

The success of our conservation efforts relies on the combined expertise and dedication of our team. By working together, we ensure that every aspect of our cats' care is managed with the highest standards, supporting their well-being and preparing them for a future in the wild.

📸 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

22/08/2024

🐾

Looking back at an incredible moment from ten years ago, when two of our beloved servals, Bruce and Muhle, left our sanctuary for the wild expanse of Mkhuze Game Reserve.

🐱 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲: In their prime at five-and-a-half years old, Bruce and Muhle were ready to embrace the great outdoors. Once inside the reserve, they were taken to an ideal serval territory near Nsumo Pan. Their release crates were placed side by side in the long grass, marking the start of their new adventure.

Bruce's crate was the first to be opened. With a slow yet authoritative exit, Bruce surveyed his new surroundings and confidently made his way through the long grass. Within minutes, he was seen scent-marking at the base of nearby trees, establishing his presence.

Muhle, on the other hand, needed a bit of encouragement. 😅💪 Her crate had to be tipped on its edge, and she sprang out, bounding over the long grass to the nearest tree, ready to explore her new home.

🌿 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 - 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬:

1. 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Servals play a vital role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystem by controlling rodent populations and other small prey.
2. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: Wild populations benefit from the genetic diversity introduced by reintroduced individuals, enhancing the overall health of the species.
3. 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬: In the wild, servals can exhibit their natural behaviours, contributing to their well-being and the sustainability of their species.

Join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone and our ongoing efforts to conserve and protect Africa’s wild cats. Together, we can make a difference! 🌟

17/08/2024

"If you’ve ever dreamed of getting up close and personal with a cheetah or simply sipping on a cold beer while watching impalas graze nearby, Emdoneni Lodge offers all this and more." - Graeme Lund

Read more about what Home Food and Travel had to say about us:
https://homefoodandtravel.co.za/emdoneni-lodge-with-cheetah-project-a-unique-safari-experience/

Emdoneni Lodge offers a range of accommodation options to suit every guest's preferences. They are based in the Northern KwaZulu Natal town of Hluhluwe.

13/08/2024

🐾

Experience the magic of Africa’s wild cats like never before with our exclusive cat tours at the Zululand Cat Conservation Project. Our tours offer a unique opportunity to see cheetahs, servals, African wildcats and caracals up close while learning about their conservation.

📅 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 (𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭):
• 09:00
• 10:30
• 16:00

Each tour lasts 60 minutes and includes an informational talk about the animals and our conservation efforts by our experienced guides. Please note interactions with our cats are not permitted. Photos will ONLY be allowed under the strict guidance of our guides. There must be a 2m distance between the cat and the person at all times.

🔔 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥: To ensure a spot, please book in advance. Entrance is otherwise based on a first-come, first-served basis.

📞 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤:
• Phone/WhatsApp: +27 (0)82 7133 686
• Phone: +27 (0)35 562 7000/7001

🎟️ 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬:
• South African Residents: R220.00 (Adults) | R110.00 (Kids)
• International Visitors: R420.00 (Adults) | R250.00 (Kids)

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience! Book your tour today and join us in making a difference for Africa’s wild cats. 🌿🐆

05/08/2024

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐙𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭! 🐾

Here we have Moya with her caretaker, Tymon.

We aim to protect and conserve some of Africa’s most iconic and endangered wild cats, like Moya. From cheetahs to servals, African wildcats to caracals, we are committed to ensuring their survival and educating the public about their importance. Join us on this journey and learn how you can make a difference!

🌟 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: You can directly support our conservation efforts by adopting a cat through our Adopt-A-Cat Program. Your adoption helps fund these magnificent animals' care, rehabilitation and eventual release back into the wild.

Each adoption includes:
• Regular updates on your adopted cat’s progress
• A personalized adoption certificate
• Invitations to exclusive events and tours

🌟 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝:

1. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Your support plays a crucial role in protecting endangered species and ensuring their survival for future generations.
2. 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: By adopting a cat, you help us educate more people about the importance of wildlife conservation and the challenges these animals face.
3. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Experience the unique bond that comes with knowing you’re making a tangible difference in an animal’s life.

Together, we can create a brighter future for these incredible wild cats. Thank you for being part of our mission! 🌿🐾

🔗 https://www.emdonenilodge.com/cat-rehabilitation/adopt-a-cat/

20/05/2024

Zululand Cat Conservation celebrates the vital role of pollinators, recognizing their significance, the challenges they confront, and their pivotal role in fostering sustainable development. Happy World Bee Day! 🐝

28/02/2024

"I’ve got a lifetime of memories from South Africa but this one sticks out as unforgettable. I never thought I’d be able to get this close to a cheetah let alone have some memories to take home with me 🐆♡

Zululand Cat Conservation takes care of injured, rescued, and orphaned animals. Many get released back into the wild if possible, and the ones that can’t become wildlife ambassadors for their species and other endangered cats of South Africa.

Thank you for giving us such an incredible experience."

Thank you Julana for the kind words, we are so happy that you loved your time with us!

26/02/2024

NO Monday blues with faces like this!

Looking back over the years, we are proud to have released a significant number of Cheetah, Caracal, Serval, and African Wild Cat back into the wild.

Thank you for visiting our Conservation Centre, and for playing a part in the care and release of these amazing animals.

20/02/2024

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”

– Albert Einstein.

14/02/2024

"Lovely tranquil setting with great people who care to make the experience a unique and welcoming experience"

Thank you to each and every visitor. We look forward to meeting you in 2024!

11/02/2024

Some interesting facts about the cheetah population that we would like to share!
We would also like to thank each and every one of our visitors to our Cat Conservation Project. Your support is greatly appreciated!

South Africa is now the only country in the world with a significantly increasing population of wild cheetahs, and has begun translocating the cats beyond its borders.

South Africa is home to around 1,300 of the world’s roughly 7000 remaining cheetahs. It’s also the only country in the world with significant cheetah population growth, thanks largely to a nongovernmental conservation project that depends on careful and intensive human management of small, fenced-in cheetah populations. Because most of the reserves are privately funded and properly fenced, the animals benefit from higher levels of security than in the increasingly thinly funded state reserves.

In 2023, the cheetah is considered vulnerable, and with the transformation of the wildlife industry, it is in a far better position today than back in 1973, thanks in no small part to the work of the EWT and private landowners.

Endangered (EN): A species considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Vulnerable (VU): A species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Thank you for visiting Zululand Cat Conservation!

08/02/2024

The main emphasis of Zululand Cat Conservation is to release the progeny of animals back into the wild.

We only keep our breeding pairs (ambassador animals) and those animals that cannot be released, at the project and for educational purposes. All offspring, where possible, will be released into the wild, back where they belong.

The Project has been in operation since 1994, since then we have successfully rehabilitated and released Servals, Caracals, African Wildcats and Cheetahs.

Some of my favourite images are the ones as seen above.

05/02/2024

Planning a tour to South Africa?

Be sure to add Zululand Cat Conservation, and an overnight stop at Emdoneni Lodge to your trip!

We run two tours daily.

Time of tours:
Summer: 10h30 and 16h30 daily
Winter: (May to August) 10h30 daily and 16h00 daily

Adults = 14 years and older
Kids = 13 years and younger

Duration of tours:
- 60 minutes
- All tours will be limited to the maximum of 40 visitors or limited to the availability of tour guides.
The total number of guests will be split into groups.

02/02/2024

Kick start your weekend with some ultimate cuteness ☀😉

Have a wonderful weekend!

31/01/2024

“The cheetah project is a must see when you visit. The guides are very informative and cover all the nuances of each animal.

A tremendous experience! Would we visit again?

Without a doubt.”

Thank you for your kind review!

24/01/2024

Did you know - you can spend the night with us!

We have different accommodation options at Emdoneni Lodge:

🌿 Standard, and Deluxe Chalets
🌿 Rondavels
🌿 Honeymoon Suites

Our Chalets are spacious and elegant with a real authentic South African atmosphere.
frican-style, round, thatched roof rondavels.

Each Rondavel comprises of two bedrooms each with its own en-suite bathroom (with shower only). There is an adjoining door between the two bedrooms, making this style of accommodation ideal for families and especially those travelling with children.

The Honeymoon Suite, Windfall Cottage, is privately situated under Marula trees and consists of a lounge with DSTV, romantic bedroom, en-suite bathroom and an outside shower in a privately fenced Boma area. Sit and relax on your own private patio, enjoying your morning coffee or tea whilst listening to the peaceful sounds of nature. In the afternoon, delight in a glass of wine and watch the Zebra, Nyala and Impala roam around the cottage. The Emdoneni Lodge Honeymoon Suite is ideal for honeymooners or those looking for a romantic weekend away.

Tea and coffee making facilities are also available in all the Emdoneni Lodge units.

We look forward to hearing from you!

www.emdonenilodge.com

21/01/2024

Make sure you add Zululand Cat Conservation to your travel bucket list this year 🇿🇦

We offer 2 x daily tours:
Summer: 10h30 and 16h30 daily
Winter: (May to August) 10h30 daily and 16h00 daily

16/01/2024

Ultimately, the goal for each injured or neglected animal received into our project is to be released back into the wild, but inevitably some will never recover or be capable to care for themselves. These animals become our ambassador animals.

Come and learn more about these special animals.

We offer 2 x daily tours:
Summer: 10h30 and 16h30 daily
Winter: (May to August) 10h30 daily and 16h00 daily

https://www.emdonenilodge.com/cat-rehabilitation/

12/01/2024

Every roar has a story... come and join us on one of our daily tours.

Each tour is 60min, and the afternoon session includes feeding of the caracals.

Time of tours:
Summer: 10h30 and 16h30 daily
Winter: (May to August) 10h30 daily and 16h00 daily

09/01/2024

to the release of this magnificent animal.

We love doing what we do.

05/01/2024

"We took part in the cat tour and what a experience, our guides were really knowledgeable and helpful through the whole tour, you can tell they really love the animals having nicknames for some other and pointing out unique characteristics of each cat.

The project itself is very important and they are doing great work as cheetah are one of the most endangered animals in the world."

31/12/2023

We are "looking forward" to an exciting 2024!

Thank you for every single person who joined us during our daily cat tours, who donated, who adopted our lovely animals. We cannot do this without your support!

We look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones next year!

25/12/2023

From our family (including our fur members!) to yours, we wish you a very special Christmas! 🐾🎄❤️

14/12/2023

“Amazing experience, the cheetah breeding program is to be admired.

The guides are really passionate about these magestic cats and the variety of other cats on the property. Loved the experience and will be going again!”

Thank you for the kind review.

Remember to add to your holiday bucket list!

11/12/2023

Meet Moya 🐾

We have watched him grow into the cheetah he is today - and are grateful to be such a big part of his life.

His name is the Zulu word for “wind” which likely has something to do with how fast he can run 🐆

Come and meet Moya on one of our daily cat tours, and learn more about him 🐾

06/12/2023

Planning a holiday or weekend away in Hluhluwe or False Bay area?

Remember to add Zululand Cat Conservation to your "to-do" list! We run daily tours, twice a day (tours are about an hour).

For more information:

https://www.emdonenilodge.com/cat-rehabilitation/

04/12/2023

World Cheetah Day is a day dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness about the magnificent cheetah, the fastest land animal on Earth! This day serves as a rallying point for conservationists, wildlife enthusiasts, and communities worldwide to unite in the common goal of protecting these magnificent creatures.

With their numbers dwindling due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching, World Cheetah Day emphasizes the urgent need for concerted efforts to ensure the survival of this iconic species. Through education, advocacy, and conservation initiatives, the day inspires a collective commitment to preserving the cheetah's natural habitats and fostering coexistence between them and humans.

30/11/2023

Our guide, Tymon, demonstrates the approximate length of the stride of a cheetah whilst running!

cheetahs cover 20 to 22 (6 -7 m) feet in one stride! (Which is more than the distance between Moya, our cheetah picture above, and Tymon!

28/11/2023

My wife and I visited the project, it takes an hour - the guides did a great job explaining the different types of cats and cheetahs, and showing us their different behavioral characteristics. We were able to take some great photos too.

The project is doing something very important, releasing young cats back into the wild, so is very well worthwhile supporting. We stayed at the lodge next door to the project, which is also very good!

Rod, Tripadvisor.