Join us for an up close and personal tour and learn more about South Africa’s endangered wild cat species. Come and be mesmerised by the beauty of the Caracal (Lynx), enchanted by the playful Serval, astonished by the speed and agility of the Cheetah and delighted by the African Wildcat. View and photograph these amazing animals at the Emdoneni Cheetah Project. We offer educational tours daily. Feeding to the smaller cat species during the afternoon tour as well as an informative talk about the animals and the project by an experienced guide. No cheetah feeding will be done for viewing.
Important notes – a must read! :
- A small coffee shop is available at the project. Opening hours are 09:00 and 15:00 daily. Please adhere to the above times. Unfortunately no visitors will be allowed at the main gate prior the above times.
- All guests will be asked to sign an indemnity on issuing a ticket.
- All tours will be limited to the maximum of 60 visitors or limited to the availability of tour guides. The total number of guests will be split into groups. Groups not to exceed the total of 20 guests per group.
- All Adult visitors will be allowed to enter the cat enclosures, with a guide, to get up-close to the cats.
- At present we have hand reared animals in all four species. Interaction is not allowed, BUT please bear in mind that these animals are still wild animals with a mind of its own.
- NO interaction with cheetahs allowed.
- All visitors enter all enclosures at their own risk.
- NO sitting down or crunching down to take photos.
- All long hair to be tied up.
- NO Children under the age of 16 will be allowed into the cheetah enclosures, only Adults.
- NO Go Pro or selfie sticks allowed.
- NO sudden movements.
- Should any visitor cause a disturbance to the cats or tour, they will be asked by the tour guide to leave the enclosures immediately and to wait at the coffee area.
- Cats are unpredictable – even if tame!
- Please follow the guide’s instructions at all times.
- Please stay with the group while attending the show.
- No running within the camps or outside the fences.
- No loud noises of any kind.
- Crying babies to be comforted at the waiting area, please. This is not only a disturbance for other guests but for the cats as well.
- All rabies inoculations are up to date and on record.
- The above arrangements are for your own safety as well as four our cats.
Thank you for your co-operation with the above.
Tour Times:
Morning tour: 10h30 Daily
Afternoon tour :
(includes only feeding to the smaller cats, no cheetah feeding will be done for public viewing):
Summer: 16h30 Daily
Winter: 16h00 Daily (May to Aug)
Rates for cat tours :
1 November 2017 – 31 October 2018 :
Rates are NON commissionable
South African Visitors: (SA ID to be presented)
R180,00 per adult
R90,00 per child u/14 years
International Visitors:
R240,00 per adult
R120,00 per child u/14 years
1 November 2018 – 31 October 2019 :
Rates are NON commissionable
South African Visitors: (SA ID to be presented)
R200,00 per adult
R100,00 per child u/14 years
International Visitors:
R260,00 per adult
R130,00 per child u/14 years
Private tours to families or individuals are also an option, please contact the lodge directly on: info@emdonenilodge.com
Should you wish to have a copy of the Cheetah Project brochure, please click on the below button.
On Arrival:
- Guests need to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to commencement of the tour to obtain tickets from reception.
- All guests will be required to sign an indemnity form at the front gate or/and at reception.
- Guests are requested to wait at the waiting area close the cat enclosures, or at the coffee shop, and not to wander around the lodge area. The lodge area is specifically for in-house guests please.
- The guide will meet you, on time, to accompany you to the cat enclosures.
- Soft drinks, water, coffee and tea and light snacks can be purchased at reception/waiting area while waiting.
- We ask guests to respect the cats and not to make any loud noises or to run around the waiting area.
During the tour:
- All visitors enter all enclosures at their own risk.
- Please follow the guide’s instructions at all times.
- NO interaction with the cheetahs allowed.
- Please stay with the guide and group and do not attempt touching the cats through the fences.
- Please do not lean on the fences.
- Please remember that these animals are still wild animals although some of them appear tame.
- Regrettably no children under 3 years of age are allowed into any of the enclosures. Viewing will take place from outside the fences and accompanied by the parents please.
- No children under the age of 16 will be allowed into the cheetah enclosures.
- Please no loud noises of any kind during the tour.
- Crying babies to be comforted at the waiting area, please. The crying sound is highly sensitive to the cats.
- Please may we ask to change your mobile phone to silent mode during the duration of the tour. Regrettably no conversations in and around the camps will be allowed.
- Should the above not adhered to, the guides will either stop the tour or the person(s) to be asked to leave the tour immediately.
- NO sitting down or crunching down to take photos.
- All long hair to be tied up.
- NO Go Pro or selfie sticks allowed.
- NO sudden movements.
- Should any visitor cause a disturbance to the cats or tour, they will be asked by the tour guide to leave the enclosures immediately and to wait at the coffee area.
- No running within the camps or outside the fences.
