Cat Rehabilitation | Emdoneni Lodge

Cat Rehabilitation

Cat Information, Cat Rehabilitation

African Wildcat (Felis lybica)

Every domestic cat you will ever see is descendant from the African wildcat. Whatever the cat, whether a tabby pet or a hybrid designer breed, their origins will be a wild species that continues to roam the African savannah. African wildcats tough it out with lions and leopards. They are expert hunters and can fight for their food. These beautiful animals are misunderstood. Nobody cares too much about an African wildcat. There are more impressive sights on safari. People outside Africa prefer to stroke and feed their own cats.   Credit Source: africafreak.com Image: Emdonenilodge.com

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Cat Rehabilitation, Emdoneni News

Unforgettable experiences at Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project and Spa

Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project & Spa, Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal Where comfort, luxury and nature combine, you will find the Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project & Spa. Truly a one-of-a-kind accommodation, this establishment not only offers beautiful and luxurious rooms and facilities, but they also have an on-site spa and care for South Africa’s endangered wild cats through their Cat Project. The lodge can be found just off the N2, between the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve and the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park. Their ideal location makes them the perfect base to explore the Hluhluwe area and all its beauty. With a 3-star grading and multiple awards under their belt, the owners of Emdoneni Lodge, Louis and Cecillie Nel are extremely proud of everything they have accomplished since first opening their doors in 1994. “Both my husband and I love the bush, people, nature and conservation.  The lodge with our amazing staff have proven to be one of the best, if not the best 3-star property in Hluhluwe.  “We are extremely proud of our product and what we offer to our guests.  We as owners are very hands-on with our lodge and owner-driven,” said Cecillie to Home, Food & Travel. What Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project has to offer “Our return business has shown us many times that we have a winning combination, our guests feel at home and love the warm hospitality, delicious food, stylishly decorated rooms and our dedicated and efficient team.  We strive for the best, as only the best is enough for our guests,” explained Cecillie. There are three different types of accommodation to choose from at Emdoneni Lodge; the Chalets, Rondavels and the Honeymoon Suite. From starting off with only seven rooms to having 50 rooms today, the lodge has continued to grow from strength to strength for 25 years. “Our Rondavel type family rooms are a winner, two rooms each with an en-suite bathroom.  The very popular Honeymoon Suite, Windfall Cottage, is privately situated under Marula trees and offers great comfort and privacy. It consists of a lounge with DSTV, romantic bedroom, en-suite bathroom with a free-standing bath, leading to an outside shower in a privately fenced Boma area,” Cecillie explained. The Chalets are spacious and elegant, offering an authentic atmosphere that will maximize your comfort. A unique African-style with thatched roofs and round shape, the Rondavels are elegant and the popular choice at the lodge. Honeymooners or couples looking for an ideal romantic getaway can enjoy a stay in the Honeymoon Suite. “Sit and relax on your private patio, having your morning coffee or tea. In the afternoon, enjoy a glass of wine and watch Zebra, Nyala and Impala roam around the cottage,” said Cecillie. Top-class facilities to enjoy at Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project A well-stocked bar can be found in the main lodge where you can grab a drink of your choice and relax in the spacious lounge area. For hot days you can take a dip in their crystal clear swimming pool or relax under the sun in their lounge chairs. The spa menu at Emdoneni Lodge has been specially developed to cater for any needs their guests might have. They have two treatment rooms available, one of which includes an en-suite shower. Emdoneni Lodge caters for all age groups, “Children especially enjoy the fully equipped games room with pool, air hockey, table tennis, jungle gym and sandpit and feeding our resident family of tortoises,” explains Cecillie. The lodge offers free access to Wi-Fi and secure parking for your vehicle. You can enjoy breakfast and dinner at the lodge depending on your booking. Accommodation can be booked on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast or Bed and Breakfast basis. Learn all about the endangered wild cats of Africa Since the beginning, Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project has been working hard to rehabilitate and re-introduce a variety of endangered African wild cats to the wild. The main aim of the project is to care for orphaned or injured wild cats such as Servals, Caracals, African Wildcats and Cheetahs. Through their conservation efforts, many successful releases back into the wild were done by their ambassador animals. To date they have successfully released two cheetahs (soon to be four), 22 Servals, 13 Caracals, and seven African Wild Cats. In order to help create awareness about the importance of conservation, Emdoneni Lodge pays regular visits to local communities in order to get them involved and create awareness of sustainability and to respect and treasure all wildlife. During your stay, you can experience an up-close and personal tour of the Cheetah Project and learn more about the endangered wild cats of Africa. Top reasons for staying at Emdoneni Lodge: The staff and owners of Emdoneni Lodge are professional, helpful, welcoming and very friendly. They have a wide selection of rooms that are spacious and elegantly decorated. They serve a delicious breakfast and a mouth-watering dinner. They have a spa on-site that offers a variety of excellent treatments. Their Cheetah Project helps rehabilitate endangered wild cats and teach you more about them. To find out more about Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project & Spa, give them a call on 035 562 7000/082 713 3686 or email office@emdonenilodge.com. Visit their website at www.emdonenilodge.com. Find them on Google Maps.   Thank you homefoodandtravel.co.za  for the amazing article!

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Cat Rehabilitation, Emdoneni News

Our Cat Release Program

The main emphasis of the cat project 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. In the 22 years that the Emdoneni Cheetah Project has been in operation, we have successfully rehabilitated and released Servals, Caracals, African Wildcats and Cheetahs. ‘We are delighted to accept the two new Servals and play our part in ensuring the conservation of this rare and beautiful species. ‘iSimangaliso provides them with a secure home away from inhabited areas and the threat of snaring,’ says iSimangaliso Wetland Park CEO, Andrew Zaloumis. Servals are listed on the ‘Threatened or Protected Species’ (TOPS) list owing to their rarity. They are vulnerable to being snared and killed by farmers, in particular for their beautiful pelts.   October 2017 – Servals Released at Fanie’s Island April 2017 – Servals Released at iSimangaliso Wetland Park     March 2017 – African Wildcat Release at Private Game     January 2017 – Cheetah Released – Mossel Bay   March 2014 – Servals Released at Mkuze Game Reserve     August 2012 – Servals Released at iSimangaliso Wetland Park The adult female and young male were confiscated from a farmer in Vryheid who kept them in captivity illegally, apparently to be used for hunting purposes. According to the farmer they were found in snares, but on investigation, no marks were found on their bodies to support the claim. They were recovered by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife District Conservation Officers and taken to the Emdoneni Cheetah Project near Hluhluwe. The cats were set free in the open grassland area in the Easter Shores side of the park, a suitable habitat and where plenty of prey is available. Servals eat mainly rodents, fish, birds, insects and small reptiles which are found in abundance in natural wetland areas. On a previous occasion Servals were released in the Western Shores side of the park. August 2011 – Caracals Released at Private Game Reserve   July 2011 – Caracals released at a Private Game Reserve Releasing two caracals born in captivity into the wild, turned out to be both a sad and exciting moment for Emdoneni Cheetah Project owners Louis and Cecillie Nel. Two one year old male caracals, born at Emdoneni Cheetah Project, Hluhluwe, were part of the breeding project aimed at saving the African wildcat, Caracal, Cheetah and Serval from extinction. The intention is to breed where possible and release the offspring back into their natural habitat. The cats were released in the Mziki Shareblock at Phinda Game Reserve after being judged fit and able to hunt for themselves. Tiptoeing out of the crate, the first male entered his new home by first stopping right in the middle of all the spectators to give them a last close-up inspection before disappearing into the forest. Male number two wasn’t too keen on exploring his new habitat and it took a lot more convincing before he made his leap for freedom. The caracal is an endangered species, mostly killed by farmers because of predation on their livestock. In some areas they are killed for their skin and meat. The Nel Family truly have One Heart, One Passion and One Goal, to save these rare species. “I think I could turn and live with the animals, they are so placid and self-contained; I stand and look at them long and long.” By Walt Whitman    

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Cat Rehabilitation, Emdoneni News

Cat Rehabilitation Centre

Thank you so much for the thumbs up regarding our cat rehabilitation centre and for understanding that the well being of our cats is our first priority, Astrid. Hope we may welcome you again. Read Astrid’s review here: “First of all, we were very sceptical about the cat project, as two years before we had a bad experience with a stay at another lodge where cheetah walks were offered. However, the cat tour next day was convincing, the guide explained a lot and also discussed pros and cons of the sanctuary and touristic use of it. We were quite a small group, and when one cat seemed to feel uncomfortable we immediately left the area. Thumbs up for that, even if it meant we had no chance to touch a cat.” – Astrid from Germany via TripAdvisor Click below to learn more about our Cat Project. Zululand Cat Conservation Project  

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