Walking with cheetahs
Samara is widely regarded as one of the best places on the continent to view cheetah in the wild. A once thriving, biodiverse ecosystem of grasslands, South Africa’s Great Karoo dwindled into a dry and desolate landscape, losing most of its wildlife to farming, fences and firearms. Over the past 27 years, Sarah Tompkins and her family have successfully restored, rewilded and regenerated 67,000 acres of this semi-arid paradise to extraordinary beauty.
Springbok Samara Karoo
The rescue of Sibella the cheetah from captivity and her release in Samara in 2003 marked the beginning of the extensive animal re-introduction program. Sibella was the first cheetah on the land in 125 years and lived to the ripe old age of 14, dying of natural causes in 2015. She successfully reared 19 cubs in four litters contributing 2.4% to the wild cheetah population in South Africa. Many herbivores have now been reintroduced to the area such as zebra, buffalo and the critically endangered black rhino as well as apex predators such as cheetah, leopard and lion.
Sibella with cubs
Three night cheetah tracking adventure
You can learn more about Sibella’s story and the incredible rewilding and conservation journey of Samara Karoo on this special three night cheetah tracking adventure. Discover the rich diversity of the reserve’s flora, fauna and wildlife on foot, and learn about the tracks and geology of this incredible area.
Walking with cheetah – Sibella and cubs
Highlights and inclusions:
- Slackpacking 10-15 kms per day, fully qualified guides and trackers will walk you through Samara’s various biomes
- Learn how the landscape was and continues to be rewilded
- Breathe in the sense of space that restores the soul
- Learn about the reserve’s 66 mammal species and 225 bird species, and the hundreds of little veld grasses, succulents and Karoo bushes
- Expert guides and trackers will share their knowledge of walking with cheetahs helping you spot signs and tracks in South Africa’s Great Karoo
- Spend two nights off-grid at the new Plains Camp (nights one and three)
- One night mobile fly camping under the star-studded African sky (night two) – you’ll learn about ‘Khoisan candles’ and ancient springbok migratory routes and fall asleep under the Milky Way.
- All meals and selected drinks
- Fully guided
- Samara branded day pack
- T&Cs apply. Guests must be over 16 years of age
Cheetah cubs climbing
Walking with cheetahs is an incredible experience that will stay with you forever and we would be delighted to help plan this into your safari holiday. Our safari experts are on hand to recommend the perfect camp, destinations and regions to complement this experience. Having travelled widely throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean our safari experts can share their knowledge and offer advice.
Do get in touch – chatting to people by phone or email is what we do best. We listen, we explain, we answer all sorts of questions even those you didn’t know to ask, and finally we make suggestions. If this is your first time in Africa or your twenty-first, we have a team standing by to help make the planning easy and the journey the best ever. Please get in touch at whatever stage you’re at.
Good to see Aardvark has discovered this re-wilded gem of a cheetah sanctuary which has become one of my all-time favourite safari destinations.
Dear Brian, It’s an incredible place and a wonderful rewilding story. I am hoping to visit in Febraruary with my young daughter and husband. Cheetahs are her favourite animal and I know that this will be an amazing experience for us all. Katy