A few Interesting facts about Cheetahs!

Photo courtesy of PMdT Photography

• The cheetah has a small head with high-set eyes.
• Black "tear marks", which run from the corner of its eyes down the sides of the nose to its mouth, keep the sun out of its eyes and make it one of the most deadly hunters in the animal kingdom
• The cheetah is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds of up to 120km/h (74mph).
• One stride covers from 6 – 9 metres (19 – 29ft).
• It can cover 28m (91ft) in one second

Photo courtesy of Idwala Game Lodge

• Cheetah coat is very specific. It’s coarse, short and has up to 2000 black spots which help him camouflage itself while hunting preys.
• Cheetahs will catch their preys within 1 minute or leave it if it takes too long as it cannot run at full speed for long distances.
• Cheetahs do not roar like lions, but they purr just like a domestic cat when content.
• Once a common animal found on five continents, the cheetah is now an Endangered Species

Photo courtesy of Idwala Game Lodge






The scientific name for cheetah is Acinonyx jubatus – Acinonyx meaning ‘non-moving claws’ referring to the non retractable claws andjubatus, which means maned, referring to the mantle on a young cheetahs back.










The cheetah’s long muscular tail acts like a rudder, giving it balance when it turns at high speed during a chase










The cheetah needs a large area of land to survive, but with the expanding of the human race this area is becoming smaller and smaller. The cheetahs' survival depends on people and our ability to manage the wild population and protect its habitat

WWF says make a noise for rhinos

WWF says make a noise for rhinos
(Original article from Africa Geographic)

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on Wednesday urged the public to dust off their vuvuzelas and participate in “Make a noise for rhino” day on September 22.
It was part of a campaign to support the country’’s “rhino warriors”, the men and women who risked their lives daily against gangs who ran the illegal rhino trade, said WWF spokesperson Joseph Okori.
This year, 188 rhino had been poached in South Africa.
The campaign to raise awareness about saving rhinos would start on September 22, which will also be the first day of rhino month.
This article was published by news24.com

Photo of the Week - Cheetah

Cheetah Family

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is an 

out of the ordinary 

 member of the cat family (Felidae) that is unique in its speed, while lacking strong climbing skills.

WILD DOG- Amazing Predator

Playing Wild Dogs - Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Lodge of the Week - Tuningi Safari Lodge

Creature Comforts

Tuningi Safari Lodge is a 5-star lodge that markets itself as ‘colonial African chic’. Accommodating only 16 guests, Tuningi offers an intimate bush experience at the renowned Madikwe Game Reserve. The main lodge flows comfortably between the rim flow swimming pool and outdoor seating area with lots of space for guests to meander about between game drives. A short walk along a wooden walkway, underneath an old fig tree, is a lovely deck area that functions as a bird viewing area by day and an outdoor dining area by night. Staff will recall frequent sightings of animals wandering past while guests relax in the swimming pool. The eight rooms are spread out and the uneven walkways may not be ideal for physically challenged guests. The en-suite bathrooms offer baths with a view and an outdoor shower only. Tuningi offers a well planned and exciting children’s program that makes it an ideal option for families. The exclusive use option of Little Tuningi is beautifully laid out and the best choice for a family group who wish to be on their own. The lodge offers guests two swimming pools and when there are children in camp, the second pool becomes a children’s area. Honeymoon guests are treated to private outdoor dinners and romantic starlit swims.

As the fourth largest game reserve, covering 75 000 hectare, Madikwe has a reputation for its’ successful introduction of the endangered African Wild Dog. The big 5 are all on offer here and the reserve has a bird life to delight any bird enthusiast. Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the few reserves in southern Africa that is malaria free. Located in South Africa along the Botswana border and 20 kilometres from Gaberone, the reserve lies within a transition region between Lowveld bushveld and the Kalahari thornveld. As a result the region is host to an incredible diversity of species from both ecosystems. Geographically the region has enormous volcanic intrusions known as Inselbergs, which adds a grandiose backdrop to the rolling hills on the horizon.

Tuninngi prides itself on their family orientated experience and comes highly recommended for family groups. The lodge is also ideal for couples and honeymoon packages. Little Tuningi offers superior exclusivity for those wishing to be more discreet.

****************************************SPECIAL OFFER**************************************

STUNNING FLY IN OFFER

valid for September

Mid-Week

From R7700 per person 

Weekend

From R9000 per person

These packages include accommodation, return flights from Federal Air from Joburg, all meals and 2 daily game drives

Excludes: Park Admission of R100 per person, drinks, tourism levy and other extras

Subject to availability and valid for new bookings, cannot be combined with other specials

Book and Pay to confirm booking

Wine creators who are helping to conserve the Wild Dogs

Painted Wolf Wines are doing their part to assist with the conservation of wild dogs in Africa.


From their website: 
"PAINTED WOLF WINES is a dynamic, innovative South African wine company. We are dedicated to the production of distinct, authentic wines, the conservation of African wild dogs and their habitat and the building of a community which shares similar interests and values."

PAINTED WOLF is a dynamic, innovative South African wine company. We are dedicated to the production of distinct, authentic wines, the conservation of African wild dogs and their habitat and the building of a community which share similar interests and values.

Founded by Jeremy and Emma Borg, drawing inspiration from the African Wild Dog, our own Painted Wolf pack is a community of talented individuals who bring the best available grapes, technical and practical skills to Painted Wolf.

We are primarily interested in the production of wines with a distinctive South African feel, and to that end have an emphasis on wines crafted from Chenin Blanc and Pinotage – the two bench mark South African grape varieties.

We pride ourselves on our focused energy and relentless determination, living the Painted wolf mantra of being ‘Persistently remarkable, remarkably persistent’.

We actively support the conservation of African Wild Dogs. Funds from every bottle sold go towards the research and conservation of this intriguing, beautiful but highly endangered species – successful long term conservation of African Wild Dogs is only possible where large tracts of wilderness still exist…

Sign this petition to get Painted Dogs on CITES

Support the African Wild Dog SOS FUND