In 1950 Lente Roode's father, Willie Schurmann, bought a 2000-hectare farm in the Hoedspruit district in the Northern Province of South Africa which today forms part of the Kapama Private Game Reserve (situated close to to the Kruger National Park in South Africa).

Lente's father generated income by farming sheep and cattle. Lions, leopards and cheetah were seen as a dire threat to livestock and were shot on sight as a result.

It was during her childhood that Lente developed a love for animals, the African bushveld, and for the farm which she visited at every opportunity. This was the beginning of a life-long passion for conservation of the cheetah, and of all animal species.

As a child of six, Lente was given an orphaned cheetah cub after a neighboring farmer shot the mother. They called her 'Sebeka'and she soon became part of the Schurmann household. Together, Lente and her mother (a nurse) lovingly cared for the animal. Lente and her cheetah were inseparable.

How the H.C.P became the H.E.S.P

Contact was then made with the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria to cooperate in the breeding of other species at Hoedspruit. As a result, African wild cats as well as ground hornbills and bald ibises were transferred to the H.C.P in 1991 and 1995. African wild dogs (captured as 'problem animals' by conservation authorities and brought to the HCP in May 1991) were also included in the breeding programme.

In 1995, the Centre started a black-footed cat breeding programme when landowners that raised orphaned kittens contacted the HCP to take care of the animals.

During the first half of the 1990s, blue crane chicks which had been abandoned after lands were cultivated were brought to the Centre by concerned farmers. The birds were also included in the breeding programme.

The inclusion of other species into the Centre's breeding programme necessitated the name change from the H.C.P to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (H.E.S.C).

About The Cheetahs

Their History

In the past, the Cheetah, swift and long-legged, roamed through nearly all of Africa, Arabia, and what is today Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Today, its range is reduced to specific areas in Africa and a few small pockets of land in the Asian countries. In Africa, the cheetah's main habitat is primarily confined to two strips, one belt running just north of equatorial Africa and the other reaching down through Eastern Africa to Southern Africa.

This decline in numbers is mainly due to the fast-expanding human population that, together with agricultural development, has rapidly taken over what used to be ancient cheetah habitats. The cheetah is one of the earth's fastest mammals and needs expanses of flatland or open plains on which to hunt and run down its prey. This flatland is coveted both by man and the cheetah.

Cheetahs are an ancient species - cheetah fossils go back some two to five million years putting them in the Pliocene Era. Ironically, they have a history of close associations with humankind, primarily in eastern countries. For example, before the species became extinct in India, cheetahs were used to hunt game. Cheetahs were trained by man for hunting as long as 3000 BC

So it is not surprising that rapidly declining cheetah numbers caused the species to be regarded as endangered as early as the 1960s. Already in the early 1970s Norman Myers reported that the cheetah was slipping towards extinction, together with some other species of wild animals in Africa, mainly due to the destruction of their habitat as result of farming practices and there was evidence that the species did not breed effectively in captivity.

Cheetahs occupy large areas in small numbers. This aspect of their behaviour is still seen today in the few areas that are relatively untouched by humans. For example the number of cheetah in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, which is approximately 2 million hectares in size is estimated to be 250 - A density of approximately one animal per 8 000 hectare.

This mode of distribution evolved in this way in part because cheetahs have a severe impact upon their prey species. They feed only on fresh carcasses that they have killed and having eaten move on, perhaps only killing again two to ten days later. Their co-predators, lion and leopard, will feed on the carcass of an animal they have killed for an extended period seldom leaving much for the benefit of the hungry scavengers that share their domain.

Leopards hang their prey in trees above reach; lion prides, with a number of members, consume the entire carcass of the animal they have killed. Both of these large predators scavenge food from rotting carcasses that they find and will seize a cheetah kill if the opportunity arises. Cheetahs are killed and fed upon by both these predators.

Attempts to ensure the survival of the cheetah developed spontaneously into two broad fields of activity: one to conserve the free-ranging population and the other to breed cheetahs in captivity.

Cheetahs in South Africa are classified as vulnerable according to the IUCN Red data book.

Day visitors

What you cxan expect at the H.E.S.C

Following an introductory presentation on the Centre, day visitors are treated to an in-depth tour of the centre. Departing on the hour, open safari vehicles with experienced guides move between the various enclosures, enabling participants to view cheetah, wild dog, lions, the black-footed cat, african wild cat, ground hornbills, sable antelope and much more.

A great treat is experiencing the feeding sessions of various rare African vultures as they swoop down into the �vulture restaurant� to feed on the remains of carcasses. This area attracts White-backed Vultures, Hooded Vultures, occasionally the Lappet-faced Vulture and Cape Griffon, the Marabou Stork and Bateleur Eagle. The bones and carcasses come from the bomas, paddocks and pens around the Centre, and once they have been picked clean they are taken to a bone miller and the proceeds are put pack into the Centre. Nothing goes to waste!

Visitors may also participate on an elephant-back safari. Conducted early morning and late afternoon, guests enjoy close contact game viewing from the vantage point atop the massive pachyderm. This is truly a memorable and humbling experience. The Camp Jabulani herd of elephants are renowned for their beautiful temperaments and outstanding physical condition.

Safari Park Self Catering Camp

Safari Park consists of 4 tents which each have 2 single beds. Linen, towels, as well as a cooler box are provided. Each tent has its own braai (barbeque) and we provide a bag of wood as well as a bag of ice every evening. Additional ice or wood can be purchased from the tea garden. Tents may be serviced daily.

Please note, there is no electricity in the Safari Park. Paraffin lanterns are provided, as is hot water from a "donkey" (geyser).

Facilities in the camp include 2 bathrooms, and a sink to wash dishes (clients take care of their own dishes, which must be brought along).

We are able to provide a "braai-pack" should clients require, consisting of lamb chops, boerewors (sausage) and steak, as well as bread, salad and cutlery. Orders must be placed in advanced, at which time costs will be advised.

Breakfast may be enjoyed at the HESC tea-garden (for the visitor's account).

Check in is at 14h00, and check out is at 10h00.

The cheetahs conservation programme

What to pack