Departure for destination Johannesburg, South Africa.
In this RETURN TO THE WILD itinerary, the focus is return endangered animals to their wild habitat where they belong, more particular the Cheetah, Lion and other endangered species.
So the rehabilitation centers in this itinerary are not zoos, animals are not returned to the wild to be hunted but to re-introduced in their natural habitat where they belong. Meet the people that gave their entire careers saving these animals. Some of the centers visit are known from world famous documentaries. For example the Anne van Wyke center and the Ashia Cheetah Conservation Center feature in the 2025 documentary 'Born to be Wild'.
CHEETAHS
Cheetahs are considered endangered; globally, the species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with fewer than 7,000 adults left in fragmented populations, facing threats like habitat loss, human conflict, and low genetic diversity. The African cheetah subspecies are generally vulnerable, but the Asiatic cheetah (found only in Iran) is Critically Endangered, facing even higher extinction risk. Cheetahs are Africa's most endangered species!!!
LIONS
African lions aren't globally "endangered" but are listed as Vulnerable, with populations declining rapidly due to habitat loss, human conflict, and illegal trade; however, specific regional populations, like those in West Africa, are considered Critically Endangered or face near-extinction. The overall wild population has fallen from perhaps 200,000 to around 20,000-23,000, with three-quarters of populations shrinking.
While Southern and East African lions are Vulnerable, the West African population is critically low (under 250) and endangered.
Population Decline: Their range has shrunk by about 36% in recent decades, and numbers continue to drop.
BLACK AND WHITE RHINO
While White Rhino is doing better than Black Rhino, thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, black rhino numbers have doubled from their historic low 20 years ago to more than 6,000 today.
AFRICAN PENGUIN
The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. It is the only penguin found in the Old World. There are a few land based colonies in South Africa (the rest is in Namibia) being at Betty's Bay in the Western Cape, Robben Island just outside the coast of Cape Town and the world famous Boulders Beach in Cape Town.
YOU WILL ENCOUNTER OR VISIT
- Lions
- Cheetah
- White Rhino (with some luck Black Rhino)
- African Penguins
Arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
After the border formalities and collecting luggage, you will meet the local (English speaking) representative.
He/she will hand over the travel documents and assist collecting the car rental.
Departure for the area known as the Cradle of Human Kind.
Arrival at the lodge, check-in and rest of the day at leisure.
Lunch is not included while dinner at the lodge is included.
Overnight west of Johannesburg.
- Meet and Greet
- Diner
- Lunch and beverages
- Car rental as we recommend to chose the vehicle that fits you best
Breakfast and departure to Brits, north of Johannesburg (+/-) 68 km - 01h15'.
Arrival at the lodge (standard check-in is from 14h00) for lunch (included).
Ukutula believes that we as humans are inseparably linked to all other living creatures on this planet – EVERY HUMAN BEING MUST be allowed to connect with wildlife, to learn, and to enjoy any wildlife species under controlled and ethical conditions. The joy and wonderful experience of observing wildlife (or any other living creature) at close range in their natural habitat are privileged that MUST NOT be reserved for only a chosen few individuals.
Conservation through Sustainable Eco-Tourism, Research, and Education
Sharing the Wonders of Wildlife to inspire Conservation, Research, Education, and a Wildlife Ethic!
NO: animals were not removed from the wild and NO Utukula is not a zoo! It is a research center!
To learn more about the Research, Education, and Conservation projects conducted at the Ukutula Conservation Center (UCC), please visit our official UCC website: ucc-biobank.org
14h00: walk with lion in the reserve. Return to the lodge for a refreshment followed by a guided tour in the center where several rescue animals are held such as wild dog, the larger cat family, tigers rescued from a circus in Europe and likely an encounter with a cheetah and lion cubs!
Dinner at the lodge is included.
Overnight in Brits.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Afternoon lion walk and animal encounters
- Beverages
Waking up by the call of lions is not an everyday thing!
Breakfast at the lodge.
Today you will be visiting the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, roughly 37 km from your current location.
There are scheduled tours (non-private), however we have chosen for an exclusive 3 hour excursion with your own private guide and vehicle (maximum space in the vehicle is 10 seats)!
The tour is designed as an exclusive event starting off with a Cheetah Run. You will experience the excitement of seeing a Cheetah run at high speed. This escapade is followed by a game drive through the Cheetah and Wild dog enclosures. This is the perfect opportunity for photographers to capture pictures of our magnificent animals.
Overnight in Brits.
ADOPT A WILD CHILD
The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre do not receive any government funding and therefore depend on public support to continue with the work that we do. You and your family can take a special interest in one of the Centre’s animals by adopting one or more of them. Choose your favorite animal from the list of species and by sending your adopt an animal donation you will be playing an important role in assisting us to maintain and care for these animals.
You will receive a certificate to acknowledge your adoption as well as a photograph via e-mail of the animal that you have adopted (All Levels).
- Breakfast and dinner
- Three hour exclusive excursion (no children under the age of 7, if any children under the age of 7, the itinerary and activity sequence will change)
Cheetah Run on a Wednesday or Sunday morning only is included!
- Lunch and beverages
Breakfast at the lodge, check-out and departure to the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve (+/- 230 km - 03h00').
We must arrive at the lodge farm around 11h30 for the scheduled 4x4 transfer to the lodge.
Farm? Yes, the lodge has its own sustainable farm, not only organic food from farm to plate, it is also a form of employment!
Arrival at the lodge for lunch (included).
At around 15h30, prepare for the afternoon tea followed by the 4x4 game drive in the reserve. The reserve is famous for its excellent rhino conservation program as well as the reintroduction of the Cheetah, often found in the plains of 'Little Serengeti', south of the lodge.
Enjoy your first African safari sunset on a safe location while enjoying a beverage and snack.
Return to the lodge after dark followed by dinner.
Overnight in the Welgevonden Game Reserve.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- House beverages (Mhondoro stay only)
- Return scheduled transfer to/from the gate
- Afternoon 4x4 safari
*** Regret children under 6 years of age may not be accommodated on scheduled game drives when other guests are joining. Bumble game drives may be arranged for families with small children at a rate of R900 per bumble drive, subject to the availability of a vehicle and a ranger at the time. The drives are tailored to carter to our smaller visitors and can vary in duration and will include child appropriate facts and sightings.
- Premium beverages
- Additional transfers outside the normal hours of 12h00 – 12h30 at Mhondoro Eco Farm or Welgevonden Airstrip to Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa charged at R1 500 per vehicle and may interfere with the first afternoon game drive or lunch depending on how much later the guests arrive.
- Conservation fee payable on the spot
Early morning wake-up for the sunrise 4x4 safari or safari on foot (please advise in advance as the lodge needs to liaise with the reserve management to make sure your location and as a anti-poaching measure!).
Return to the lodge for breakfast.
At leisure to enjoy the pool, the view and the lodge facilities until lunch.
At around 15h30, prepare for the afternoon tea followed by the 4x4 game drive in the reserve. The reserve is famous for its excellent rhino conservation program as well as the reintroduction of the Cheetah, often found in the plains of 'Little Serengeti', south of the lodge.
Enjoy your first African safari sunset on a safe location while enjoying a beverage and snack.
Return to the lodge after dark followed by dinner.
Overnight in the Welgevonden Game Reserve.
- All meals
- Morning 4x4 safari or safari on foot
- Afternoon 4x4 safari
- Premium beverages
After the morning 4x4 safari and breakfast, check-out and transfer to the gate where the rental car is waiting.
Departure to the Lanseria or OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg (+/- 3 - 3.5 hours drive) for your scheduled flight (included) to the 'Mother City' as Cape Town is often referred too.
Arrival at the Cape Town International Airport where we pick-up the rental car and drive to the city (outside peak hour +/- 20 minutes).
Check-in enjoying the view over the iconic Table Mountain and the city (CITY LIGHTS!!).
Lunch and dinner at leisure (not included).
Overnight in Cape Town.
- Morning 4x4 safari
- Lodge to gate return transfers
- Domestic flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town
- Lunch, dinner and beverages
- Excursions and entrance fees
After breakfast you are expected in Table View (20 km - outside peak hour 30 - 40 minutes drive).
09h00: visit to the SANCCOP SAVE SEABIRDS CENTER for a 2.5 hour guided tour personalized tour. Abandoned African Penguin eggs are hatched here, babies are looked after, learn how to swim and learned how to feed until they are released in the wild!
After the excursion take the opportunity to enjoy the 'post card' views at Blouberg Beach, during a clear day the view over Table Mountain, the Table Bay, Robben Island (only 3.5 km outside the coast) and the city is simply said: SPECTACULAR!
Rest of the day at leisure to explore the historical city center of Cape Town.
Lunch at leisure (not included).
Private Spice Route dinner (including return dinner transfers) is included, not just a dinner but an African Feast with traditional dancing and singing as well as a Djembe (African Drum) session.
Overnight in Cape Town.
- Breakfast and dinner
- SANCCOP guided tour
- The personalised tour must be booked at least one month in advance.
- Duration of the experience is approximately 2.5* hours
- No more than four persons per group and age restriction is 16 years old (if children under the age of 16, a group tour will be arranged with a maximum of 10 people joining.
- This tour is only available on week days and may not be booked over a weekend.
- Lunch and beverages
- Entrance fees and other excursions
Breakfast at the hotel.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: a day excursion around the Cape Peninsula!!
Lunch and dinner at leisure (not included).
Overnight in Cape Town.
- Breakfast
- Lunch, dinner and beverages
- Entrance fees and excursions
Breakfast, check-out and departure to the Cape Winelands.
Departure to Paarl in the Cape Winelands (+/- 70 km - 01h15').
Drive via the N1 highway to Paarl and take the 'Sonstraal' (sunbeam) road exit.
Visit to the Ashia Cheetah Center. Some of the cheetahs rehabilitated at Anne Van Dyk Centre arrive here, being their second and last stop before being released in the wild. Here the Cheetahs have more space and learn the skills to survive in the wild!
As such the name reflects perfectly the two sides of the project – giving hope for the future of the cheetah species through Ashia’s Cheetah Reintegration, Reintroduction and Research Programs, and offering the best life to the animals in need of care at the Cheetah Center in Paarl.
Wild cheetah populations have been estimated to 7100 individuals across their historical range in Africa and Asia, but current trends are suggesting that they are in fact far lower. As 77% of these remaining wild cheetah persist outside of formally protected areas, our response is two-fold. Enhancing the value of cheetah in protected areas and implementing conservation measures outside of these safe spaces.
The remaining individuals’ distribution is across less than 10% of their historic range. With wild spaces being secured and restored both in terms of habitat and prey numbers, we are working towards returning a key predator into these rehabilitated wild spaces.
VOLUNTEER FOR THE DAY!
This is a unique opportunity to experience the cheetahs’ daily life! This is perfect for young people who have a yearning for a career with animals or for anyone who wants more of a behind-the-scenes view. Learn from our Animal Carers what it takes to look after our animals on a daily basis. Help prepare meals, assist them on feeding rounds, enrichment activities, daily cleaning activities and join staff and volunteers for a home-cooked lunch overlooking the Drakenstein mountains.
07h00/08h00 to 16h00/17h00 (7am/8am to 4pm/5pm).
Dinner at leisure (not included).
Overnight in the Cape Winelands.
- Breakfast and lunch
- Ashia Cheetah Centre
- Lunch, dinner and beverages
- Other entrance fees and excursions
Breakfast at the lodge.
Day at leisure to explore the Cape Winelands.
Lunch and dinner at leisure (not included).
Recommended:
- Picnic lunch at the Boschendal Wine Estate
- Fine dining dinner - the restaurant booking can be arranged for you!
Overnight in the Cape Winelands.
- Breakfast
- Lunch, dinner and beverages
- Entrance fees and excursions
Breakfast at the lodge.
At leisure until returning to the Cape Town International Airport where you will return the car rental.
Lunch at leisure (not included).
Recommended is to stretch a leg in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden before checking-in for your flight home.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Excursions and entrance fees
Arrival back home.
