Canyons & Canoes in Namibia

Eventually, we left on our overland tour the following day and crossed over into Namibia; from the second we crossed into Namibia, the entire landscape changed dramatically. We spent the night at Felix Unite, camping along the Orange River. The make the most of our day, Michelle and I decided to go canoeing down Orange River with some other people in our group.

To get to our start point, we were driven 10km through the deserted valley while standing on the bed of a truck – that in and of itself was a lot of fun. We were surrounded by gorgeous views during our leisurely canoe experience, and the water splashing us was very much welcomed on a sweltering hot day. 2.5 hours later, we completed our canoeing journey – sunburned, exhausted, and dehydrated.

We spent the evening watching the sunset at Fish River Canyon, which is the second largest canyon in the world (160 km long, 127 km wide, and .5km deep). To see the sunset behind such a vast canyon is really something but, unfortunately, it was a bit hazy. With cheese, crackers, and beers in hand, it was a good sundowners indeed.

The following day, we drove through the Zaris Mountains and continued along the Naukluft Mountains after lunch. We made it to our campsite and before even setting up our tent, Michelle and I ran in the pool – it was 40 degrees (104 Fahrenheit)! Later in the day, we headed to the Sesriem Canyon; Sesriem means “six ropes.” We went down into the canyon (1.6 km long, 30 m deep, and only 2 m wide in some places) and wandered around for a while before heading up for another sunset.

 

Cape Town: Sunset at Camps Bay

We were supposed to leave on our overland camping tour with Intrepid Travel at noon following our Lion’s Head sunrise hike. We boarded the truck, lunches in hand, and realized after a few moments that our truck wasn’t moving. Turns out, we weren’t purposely idle – the truck wouldn’t start and no one knew why. Our guide, Chris, asked us to get off the bus while they tried to figure out what was wrong.

Fast-forward five hours, and the truck still wouldn’t start (even with a new part). Chris came over to tell us that we would no longer be departing that day, as the bus wasn’t fixed. This is Africa.

Once settled in our new hotel for the night, we decided that we might as well make the most of our final night in Cape Town. What did that consist of? Watching sunset at Camps Bay, of course! We perched up on a rock and had a beautiful view of the sunset in front of us, the 12 Apostles (the back of Table Mountain) next to us, and Lion’s Head behind us. It was a perfect sunset with great people – a very positive end to my time in Cape Town indeed.

Initially I was bummed that I wasn’t going to have time to climb Lion’s Head for sunrise or watch the infamous Cape Town sunsets, but thanks to the truck breaking down, I was able to accomplish both. Everything happens for a reason.

Before Sunrise: Lion’s Head Hike

Anyone that’s traveled with me knows just how obnoxiously loud my alarm is (but you know you secretly love it). It’s especially painful when it goes off at 3:45am. My new roomie, Michelle, tried to throw a punch at me but instead knocked over a water glass. Can’t say I didn’t warn her my alarm was loud…

Full of energy and headlamps in hand, some troopers from my upcoming Intrepid Tour joined me to go climb Lion’s Head for sunrise.Layz was so devoted to coming on the hike that he crashed outside my room on a bean bag…but unfortunately I couldn’t wake him, no matter how hard I tried!

We began our trek up in the darkness, while stopping to admire the beauty that is pre-dawn Cape Town; it looked truly magical. As we climbed through the fog and above the clouds, the views began to look like something out of a fairytale. As darkness turned to dawn, we were at the base of the rock face of Lion’s Head and knew that our only route was up. And so, we started the rock scramble. Racing the rising sun, we scurried up Lion’s Head to make it in time for sunrise. As we scrambled, the clouds began turning shades of pink and we realized that we were seeing the beginning of what looked to be a promising sunrise. We finished the long stretch up right as the sun was about to rise and watched it ascend behind Table Mountain with the clouds hovering below. I must say, it was one of the more beautiful views I’ve ever had the joy of witnessing, and quite rewarding as, for a bit of time, I was afraid that the sun would beat us to the top.

But then something crazy happened. Within a split second, the clouds enveloped the mountain, completely obscuring an outstanding sunrise. Table Mountain just disappeared. Within the mask of cloud, all you could see was a tiny, fuzzy yellow glowing disc. It was as if I was trying to focus on an image of a sun at the eye doctor before he put it into focus. It was hazy in the distance and remarkable to see Table Mountain just vanish piece by piece.

With the sun covered and a thick fog surrounding us, we decided to begin our descent. We were a little worried about completing the scramble backwards, especially since it was slippery, but as long as you go slowly and watch your footing it’s totally fine. After getting past the scramble, all is easy and you’ll be amazed by the views of Cape Town.

Travelers Tip: When descending, turn right at the big tree rather than left – it’s less tough on the knees.

 

Memorializing at Robben Island

Alone in Cape Town, I set out to learn more about Nelson Mandela and headed to Robben Island. Despite the island looking close, it is a 50-minute ferry ride (11.5km from the V&A Waterfront); you take the same ferry there that used to transport the prisoners. Upon stepping foot on Robben Island and boarding the busses, it is instantly clear that the guides are very thankful for our visit and curiosity. There are three prisons on the island; Mandela was kept in maximum security, their biggest prison, for eighteen years. There were originally more than 1,600 graves (largely due to people dying from leprosy), but today there are only about 200 because the prisons were built on graveyards.

During our tour of the island, we passed the lime quarry where Mandela worked excavating limestone all day every day; he suffered respiratory problems later in life and was unable to cry, both of which are attributed to dust damage from working in the quarry. In February 1995, Mandela gave a speech in the back of the quarry and placed down a stone. Today, there are heaps of stones at the entrance to the quarry, as rocks were added to the pile by various people out of respect after his death.

When touring the maximum security prison, you are given a guide that was an actual prisoner. Our guide joined the liberal movement in Swaziland in 1978 and joined the movement in Botswana in 1983. He worked underground until he was arrested in 1986 and sentenced to 17 years, but he only served five years because everyone was released in 1991.

Some facts about the prison:

• Mandela was arrested in 1962
• Blacks weren’t given bread in prison until 1977
• Prisoners had to carry a prison identity card at all times
• No fresh water was provided for washing themselves, instead they used sea water
• Prisoners were told that they’d only work in the quarry for six months, but those six months turned into eighteen years

Robben Island opened to the public in 1997 to celebrate to human spirit that it represents. It teaches that peace, friendship, and reconciliation cannot be a one-sided battle. After Mandela’s release, he visited Robben Island three on three separate occasions.

 

Free Walking Tour: Cape Town

Whenever I’m in a foreign country, I try to take advantage of the free walking tours offered around town, so naturally I checked out Cape Town Free Walking Tours. I decided to take their “Historical Cape Town” tour at 11am and the “Bo-Kaap” tour at 2pm, both led Rico.

A bit of background on Cape Town: The Khoisan were indigenous to Africa until, in 1488, the Portuguese arrived in Cape Town; Bartolomeu Diaz, a Portuguese explorer, sailed around the southernmost tip of Africa. Fast-forward some, and the British invaded Cape Town in 1795 from Muizenberg. The second time, in 1806, power shifted four times – Dutch to French to Dutch to British rule within ten years. Around this time, Cape Town became known as the Paris of Africa. In 1948 the National Party went into power and less than 8% of the population were allowed to vote. The National Party won based on the idea of segregation. The British stayed until 1961, when they had enough of the apartheid. It wasn’t until 1992 that F.W. de Klerk said that South Africa was in the process of closing the book on apartheid.

So, let’s talk history:

• St. George’s Cathedral: Built in 1833 and made public in 1834. Desmond Tutu used to preach here in the 80s and 90s, and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his fight against apartheid. He was seen as a voice for the more marginalized and managed to get 30,000 people outside of St. George’s Cathedral to go on a peace march.

• Parliament Building: The legislative capital. F. W. de Klerk and Mandela worked in parliament and were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their work in abolishing apartheid.

• Cape High Court: Instrumental for apartheid – tell the stories you must tell because someone has to bear witness. During apartheid, if you weren’t European you had to go to the High Court to be racially categorized (many scientific experiments were done to decide what category you were put into). If you were categorized as black, for example, it was written in a book that had to be on you at all times; if you were stopped without it by a cop, you could be beat and thrown in jail. One of the ways that people were categorized was through the Pencil Test – if a pencil fell out of your hair, you’re European and fine, but if it stays in your hair, you’re not European and need to be categorized (white was on top, colored in the middle, and black at the bottom – if you were black it was likely you had no jobs or human rights).

• Church Square: Oldest Dutch reformed church in the country
• Slave Lodge: Where companies kept slaves for orientation – 700 slaves were locked up every night. On weekends and holidays, they left the women out for the enjoyment of men. The Dutch ruled Cape Town for 200 years and decided to bring slaves to the city in 1658. By 1717, there were more slaves in the city than free men, and by the time slavery was abolished in 1864, there were 38,000 slaves. Sadly, today, there are still 29.8 million slaves living on Earth.
• City Hall: It was on this balcony where Mandela made his first speech as a free man in front of 250,000 people; these people covered the whole square, every conceivable rooftop, poles, trees, everywhere possible to wait to hear him speak. While waiting they had no food, no shelter from the sun, no water, no toilets. Mandela was supposed to be released at noon and to speak at 2pm, but he was released late and didn’t speak until 9pm. Mandela noted that “Our struggle has reached a decisive moment. We call on our people to seize this moment so that the process towards democracy is rapid and uninterrupted. We have waited too long for our freedom. We can no longer wait. Now is the time to intensify the struggle on all fronts. To relax our efforts now would be a mistake which generations to come will not be able to forgive. The sight of freedom looming on the horizon should encourage us to redouble our efforts.”

We broke for lunch and ate at the Eastern Food Bazaar (as per Rico’s recommendation) and, if you’re in Cape Town, do not miss this. The portions are huge, the food is great, there’s a lot of variety and, to top it off, it is dirt cheap! What could be better.

We began our second tour of the day with Rico, excited to see more of the city. Bo-Kaap directly translates to “above town.” The community has been there since slavery was abolished and there are 12 mosques in the community of Bo-Kaap alone. It is a multi-cultural and diverse community – everyone is welcome to live there. Although it is predominantly Muslim, people living in Bo-Kaap speak Afrikaans more than Arabic.

People always ask why the houses are so colorful in Bo-Kaap. According to Rico, the people that live in Bo-Kaap came from the city, which was dramatic and sad as they were enslaved. Bo-Kaap was the first space that they could call their own, so what’s a better way to express that than in living color.

Tackling Table Mountain: the India Venster Route

If you’re a hiker and/or in pretty good shape, do yourself a favor and climb Table Mountain via the India Venster Route. It is not for anyone with a fear of heights, or for beginner hikers. I wouldn’t recommend completing it without a guide or a local (thanks Alison!). It’s a stunning hike and must be started as soon as the sun is in the sky because the sun is STRONG!

The India Venster Route is considered the most dangerous and exciting route up Table Mountain. There are three main scrambles and, let me tell you, being only five feet tall is a major disadvantage. Nevertheless, I maneuvered myself up and through the scrambles, and had a blast while doing so. Even though there are only three scrambles, there are many large gaps and high steps. Expect to be on your hands and knees at places. Expect to do some rock climbing and rock scaling without the help of rails. Expect fantastic, rewarding views.

Three hours later, we completed the India Venster Route! Conquering Table Mountain was a powerful feeling, as it looks treacherous from a distance. Once at the top, you’re rewarded with remarkable views and a complete 360 degree view of Cape Town.

Travelers Tip: Take the cable car back down Table Mountain. Not only is it iconic, but the downhill route is steep, dangerous, and tough on your knees.

 

From Cape Point to Cape Town

For anyone that’s road tripping, you’re bound to hit Cape Point Nature Reserve, and for good reason! Definitely climb to the lighthouse at Cape Point, head over to Dion’s Beach, hike up the Cape of Good Hope, and observe the Mystic Cliffs as well. It’s truly a beautiful reserve, although a bit windy. The lighthouse, while iconic, seems a bit useless because of all the clouds that are always surrounding it, but it is said to be where the Flying Dutchmen haunts the oceans because the captain challenged a storm there and failed.

Travelers Tip: Bring a hat because there is no shade in the entire reserve.

 

From Cape Point, we drove through cutesy towns along the coast with breathtaking views, all leading up to the Chapman’s Peak Drive. It’s a fun drive with 114 curves offering gorgeous views of Hout Bay. Well worth it and definitely pull over to take a few photos like we did! Note that there’s a toll at the end of the drive for R38 (about $3 USD).

 

Prior to heading to our hostel in Cape Town, we drove up Signal Hill, which offered us our first views of Table Mountain! Man that thing looked daunting from below! Every day at noon a canon is fired off from Signal Hill, which traditionally was used as a means of synchronizing watches so that everyone was on the exact same time.

 

Playful Penguins on Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach is one of the most unique, pristine beaches I have ever encountered. What makes it any different from say, De Hoop Nature Reserve? Well, there are PENGUINS! And it’s not like they’re hiding – they’re basking in the sun only a few feet away from you, they’re swimming alongside you in the water, and they’re waddling over to check you out. We were there on a weekday, leaving the beach virtually secluded; it felt like our own private getaway for the morning.

Travelers Tip: Hit the beach Monday-Friday because the beach gets crowded with locals on the weekends.

Most tourists head right for the Boulders Beach Observatory and miss the actual beach entirely. DO NOT SKIP IT! If anything, skip the Observatory, or at least leave it for last as it’s a total tourist trap. While you get to see hundreds of penguins on the beach, you also get to see hundreds of tourists. If you only have time for one aspect of Boulders, choose the beach.

 

Feeling Good at Fairview

If you only have time to visit one winery, choosing to visit Fairview Wine & Cheese would be your best decision. It was bustling with people, and the most popular vineyard for a good reason.

In front of the vineyard you will find a goat tower, which is a great photo op and a good introduction to the area. You’ll walk past a busy restaurant and through a small store (with a fantastic cheese tasting for R12), before reaching the tasting rooms.

At Fairview, you have two options for tastings: the Sommelier’s Choice (Beryl Back) and the Standard Tasting. The Sommelier’s Choice consisted of 8 cheese/wine pairing from all over South Africa. We tasted a variety of wines – Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The cheese pairings were spectacular – the fig cheese blew my mind, the cranberry cheese tasted like cheese cake, the goat cheese melted in our mouths, and the bleu cheese was perfectly creamy. Our sommelier was extremely knowledgeable, quite friendly, and let us set the pace of the tasting. It is definitely worth the few extra rand for the Sommelier’s Choice.

The Standard Tasting excludes cheese and takes place in a very social atmosphere. While standing, you choose six wines to taste and have the ability to interact with those also tasting beside you (whereas the Sommelier’s Choice was more personalized). It’s a far more communal experience and offers different wine tastings than the Sommelier’s Choice. If you choose to do both tastings, know that you wouldn’t be tasting the same wines twice.

Travelers Tip: If you are going to spend you day in the South African Winelands, be sure to have a DD or go on a group tour so that you don’t need to worry about drinking to much and getting back safely.

Shark!

South Africa is known for its concentration of Great White Sharks. For those excited about the possibility of meeting Jaws face-to-face, suit up and go shark cage diving! Great White Shark Tours provided a tasty spread for breakfast – fruits, meats, pastries, teas, coffees, eggs, cereals, etc. After a quick pep talk, we boarded the boat. There are many people on the boat, which provides an encouraging atmosphere.

Travelers Tip: Sit in the bottom section of the boat, especially if prone to sea sickness – it is less bumpy and windy.

The water was very choppy, but I was loving it (thank goodness I have a tough stomach!). We stopped at one spot for an hour to try to lure in sharks, but none came and so we went closer to land. We were warned that the water was murky, but that if we wanted to get into the cage, it was “now or never.”

Well, I wasn’t going to go Shark Cage Diving and not go into the cage, so I zipped up my wetsuit and slid into the cage! Great White Shark Tours provides fantastic quality wetsuits, with a hood and booties included. Unfortunately, there really was zero visibility. Even when there was a shark in front of our cage, we couldn’t see it while underwater. At last, we saw a shadow of the tail.

After about 40 minutes in the cage, I got out and decided to try to see the Great Whites from the boat. On deck, we could see just how close the sharks really were. They were right there. Despite being unable to see the sharks from the cage, we were thrilled to have been able to see six or seven from the boat. To see these ginormous, dangerous sharks attack the bait was both remarkable and frightening. While I’m bummed that I couldn’t really see the sharks from the water, I understand that we can’t control the ocean and it was still an exciting experience nonetheless.

A few hours later, after a light lunch on board (sandwiches, chips, soft drinks, and water are all included), we went back to the main house and were greeted with hot chocolate, coffee, tea, pastries, and chocolates.

Before signing up for shark cage diving, you have to acknowledge that it’s an event that you can’t base around the weather – it’s marine weather, not atmospheric weather, so just because it’s beautiful outside (and it was!) doesn’t mean that the water will be clear. It works just like a safari – you either have a lucky day or an unlucky day, but the crew really does try their best to make something happen.

If you’re going to go shark cage diving, Great White Shark Tours is most definitely a reputable, reliable company for the excursion – even the Discovery Channel and National Geographic have used their services!

Travelers Tip: Expect high swells. If you think you’re going to get sea sick you probably will, so prepare properly and take some dramamine.

The White Sand Dunes of De Hoop Nature Reserve

After what felt like ages driving from Outdshoorn to De Hoop Nature Reserve, we finally made it without breaking down. We passed four broken down cars along the way…

Travelers Tip: As soon as you arrive at the De Hoop reception area, the receptionist will try to sell you on a “stunning” 3.5 km hike. It was neither a hike nor stunning, so do yourself a favor and skip it.

De Hoop is known for its white sand dunes. It’s 16 km farther on tricky dirt roads, but completely worth it. I knew there was a reason I wanted to go to De Hoop. We exited our car, walked a few feet, and were greeted with beautiful, sweeping white sand dunes juxtaposed against a turquoise and dark blue ocean – literally, the ocean’s blue was split like water and oil. De Hoop is hands down the nicest beach I have ever encountered, and the sand was so unbelievably fine that you couldn’t feel it on your body.

Travelers Tip: Bring a picnic and eat it in the shaded areas while absorbing the spectacular views.

If you’re continuing along the Garden Route, you should take a photo at the obligatory pit-stop – Cape L’Agulhas, the southern-most tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet.

Ostrich Riding?

Our road trip brought us to Outdshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. Since Outdshoorn is home to the world’s largest ostrich population, we decided to educate ourselves a bit. Ostriches are vegetarians, largely eating plants and grass, but are capable of swallowing up to 50 grams of stones (to use for grinding). The ostrich neck is, in fact, so flexible that one even swallowed a 500 ml coke bottle! The ostrich industry began when merchants migrated from the Sahara to the Karoo. Marketing-wise, 15% comes from feathers, 25% from meat, and 60% from leather – ostrich is the second toughest leather in the world, following the kangaroo.

On our tour, we learned that when an ostrich lays an egg, it is equivalent to 45 chicken eggs and weighs 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) each. The incubation period is 42 days, and an egg can withstand 150-160 kg (330-352 lbs) without breaking.

Fun Fact: If being attacked by an ostrich, lay flat on the ground with hands over your head because ostriches can’t kick downwards.

There were numerous parts to our tour at the Cango Ostrich Farm. First, we had an ostrich eat out of our hands, but since I’m small, the ostrich managed to reach around both sides of my head, in front of my face, everywhere to eat the food in our guide’s hand.

To my vegan family, I apologize for the next bit. Following the feeding, we were given the opportunity to ride the ostriches. I mounted the ostrich, grabbed its wings, and rode the ostrich around the pen. The jockeys were nearby to (attempt) to catch me when I fell off – falling off is the only way to actually get off the ostrich. I found the experience to be a blast and couldn’t stop laughing.

Nick, on the other hand, was less than thrilled…Check out his reaction here:

We then went for a “neck massage.” I held a bucket of food and six ostriches came to eat it from every angle over my head. They kept throwing pelts down my shirt!

All in all, our tour at Cango Ostrich Farm was very informative. It was long enough where you appreciate the ostriches, yet short enough that you don’t get sick of them. People pretty much take the tour to be able to ride an ostrich. At the end of the tour, we sat at the restaurant on the farm and ate a fantastic array of ostrich for a very reasonable price.

The Cango Caves: South Africa’s Oldest Tourist Attraction

If you’re not afraid of the dark or small spaces, you must head to the Cango Caves (Klein Karoo) and sign up for their Adventure Tour! The tour includes the first two main chambers (a bit touristy), but then continues to four “adventure chambers,” and 3500 steps later you will experience: the Lumbago Walk, the Tunnel of Love, the Devil’s Chimney (67 cm/26.4 in wide), and the Leopard Box (which is only accessible when sliding on your belly, as the highest point is only 27.94 cm/11 in).

The Cango Caves have been known to man since the Early Stone Age and are South Africa’s oldest tourist attraction. The Bushman inhabited the caves for quite some time and left it as recently as 200 years ago, however, they only inhabited the entrance chambers because, supposedly, the dark parts of the caves are where the ancestral spirits are resting. Tools, knives, pottery, and paintings are said to be dated 10,000-12,000 years old.

The first chamber houses the biggest stalactite in the world (7-9 meters in height), and is 750,000 years old. The second chamber houses the “completed column,” which is a combination of a stalactite and stalagmite. The highlight of the Cango Caves is without a doubt the “Petrifying Weeping Willow Tree,” as it’s 1.5 MILLION years old!

The adventure aspect of the tour was an absolute blast, as we enjoyed spelunking in the tiny crevices. The Adventure Tour is most definitely not for anyone who considers themselves overweight or claustrophobic. Know what you’re getting yourself into before you go – in the lobby there are two scale models that you can climb through. Now picture yourself in a dark tunnel of that (minuscule) size…would you be able to handle it? If you think so, it is important to note that it is slippery and steep at times, with low ceilings. You will find yourself scurrying on your stomach under stalagmites and sliding head first through tiny spaces. It’s an experience you wouldn’t expect to encounter in South Africa – don’t pass it up if you have the time!

 

Monkeyland & Birds of Eden

From Jukani we headed to Monkeyland and Birds of Eden. If you’re looking for a fun few hours – these two tours are not to miss!

Monkeyland is the world’s first free-roaming primate sanctuary, and if you love monkeys you’re bound to squeal a bit while wandering the forest. Monkeyland aims to rehabilitate and free previously caged monkeys, by introducing a gorgeous, natural forest as their new home. Just as Jukani was established for the animals, Monkeyland ensures that the various monkey species are never used as a commodity, but that they’re safe and comfortable. Monkeys are one of those unpredictably amusing animals – when you observe them during your tour, you’re bound to see something interesting.

Birds of Eden took the longest of the three sanctuaries because you could move along at your own pace; a guide is not required. There are innumerable bird species, and it’s great for people of all ages. Birds of Eden is an incredibly clean tent full of various free-roaming birds. It’s a beautiful enclosure that you could spend hours walking through, as it’s easily navigable. Expect to see birds that you didn’t know even know existed – we sure did!

Thanks for the tours Vijver!

The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) consisting of Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and The Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary are the current winners of the Lilizela Service Excellence Awards – Best Visitor Experience ‘Wildlife Encounters’; Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award – Best Major Attraction; winner of the ‘Best Animal Welfare Initiative’ and overall winner of the World Responsible Tourism Awards.

 

Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary

Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary focuses on the conservation education of big cats. A sanctuary is typically known as a place where animals are protected from hunting. According to the staff at Jukani, however, a true sanctuary should also “be a place of refuge to protect them from much more than hunting and/or the petting trade.” The Sanctuary tries its best to provide animals with the most natural habitats possible, with more than adequate space. We found it noteworthy that the staff cleans the animal enclosures everyday. These animals come from a surplus, from all over the world.

The reality is that people visit Africa to see the Big 5 – lion, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard and rhino; theses are said to be the hardest animals in Africa to hunt on foot. If Africa were to lose the Big 5, tourism would go down, economically hurting the continent as well. There’s a chance of species survival due to wildlife sanctuaries. Having said that, Jukani neither supports breeding nor the touching of animals (both very traumatic), and has all of the female predators on birth control. What I found most impressive and laudable was the fact that Jukani does nothing to profit off their animals – Mitch the White Tiger got buried whole, when his bones alone could have made thousands of dollars.

We took a tour of Jukani with our guide, Robert. He was extremely friendly, helpful, and answered my endless questions with precision and passion. Nick and I came to really admire the fact that Jukani is not a zoo; since it is a wildlife sanctuary, the priorities of the animals are put over that of people. Having said that, it’s fascinating to be able to see a wider species of big cats, not always seen in game parks, up close and personal; they will walk up right in front of you.

Some facts we learned during our tour:

• The government supports cat hunting, or trophy hunting, because it brings in money
• Hyenas can break a giraffes leg with one bite
• Lions have no stamina. While they’re quicker than hyenas, hyenas have twice the heart size and can run for 5 kilometers
• White Lions are on the verge of becoming extinct, and only found in Africa
• Jaguars are the most versatile hunters and can swim with their eyes open to catch fish
• Wild dogs are family oriented and will stay with an injured dog until it either gets better or dies.
• Bengel Tigers kill more people than any other cat combined, making it the most dangerous. They are known to stalk their prey for 6 hours before making the kill.
• A cheetah’s top speed is 120 km per hour, but can reach 100 km per hour in the first ten seconds

The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) consisting of Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and The Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary are the current winners of the Lilizela Service Excellence Awards – Best Visitor Experience ‘Wildlife Encounters’; Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award – Best Major Attraction; winner of the ‘Best Animal Welfare Initiative’ and overall winner of the World Responsible Tourism Awards.