Looking for something ‘out-of-the-box’ to do when holidaying up the far north coast of KwaZulu-Natal?
Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre is a must-see for all wild game enthusiasts looking to get close to some of Africa’s most stealthy, majestic, and often elusive, animals. Found just outside Hhluhluwe, in Zululand, the wild cat sanctuary is found on the Emdoneni Lodge and Game Farm premises – which is a privately run game reserve, surrounded by sand forest vegetation.
Emdoneni is called a ‘rehabilitation centre’ because that is the exact focus of the team that skilfully and lovingly looks after these cats. Wild cats that have been orphaned or injured, including Cheetah, Serval, African Wild Cats and the Lynx are rehabilitated back into a fit and healthy state, and then released back into their natural habitat – the wild.
The ultimate aim of the rehabilitation project is to keep these wild cats in rehabilitation no longer than is needed. Once the number of wild cats increases, suitable numbers are released back into the wild.
The funding for this noble project is received from tour fees as well as the ‘adoption’ programme, which allows visitors to contribute to the centre and the well-being of these beautiful wild creatures. These funds go directly to veterinary care, feeding, camp and fence maintenance, as well as workers’ salaries. By implementing a system based on donations, it is hoped to improve each cat’s stay at the centre.
The tour allows visitors to get up close and personal with these fine felines, while guides deliver a detailed break-down of how each cat is being rehabilitated back to health.
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