Cheeky cheetahs - classy cats, Namibia

After departing Etosha, our next destination was the eagerly anticipated Cheetah Park. A massive farm where one elderly man & his son rescue cheetahs from farmers - they give them the alternative option of getting the cats taken off their hands as apposed to shooting them for preying on the cattle on their land. We drove for a few hours before pulling up at the farm house that resembled something in a place like Arizona. We were immediately greeted at the fence by one of the stunning domesticated cheetahs. Vee rang the bell & the owner appeared with another big cat at his side. He stepped out the gate minus the cheetah & welcomed our overly excited group.

We were given a short introduction before being asked if we were ready to meet the three main attractions. A synchronised & loud yes followed! Being led through the gates we were immediately met by one of the cheetahs. After a brief pat it turned out he was more interested in the numerous goats that were moving pens next to the high fence around us - as were the two others! Eventually, & after meeting a cute, excitable tiny puppy, we were taken to the backyard of the house with the three cats, with the gate shut behind. It was here where they were more responsive to our attention - they patiently sat & laid down to pose for photos. Sean even got an affectionate lick as he was sitting down next to one! They climbed trees & posed some more, & before we knew it, it was time to leave to set up camp. They accompanied us as we made our way to exit the gates, & we definitely didn’t want to leave them!

Setting up our tents, we spotted another friendly cheetah by herself in a separate giant pen next to camp. She purred loudly as she followed us up & down the fence, however we didn’t dare pat her as we weren’t sure if she was tame or not. We had time to kill before we were to be taken on a feeding & tour of the main cheetah farm where 14 of the rescued cheetahs were kept, so we chowed down on a delicious salad for lunch, went for a short walk around, & Sean splashed into the large, circular pool surrounded by baobab trees. 

We were picked up just before five, & we all piled onto a trailer that was towed behind the owner’s ute. We took off towards the farm, & as we entered some more large gates, we immediately spied the wild rascals lining the fence, hungrily eying up the vehicle - & us! As we drove along, more & more cheetahs appeared, trotting alongside & behind the trailer, in pursuit of dinner. It was amazing how close we were, separated by a tiny bit of steel, a metre off the ground. 
He pulled up at a certain spot & amazingly hopped out carrying only a stick. Walking around to the trash bin which was full of steak, he took one piece at a time, throwing it into the middle of the ravenous crew. The cats displaying some amazing feats of athleticism by jumping high & snatching the meat mid-air. Naturally, fights occurred, one poor cheetah copping a slap in the face! In the end, however, they all were given a hunk of steak, & all munched down separately.

We continued driving some distance more as there was one solitary male cheetah to feed. We found him crouched, stalking the trailer from a shrub. As the owner got out again, & walked around the back of us, the cheetah pounced & was less than a metre away from him! Regardless, his nerves remained like steel as he took out another slab of meat & threw it to the wild carnivore. We circled around the pen & came across three more cheetahs in a separate area - they were allegedly the fighters, & caused to much chaos being in with the others. He fed them three more steaks, & we then exited the enclosure.
Driving back to camp, we stopped off at the lonely female who we learnt was one of the domesticated cheetahs, & once lived at the house. She became grumpy around children, & sadly had to be separated. He gave her a massive pat & hand fed her the last steak, ending the afternoon of feeding. 
As the sun went down, we sat around the campfire & after awhile, dinner was served. We had a delicious meal of meat kebabs on rice with a great Mediterranean salad, one of the better meals of the trip so far! Before long it was time to retire to our tent & hit the hay.