Snakes alive!
More from the September intake of the HESC Student Programme. The girls were brought face to face with their worst nightmares at the snake park. We say goodbye to Loreley today (we’re not sure if she really does have to visit her great aunt in Benoni before returning home, or if the visit to the Khami Reptile Park …Read more
Picture taken by Erika Dirksen
We have some Spotted Eagle Owls in one of the large aviaries here at the Centre. They’re busy breeding at the moment, which means love is in the air.
And as with all good love stories, there is a handsome hunk close by trying to seduce the lovely lady away from her hubby.
For about three …Read more
A daunting task indeed!
There only three students in the September group, so we’ll be posting individual comments from them. Unless of course they decide otherwise, in which case we’ll let you know!
Loreley and Kinsey touched down on our sunny shores on Wednesday (15th Sep), and Amber arrived on Monday (20th Sep). You can read more about her on the …Read more
Picture taken by Rezensk Labuschagne
With all the Marabou storks that have been hanging around lately, we took it as a definite sign that babies were on the way.
After all, everyone knows that the stork brings babies. Right?
But the Marabou stork is not the prettiest of birds, so one could be forgiven for thinking that it might only deliver ugly babies.
Adine Roode holding baby Kiana, Bertha Le Roux (Emma), Ilana Mahoney and Gretha Scheepers
Yesterday the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre was fortunate enough to receive a visit from Bertha le Roux, who is better known for her role as Emma on the popular television show 7de Laan.
Bertha arrived with husband Karel and baby Kiana to show off her beautiful range of …Read more
HESC offers people between the ages of 18 and 35 years the opportunity to experience the Centre in an intensive and hands-on 21-day programme.
It is divided into three main sections: Participation, Conservation and Sight Seeing.
The main focus of the programme is on the cheetah, and throughout their stay participants are involved in the everyday care of these magnificent animals. This includes cleaning, feeding, and where required, assisting …Read more
Picture taken by Erika Dirksen
Of the 47 cheetahs here at the Centre, Duma, our lovely 2 year old male cheetah, is the only one to jump fences! Fortunately for us (and the school groups walking past his camp), not towards the outside!
Duma used to be in an enclosure next to his brother Tristan, our resident king cheetah. He would often jump over to cuddle …Read more
The weekend began with a chilling adventure on quad bikes, with some being better suited to the sport than others. Harry and Elley got lost, but since the bikes weren’t furnished with GPS tracking devices we’ll forgive them. Jane had the coordination of a drunken baboon, which no amount of modern technology could have helped. All in all a fantastic time was had by …Read more
Elephant safari at Camp Jabulani
It’s been another busy few days here at the Centre.
On top of butchery duty and feeding the animals, we also had to release the wild cats back into their enclosures. This proved more difficult than it sounded!
We were introduced to traditional South African ‘stokbrood’, and it was a lot more delicious than it’s name led us to believe. The literal …Read more
Picture taken by Erika Dirksen
Being in the bush teaches you a lot of lessons. And the animals (being much wiser than their human counterparts) often impart the most valuable ones of all.
On a recent tour one of my guests was particularly taken with our leopard tortoises, Skillie and Doppie.
She told me a touching story.
She said every time one of her children ‘flies the nest’ she buys them a tortoise magnet or …Read more
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