Daniell Cheetah Project
Daniell Cheetah Project
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Daniell Cheetah Project offers you the unique opportunity to experience cheetahs from several age groups up close while they are relaxing, playing or being fed.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
266 reviews
Excellent
152
Very good
71
Average
17
Poor
15
Terrible
11
AndyP1998
Wakefield, UK1 100 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
It’s a pity this initiative couldn’t be listed under Port Elizabeth cos lots of animal loving travellers may never know about this wonderful place. The tour was conducted by a passionate informative guide who clearly loves her job and her animals. She explained how each cat arrived here and what was their ongoing journey. All the cats were lovely, even Norris the naughty male lion who sprayed over my wife. Be warned if he walks over to the fence
Written 19 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alti
Richards Bay, South Africa1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Family
Very neat, clean establishment. Guide was very informative with lots of interesting facts about lots of different subjects and can see they have a passion for what they doing there and wildlife in general. Always sad to see wild animals not in the wild but for these animals it is safe haven after being injured and won’t survive in the wild on their own.
We also had a delicious lunch afterwards and got some very nice trinkets in the shop.
Well done and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
We also had a delicious lunch afterwards and got some very nice trinkets in the shop.
Well done and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Written 25 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pendred9
Norwich, UK176 contributions
Feb 2020
What a great job this place is doing, very informative predator tour with passionate guides....but then to take Zintle for a walk, what an experience!! She is a beautiful animal, not many people can say they have stoked a Cheetah, listened to her purr and then been licked. Just hope they continue to succeed with their program to stabilise the Cheetah population. Thoroughly recommended, you can get souvenirs and have a bite and drink as well.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Co Be
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
We came with no expectations and left with a lot of information, a warmer hart for "cats" and a really good feeling for this project. Our guide talked about the animals with knowledge and a big hart for them. Really enjoyed it, well spend time!
Written 16 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark A
1 contribution
Oct 2022
This was a very pleasant experience. The predator tour was very educational. Our guide, Jandre, is passionate about his job. He is knowledgeable, pleasant and an all round nice guy. I learnt a lot more than I was expecting to.
This was a great opportunity to get close to some of Africa's wild animals.
After the tour we had a tasty lunch at the coffee shop.
This was well worth the visit.
This was a great opportunity to get close to some of Africa's wild animals.
After the tour we had a tasty lunch at the coffee shop.
This was well worth the visit.
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jozi Gal
Sandton, South Africa1 708 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Passing through We just made a stop at the padstals. Stocks a variety of sauces preserves biscuits sweets drinks and plenty more. Good place to grab a gift ornaments and second hand home/glassware.
Lovely indoor and outdoor eating areas. Food was taste, rustic serving plated on boards.
Lovely indoor and outdoor eating areas. Food was taste, rustic serving plated on boards.
Written 27 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emma_Studdy
Ipswich, UK2 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
I visited the centre as part of an expedition group, what we saw was not at all what we expected. The place was purely tourism based and we were shocked at what we saw. There was a Cheetah which the centre had hand-reared from a cub, where it could have been released into the wild. They had reared this Cheetah so that it could be stroked and admired by tourists. When we visited it it seemed agitated and unhappy, the enclosure it was kept in was very small, the Cheetah had no freedom or opportunity to use natural instinct. There was also two other cheetahs which had been trained to walk on leads for public benefit again (ie. tourism)
Also there were other animals which had been born at the centre and again kept for tourism purposes.
Admittedly there was some good being done in the sense that we were told the lions they had had been rescued from being used for con hunting, and they said that they would be released again to a game reserve or national park.
However as a group we found it particularly saddening and were quite emotional about the state we saw these animals, especially the cheetahs.
Definitely would not recommend visiting here, especially if like me you are a keen conservationist.
Also there were other animals which had been born at the centre and again kept for tourism purposes.
Admittedly there was some good being done in the sense that we were told the lions they had had been rescued from being used for con hunting, and they said that they would be released again to a game reserve or national park.
However as a group we found it particularly saddening and were quite emotional about the state we saw these animals, especially the cheetahs.
Definitely would not recommend visiting here, especially if like me you are a keen conservationist.
Written 24 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KayE3
London, UK16 contributions
Feb 2012 • Solo
Africa captures the fascination of everyone who is fortunate to visit. In particular when visitors are able to interact with wildlife. Many lodges and game farms offer animal encounters. However, before taking an opportunity to play with or photograph any captive carnivore or whilst visiting any captive breeding facility, please take an active role in putting an end to the unethical keeping of wild animals by asking the following questions :
Where is the cub's mother?
Why is the cub not being raised by its mother?
What happens to the facility’s cubs when they grow up?
If they are released into larger wildlife areas, where are these and can the facility provide documentation to prove a viable and ethical release process?
If, and therefore once cubs have been released, do they have the opportunity to live out their natural lives, or are they hunted?
If they are sold to game reserves, is their future secure or is this a cover for simply being hunted?
If they become part of a breeding programme, for what purpose?
What happens to the facility’s surplus animals?
Where is the cub's mother?
Why is the cub not being raised by its mother?
What happens to the facility’s cubs when they grow up?
If they are released into larger wildlife areas, where are these and can the facility provide documentation to prove a viable and ethical release process?
If, and therefore once cubs have been released, do they have the opportunity to live out their natural lives, or are they hunted?
If they are sold to game reserves, is their future secure or is this a cover for simply being hunted?
If they become part of a breeding programme, for what purpose?
What happens to the facility’s surplus animals?
Written 24 February 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chrisv4
1 contribution
Dec 2013 • Family
Poor animals! Locked up in terrible heat without a enough shade . Must have been nearly 40 degrees. Maybe the experiece is fantastic and exiting for the tourist never having seen the cheetahs in their natural habitat. A few more trees or even shadenets over the cages will certainly help if they have to stay in cages. But the protection and breeding of those lovely animals are however appreciated!
Written 5 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
101_Scotty_101
London, UK1 contribution
Aug 2015 • Solo
This is a very upsetting place. The Cheetahs are in a very small area and can not hide if they want to. Also it next to busy road that I am sure the cats are now use to but not a nice place to be. The other cages/enclosure are also very small with leopards and lions.
They say they have a breeding program but they are not allowed to release animal into the wild. So not conservation just a zoo!
The cheetahs are being breed basically as petting zoo they have no real freedom or able to use their natural instincts.
A positive was they did say the lions had been rescued from a canned hunt but two male lions in a very small enclosure again with no where to hide and no shade.
There are better places to go to help conservation example being Born free- where the rescued animals are given the best life possible in captivity and not lying about being able to release animals into the wild.
They say they have a breeding program but they are not allowed to release animal into the wild. So not conservation just a zoo!
The cheetahs are being breed basically as petting zoo they have no real freedom or able to use their natural instincts.
A positive was they did say the lions had been rescued from a canned hunt but two male lions in a very small enclosure again with no where to hide and no shade.
There are better places to go to help conservation example being Born free- where the rescued animals are given the best life possible in captivity and not lying about being able to release animals into the wild.
Written 5 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was here and now i read about can hunting, i hope this project will keep the animals safe.
Written 5 October 2019
Hello, thanks for your question. Daniell Cheetah Project is 100% against canned hunting in all its forms. The lions you may have met, Chuck and Norris, were destined for the canned hunting industry. They were rescued by the Daniell Cheetah Project, and our generous donors, and will now live their lives in peace and safety. You can see their story on our YouTube page (we're not allowed to post links here!)
Many thanks, DCP
Written 6 October 2019
Kruger282
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Hi, We are expecting family from USA at the end of March 2015. They will have children aged 12 and 9 with them. From comments read
on this site, there are several bad reports about children not being very welcome. Can you please tell what is allowed and not allowed when it comes to these children so that we can either make the trip or not. Also what are the charges for adults and children.
Is there a restaurant?
Bill Kruger
Written 19 February 2015
Hello Bill,
Thank you for your question. Yes, of course children are most welcome at the project. We do ask parents to bear in mind that children's safety and the cats' wellbeing are our highest priorities.
We are keen for children to be able to get close to the cheetahs and they are welcome on the Predator Tour at any age. Of course, as we are dealing with wild animals, going in to pet a cheetah (or other cat) will depend on the mood of the cheetah and the behavior of the individual child.
Our Predator Tour is no charge for under 1s, R35 for 1-6 yrs and R60 for ages 7 and up. The Cheetah Walk is available to all over 12 and is R170. And yes, we do have a restaurant at the project serving delicious light meals and snacks.
I hope this helps. We look forward to meeting you and, if you have any other questions, please let us know.
Many thanks,
Alex Buxton
Daniell Cheetah Project
Written 20 February 2015
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