He was both surprised that I was an American and that I was not interested in hunting any of Africa’s big game.

“You’re probably green or something” he said.

I was simply glad he had picked me up from the side of the road.  I had worked slowly all the way from Swakopmund, hundreds of kilometers hitchhiking, and had been in four vehicles before he had come to a skidding halt and made it my fifth.

“I’m an idealist” I told him.  I knew Outjo, the town we were moving towards, was the gateway to Etosha National Park and asked him, already knowing the answer, if there were any good places to hunt in the area.

He was speeding into the sunset like the car had been stolen.

I was shocked when he told me he had a game farm and “you know the real problem?” he asked me, answering his own question before I had time to respond, “cheetah.”

He was a white Namibian telling me his struggles to ranch and own a game farm while the cheetahs are preying upon his investments.  “And then that American lady at CCF (Cheetah Conservation Fund) is telling the world the cheetah are no more, while their populations are increasing because they are killing my animals” he said somberly.

I thought his story was interesting, seeing as the CCF works directly with farmers, and as the government encourages many farmers to move from cattle ranching to game farming as a means to both conserve Namibia’s natural wildlife and attract tourists.

I asked him if cheetah predation was a problem with his livestock as well.  He responded with ease, telling me that with livestock there are certain procedures one can take to ensure the safety of his animals; the use of Anatolian shepherds as guard dogs, hiring a shepherd to follow the animals, and fencing and corral at night.  “But the wild game, there is nothing.  You know, last year I put 200 impala on my farm and in less than a year I was left with only 20” he said.

“Is it only cheetah that are your problem?  What about other big cats? I mean you are near Etosha” I questioned him.

He had no problem with lions or other smaller cats.  He experienced occasional leopard kills, however, he didn’t mind leopards.

“ You see, the cheetahs, if they can, will kill every day.  Leopards, like lions, will feed on a single kill for several days, until it is finished.  Cheetahs they kill, eat what they can that day and move on.  They prefer the fresh meat” he explained.

“So what is the solution?  What can you do?” I asked.  He told me he had made several visits to CCF and they kept giving him the run around.  “The only solution is to kill them” he said without hesitation.

I knew that if farmers see their livestock being harmed or endangered by a predator they were in their legal rights to take the predator out.  I asked him about this, and he told me, that I was right and all the kills had to be reported with the government.

“I bet many kills go unreported” I said.  His eyes glowed above a small grin before he looked forward into the sun we were traveling.

At Wild Safari Africa we are dedicated to protecting animals such as the cheetah.  Instead of hunting wild game with rifles, we bring our high powered cameras to take amazing killer shots.  And when we get home we hang our trophies on our wall.  Did you notice I said trophies?  That’s right, plural.  It’s much cheaper to print multiple photos than mount an animal’s head or get an entire body stuffed.  And much more practical too!

Although, the cheetah population is flourishing in Namibia, Namibia remains one of the few countries in the world home to such healthy populations.  Let’s keep it that way.  Together, we can do our part saving the fastest land mammal.

Wild Safari Africa partners with foundations like the Cheetah Conservation Fund, making your dreams of up-close and personal interaction with some of Africa’s most majestic animals a reality.  You too, can help save the cheetah.  To learn more about the Cheetah Conservation Fund visit, www.cheetah.org.

Keep things young and wild!

Jermibia

P.S.  Only thinking about a safari?  Answer Wild Safari Africa’s 6 Most Important Questions to better decide on where, what, when, how, and why you want to Safari with Jermibia.

P.S.S. The story above was from this past July when Wild Safari Africa founder, Jeremy “Jermibia” Allen was in Namibia writing the first edition of his guidebook to Namibia.

Here are some other African Safari related resources you may find of value and interest. Beware, THEY WILL LEAVE THIS SITE. First, bookmark this page then click on the link.


South Africa Tour Operators - Yahoo Directory
Barnard: Information from Answers.com