Durban - Young Nat and Grace could hardly contain their excitement as we neared the Emdoneni Lodge and Cat Rehabilitation Centre in Hluhluwe, less than two and a half hours from Durban.
“Are we nearly there?” they chorused at regular intervals. Finally we were, and received a warm greeting at reception. We just had enough time for a drink at the little coffee shop before the interactive educational tour began. Check-in had to wait.
The Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Project was started by Ida Nel who had an abiding passion for wild animals, especially cheetah. She received her first two cheetahs from Namibia in 1994 and the rest is, as they say, history.
Today, Ida’s son Louis and his wife Cecillie continue her work at the centre, which is to care for wild cheetahs, Serval cats, African wild cats and caracal (Lynx), that have been orphaned or injured in the wild and are in need of care and rehabilitation. If possible, the centre also releases the offspring back into their natural habitat.
Mishack Fakude was our guide for the fascinating tour. We started off small, with the African wild cats, before moving on to their bigger cousins.
The kids were initially crestfallen at being underage (too young at under 12) to interact with the caracal and cheetahs (who could mistake them for prey), but help in the form of Louis jr and brother Jacques was at hand. These strapping young lads had the kids in thrall as they, under supervision of guides, edutained them with all manner of “cool stuff” while we checked in and enjoyed some quiet time.
Emdoneni Lodge has a range of accommodation in charming, spotlessly kept chalets and rondavels.
We had a rondavel with an adjoining door between two bedrooms, each with en suite loo and shower, ceiling fans, aircon and tea/coffee facilities.
I got a peek at the executive suite, Windfall Cottage, set to one aside under the Marula trees which had a lounge with DStv, bedroom, en suite bathroom and an outside shower in a privately fenced boma area.
Emdoneni is on a small game farm with sand forest vegetation. It is not uncommon to have zebra or impala roam past while you are on your stoep or at the poolside, or lounging on a brightly painted, comfy Adirondack chair on a deck.
There are also wildebeest, Nyala, Red and Grey Duiker and abundant birdlife. There is a lapa for braais and a kids playground.
Emdoneni prides itself on well-structured activities for kids of all ages under the guidance of experienced guides. TVs and videogames are quickly forgotten, replaced by animal track and poop spotting adventures, insect, tree and vegetation facts, target shooting with bow and arrows or catapults, nocturnal tracking and picnic lunches in the bush.
There’s also a three-hour training course for aspiring game rangers, complete with graduation ceremony and certificate, backpack, cap and note book.
Parents in the meantime can relax at the tasteful lodge, over a drink or use the wi-fi, before ravenous children excitedly share their adventure stories over a tantalising buffet prepared with pride by chef Johan Benadé.
The lodge is central to Zululand’s outdoor attractions. Dumazulu Cultural Village with its reptile and snake display is just 1km away, while game reserves with the Big Five, Lake St Lucia and a multitude of other options are not much further.
l It costs R160 a person for the cat tour (which includes interaction with tame cats).
l Lodge rates – dinner, bed and breakfast – are R977 per person sharing.
l Call 035 562 7000/1 for a tour or a stay, or visit www.emdonenilodge.com - Sunday Tribune