N/a´an ku sê cheetah release project

As part of N/a´an ku sê research project, four of us volunteers, Paul, Cristina, Rob and Rebecca, were asked to help our researcher Flo in tracking 3 cheetahs that were collared and released in a nature reserve in Southern Namibia. Prior to our departure, we organised all of our food and supplies as we knew we would be in a remote part of Namibia where there were no amenities for over 200km. After a long drive, we finally arrived at the entrance of the nature reserve where we were welcomed by lots of game including a group of ostriches and an aardwolf. After another hour and a half of slow driving, so as not to scare the game away, we arrived at what would be our home for the next 17 days.

Our accommodation was comfortable but basic with no electricity or hot water unless you heated the donkey for two hours. However this was more than compensated by the amazing view we had from our front porch. The mountainous area was beautiful and being in the wild made you forget about everything else going on in the world.

The reserve was semi-desert with open plains of grass and large boulders emerging out of the ground. These boulders gave us great views when we climbed them.
Our task for the next 17 days would be to find and track the cheetahs that were released ten days prior to our arrival. We needed to check their movements within the reserve and also the condition they were in, to make sure that they were fit and healthy.

For our first nine days we couldn’t find the cheetahs, so we used the opportunity to check for spoors and to do a game count of the surrounding area which included, springbok, oryx and ostriches. After, nine days, 30 mountains, 120km, annoying grass seeds and even more annoying flies (which flew into our eyes, mouth, ears and nose), we finally got our reward a signal from the cheetahs….Hurray!!!! After finding the signal we stayed there for the rest of the day looking through our binoculars until our eyes were red. Later that afternoon we found what we had been waiting for three black spots in the distance running through the grass…our cheetahs!

For the next eight days the cheetahs stayed in the same area. Each day we sat on the same boulders recording their activities into a data sheet. We did this using telemetry every 15 minutes. In addition to watching the cheetahs, we had plenty of time to count game and watch the wildlife, as well as sunbathing and having 14 minutes naps…although snoring was not allowed as it would scare the cheetahs away! We got to see lots of wildlife, including aardwolves, hyenas, porcupines, puff adders (we ran for our lives!),ground squirrels, hyraxes and also a very scary leopard!

After our daily work, our evening duties consisted of cooking, heating our water, and washing up (which caused the only arguments amongst the group!). We amused ourselves in the evening by having some cool beers, playing cards and eating chocolate.

After 17 days without any contact with the outside world, with no phone signal, and the semi-desert sun shining on us, we almost turned into monkeys.

In all, our time at the reserve has been one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. Our team grew very close, which made our working and living together a unique and unforgettable experience.

Cristina, Paul, Becca, Rob