The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre is a wildlife park in South Africa that specializes in breeding cheetahs. The center has been extremely successful in this endeavor, and is home to many other exotic animals as well. It is a 45-minute drive from Pretoria and well worth the visit for anyone interested in learning more about wild African creatures.
What a great experience! Saw so many animals up close, absolutely breathtaking.
Leti Pulchartova — Google review
This is a great outing for schools. The centre is a bit run down and their funding is quite tight and it is a NPO. But the range of animals that they have is amazing and you get to see some Aswegen carnivores quite close up apart from the cheetah. They have Hyenas, wild dogs, vultures, caracal etc. The interaction with a cheetah “Julie” is amazing. She jumps on a table and you can hear her purring which is super cool. Overall a decent outing as the guides are well educated and speak about ecology and environmental sustainability.
Thomas Coetzee — Google review
What an amazing experience and a must see for anyone with a love for cheetahs. There is also wild dogs , vultures and various other animals on site . Photographers will be in their element . They use a lure which the cheetahs chase so you have an opportunity to see the cheetahs in action . You stand behind a low wooden fence so there are no obstructions to get in the way of your camera. The lure is designed in such a way that the cheetahs run away from you and run towards you so its easy to get the action from both sides . The fence is also far enough away so as not to get in the background of your shots. If you go on the game vehicle the cheetah and wild dogs are fed right next to you. Just the experience of the sounds they make is something awesome. The animals are well cared for .
Brian Welch — Google review
We had an amazing day here.
What a beautiful initiative , to help endangered species.
Our guide Jason was awesome. We learnt so much. Prices were really affordable. This is a none profit organisation, so they rely heavily on sponsorships and tours.
The animals are all well taken care of and the staff were well trained and kind towards them. My family and I had so much fun.
I will definitely return.
The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre – De Wildt (Originally the De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre) was the first establishment in the world to breed captive cheetahs on a sustainable basis and was the firstCites approved cheetah breeding facility in the world.
The aim of the Centre is to maintain a viable genetic pool of not only the cheetah but also the African wild dog (second most endangered carnivore in Africa), for release back into their natural habitat as and when space becomes available.
Nita Jacobs — Google review
What an exhilarating and educational experience! The staff is very knowledgeable and passionate about the animals. We learned so much about cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, and conservation initiatives during the tour. Highly recommended.
Wilson Yau — Google review
Wow! What an awesome experience. We celebrated our daughter’s 11th birthday and we really enjoyed the visit to the Centre. Had the most wonderful time. Thank you to Nicci and Sam who made our trip really enjoyably. We will definitely return again! Every cent you pay is worth it! THANK YOU
Armandie De Jager — Google review
It is an unbelievable place to take the family, and since it is a short drive from Johannesburg, it is perfect for a day outing! We did the walking tour, and it was so informative, and we could see the animals up close. It's definitely worth taking the time to visit!!
Gabriella Tobias — Google review
Had an absolute brilliant time today. Loved seeing all the beautiful animals, the staff are also very helpful and have a vast knowledge that they shared during the tour. Thank you for the amazing experience.
Juanita Amdur — Google review
This was an absolute amazing experience! You have to put this on your bucketlist! Best experience I had. Samuel was our tour guide and he aced it! He made jokes, kept you interested and never hurried you. He's information was spot on! We went for the cheetah run and guided tour for R480 per person. 3 cheetahs do the run so you have enough time to take the correct and best video. They dont only have cheetahs, there are so much more. During the guided tour we drove on an open vehicle and they fed the wild dogs, hyena and cheetahs. They have vultures and also smaller animals. The animals are in good condition! Perfect for a couple or for the whole family! Best day I had in a long time! Thanks you Cheetah Center.
sunelle botes — Google review
Established in 1971 by Ann and originally known as the De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre, the name was changed in 2010, to the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre as a tribute to the woman who has devoted her life to the survival of cheetahs and other rare and endangered species. We enjoyed our tours which were led by Nicole, a knowledgeable guide and we saw a variety of animals including cheetah, King Cheetah, African wild dog, caracal and vultures amongst others! What an amazingly educational experience! The Centre prides itself in its contribution to the conservation and survival of the cheetah species through meticulous breeding (ensuring genetic diversity) and the ability to release captive born cheetahs as and when suitable space becomes available. As a non-profit organisation that receives no government funding, the Centre relies heavily on sponsorship, donations and income generated from tours and the adoption programme! Please visit the centre to experience 1st hand how they are making a huge difference and get memories to last a lifetime! Clean toilets are available on the premises, and don't forget to stop at the shop and make a contribution towards the preservation of the park as well as the cheetahs!
Beatrix Bissett — Google review
• We booked our tour by email and paid on arrival with Nikki who was very welcoming.
• We toured the centre with Nicole, our guide and driver, and Wilson, who fed the animals and provided extra security. They were both serious and friendly.
• The safety instructions were clear and repeated before entering a new enclosure.
• Nicole is very passionate in telling the residents/rescues individual stories and provided us with extra knowledge on the species we saw! She was attentive to answer everyone’s questions.
• The open safari bus was comfortable even though the dirt roads were bumpy. We were about 8-9 visitors so it didn’t feel overcrowded at all.
• Overall it was a great experience!
Emmanuel — Google review
What an amazing experience. Our guides Marlene, and Nicole were excellent and so informative and passionate and Wilson thanks too. It was great to see the vultures, wild dogs other wildlife and to experience the cheaters at such a close distance from the safety of our truck. An exciting afternoon we will remember for a long time . Thank you .
Alison Fletcher — Google review
It was amazing. Just put on takkies if you going on the walking tour. But it's worth going there. And its reasonable amount.
Heidi Rault — Google review
What a wonderful experience! The cheetahs are amazing but make sure you allow time to see all of the animals. Nicole was a brilliant guide and shared her passion for animal welfare and conservation in a very positive way.
Paul Berger — Google review
Wonderful adventure on the truck driving past the various well kept cheetah and wild dog camps with our tour guides Nicole and Wilson, who educated and entertained us in a very interesting way. Highly recommended and a "must see" for all! Well done team Cheetah Centre🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Heidi Naude — Google review
What a great experience. Interaction with the cheetah 🐆 and wild dogs. Esmie, our guide was amazing. The tour was so good and great value. Highly recommended x