We are having a great time! You may be wondering how large of an area in which we have access to explore these beautiful animals. Would you believe the Jan Oelofse Family owns 80,000 acres and has access to 300,000 acres for hunting and exploring? You may want to do a math lesson to figure out how many miles that is.
Perhaps you have been wondering what type of languages they speak in Namibia, and around this area. The predominate language is English, which is also spoken at the Mount Etjo School. Their second language, and one we hear spoken quite often is called Africans. You can look this one up, but it is a more simplified version of Dutch, German and some Belgian. Namibia has early origins of Dutch and mostly German settlements, so you will hear this being spoken as well. In addition, you will find other languages (as we have in the United States). My Professional Hunter/Guide Fillipi has roots in Angola and they speak Portuguese.
Jan Oelofse is famous for his early works with the actor John Wayne and the making of the movie, Hatari! This would be a good one for you to see. He was the one who brought in the animals and trained them for the movie. Also, Jan is famous for inventing the Oelofse Animal Capture Method. It consists of a special net and use of a helicopter. By using this method, staff and animals are not as much at risk for injury.
Steve Tors, is another noteworthy Professional Hunter, who has been with Jan Oelofse Safaris for many years. His father was a famous Hollywood Producer years ago. When I was a little girl, I used to watch Sea Hunt, which was one of his father's TV Programs.
You will see me in the picture above. Behind me are two animals. Do you know which ones? They are Springbok and a herd of Eland.
Now on to the Cheetah Feed. There are three Cheetahs on the Cheetah Preserve-a mother and two children, who are now grown to around 6 years old. The mother was relocated to a better area and at the time it was noticed she had two babies. So they found them (which was no small feat) and they are all together. Here at the hunting lodge, they were teasing me that perhaps they may not have any meat to feed them, so it would have to be me! Ha! Fortunately, they did have the meat (other game, not sure what kind-maybe Kudu). We drove through the preserve and the guides laid out the meat. The mom was the first to grab it and move it into the shade; the two younger ones jumped in for dinner! I also took a video, which you will see below. In one of the pictures you will see where the mother broke away from the children and is sitting by the Termite Hill.
Cheetah Facts from the Guides: Females hunt alone and males always hunt in pairs. Do you know how fast a Cheetah can run? 70 kilometers in 3 seconds! How many yards is that? They cannot do that for long, so that is why they need to be about 50 kilometers in front of their prey so the chase is short. They have flexible spines and cross their legs while running which is why they can go at such a fast speed. Cheetahs are day hunters.
Safari Tip: How can you tell how old a Cheetah is? You look at their teeth. Younger ones have sharp teeth. Older ones have teeth that have recessed and they are dull. I guess that may be similar to a human!
Hope you have learned a lot! More about the great Dinosaur Tracks I just saw and other animals. So much to see and do.......
No comments:
Post a Comment