The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is the world’s largest cheetah conservation organisation and is based in Namibia because Namibia holds the world’s largest wild cheetah population, approximately 3,500 of the estimated 7,000 remaining cheetahs on Earth. The CCF’s facility near Otjiwarongo, 43km north of Windhoek, is open to visitors and offers one of the world’s most informative and accessible cheetah encounters.
The Visitor Programme
The CCF offers several visitor options; the standard day visit includes:
Education centre and museum: The most comprehensive public resource on cheetah biology, ecology, and conservation in existence. The exhibits cover cheetah physiology (why the cheetah is built for speed; the non-retractable claws; the flexible spine; the enlarged heart and lungs), the CCF’s research programme, the human-wildlife conflict issues on Namibian farmland, and the livestock guarding dog programme.
The cheetah enclosures: CCF maintains a population of non-releasable cheetahs (animals that were brought in as cubs, injured, or otherwise unable to survive in the wild). A guided walk alongside the enclosure fences allows close observation of cheetahs at rest, grooming, and at feeding time.
The run demonstration: At scheduled times, cheetahs are given the opportunity to run at full speed in a large enclosure. Cheetahs can reach 112km/h; seeing this at close range from a viewing stand is one of the most remarkable experiences available near Windhoek.
The Research Programme
CCF’s research covers cheetah population genetics, movement ecology (tracked individuals crossing farm borders over hundreds of kilometres), reproductive biology, and the interface between cheetah ranges and Namibian farmland. The research output has informed cheetah conservation across Africa.
Praktische Notizen
Distance from Windhoek: 43km north on the B1 then the D2433; approximately 45 minutes. Opening hours: Check ccfnamibia.org for current visitor hours and tour times. Booking: Advance booking recommended; visitor numbers are managed. Time needed: Half day (3 to 4 hours).
Contact Mat-Travel for CCF day trip logistics.