Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre — Attraction in Maruleng Local Municipality

As a potential visitor, you must be very clear about the purpose of this centre. As it's name indicates, it provides a safe haven for some endangered African wildlife species to live. I mention this because I overheard more than one party grumbling, having clearly visited under the misapprehension that would have a mini-safari experience.

You do have the opportunity of taking a guided tour. This is as close to the safari experience as you will get at the venue... driven in open 4X4 vehicles and guided by khaki clad rangers.

The guide that accompanied our small group was very personable and appeared knowledgeable.

The tour itself covers a relatively small area. There are a number of endangered species (King Cheetah, Rhino etc) to be seen. However, since the nature of the centre is protection, they are all kept in penned off enclosures. As a photographer, this made it all but impossible to get images that contained no obvious man made elements.

I'm not a bird person, however I was fascinated by the 'Vulture's Diner'. This is an area filled with bones and rotting carcasses. Open to the sky, it serves as a feeding point for local Vultures and otherbirds.

The Centre is clearly focused on addressing a very real problem - the decimation of species in Africa. It succeeds as a place to 'introduce' the public to this issue and does so in chunks that are small enough to be easily absorbed. I was also very pleased to see that they did not use the graphic (yet real) imagery which is often used to reinforce this issue. Without doubt this decision costs them in terms of fewer spontaneous donations from visitors, however it does make for a much more family orientated experience.

Would I go...

Our experience with this tour was extremely disappointing and unacceptable. The one student guide and driver were not just lacking warmth—they were outright unwelcoming, making us feel like an inconvenience rather than valued customers. The driver, in particular, came across as cold and unfriendly, showing zero effort to engage.

What was most appalling, however, was the way they handled families with young children. Nowhere was it clearly stated that children under two are essentially unwelcome unless they remain silent. An unrealistic expectation for a 1.5-year-old. Midway through the tour, I was abruptly told that if my child didn’t stay quiet, she would have to be sent back with one adult. Rather than subject us to that humiliation, I chose to leave the tour myself.

This policy should be made explicitly clear beforehand, rather than putting parents in an impossible and embarrassing situation in front of other guests. Publicly calling out paying customers in such a demeaning manner is unprofessional and...

I was pleasantly surprised by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. I enjoyed the entire experience. It started off with a short informative introductory video, followed by a game drive. During the drive, we traversed through various enclosures, encountering diverse endangered species. While all the animals were impressive, the king cheetahs stole the show for me. Having seen multiple cheetahs before, it was amazing to behold these uniquely spotted ones. The guides were very knowledgeable and friendly, ensuring we had ample time to observe each species without rushing us. The centre also has a convenient shop where visitors can grab snacks and drinks before or after the game drive. Overall, my experience at the centre was fantastic. The centre's dedication to conservation and education is evident in every aspect of the visit. In my opinion, the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is a must-visit for anyone passionate about wildlife and...