Hunter - Cats of Africa

For my lovely wife Pam and our children, Wayne, Kevin, Sharon, Gavin and Ricky, with love.
In memory of a wonderful father, Pat, and with love to my mother May and brother Ron.

The world and all that is in it belongs to the Lord;
The earth and all who live on it are His. Psalm 24:1
GERALD HINDE

For my parents, Lois and Tim.
LUKE HUNTER

Published by Struik Nature (an imprint of Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd)
Reg. No. 1966/003153/07
Wembley Square, First Floor, Solan Road, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001

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First published in 2005
This ebook edition 2013

Copyright in published edition, 2005, 2013: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd
Copyright in text, 2005, 2013: Luke Hunter
Copyright in photographs, 2005, 2013: Gerald Hinde or individual photographers as listed in photographic credits
Copyright in illustrations, 2005, 2013: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd
Copyright in maps, 2005, 2013: Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd & Luke Hunter

Publishing manager: Pippa Parker
Managing editor: Lynda Harvey
Editor: Helen de Villiers
Designer: Janice Evans
Cartographer: James Whitelaw
Illustrator: Sally MacLarty
Proofreader: Glynne Newlands

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.

ISBN 1 77007 063 X (print)
ISBN 978 1 77584 054 1 (ePDF)
ISBN 978 1 77584 055 8 (ePUB)

PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS

All photographs taken by Gerald Hinde with the exception of the following:

BRUCE DAVIDSON/

CAROL AMORE:

DAVE HAMMAN/GALLO IMAGES:

ERHARDT THIEL/IMAGES OF AFRICA: (Cape fur seal)

GERHARD DREYER/IMAGES OF AFRICA: (Cape clawless otter)

GUS VAN DYK:

IR DOE/CACP/WCS/UNDP-GEF:

JULIE MAHER: (bottom)

LUKE HUNTER:

NIGEL J DENNIS/GALLO IMAGES:

PHILIPP HENSCHEL:

RICHARD DU TOIT: (bottom)

TERRY WHITTAKER: (inset)

There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows ... One feels really free when one can go in whatever direction one pleases over the plains, to get to the rivers and pitch ones camp.

KAREN BLIXEN FROM OUT OF AFRICA

Were it not for the assistance of numerous people and organisations, this rather daunting project would not have been possible. Cats have always been my favourites and I enjoyed being constantly in their presence in some of the best viewing venues in Africa. I cannot offer enough praise about the quality of the places and the expertise and friendliness of the people wherever I went. I extend my thanks to them all, and my admiration for their contribution to conservation in Africa.

I am asked on a regular basis for recommendations as to the best places for game viewing. They are too numerous for me to mention them all, but below is a selection. Details of the destinations are brief and I recommend that readers check the web sites for more information.

I hesitate to mention names of people for fear of leaving anyone out. This book is not just the product of the immediate team, but the result of input and assistance from a wide range of people. A special thank you to all the staff at the places that I have been privileged enough to visit. Africa truly offers the best when it comes to destinations and friendly, efficient people in the tourism industry.

The staff at Johannesburg head office and at all the lodges of Conservation Corporation have always been friendly and professional and have contributed greatly towards this book. From my first contact with Yvonne and Peter Short, my subsequent meeting with Shayne Richardson and my numerous dealings with Suzanne Henderson, everyone was really wonderful. Along the way, Gavin Lautenbach (a senior ranger) helped initially at Phinda and then at Londolozi and whenever he could at other destinations. I owe him a special thank you for all his help and friendship. Conservation Corporation has numerous captivating destinations throughout Southern Africa and Zanzibar.

In Kenya and Tanzania the management and staff at the lodges were great, and the area and game viewing was astounding. This is a photographers paradise and the annual migration adds another dimension to the drama on show. I especially enjoyed the cheetah viewing, with lions coming a close second. The open plains make photography a pleasure, and the colours and landscapes are captivating.

The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge offers views that are immensely wide and panoramic; the experience was quite surreal. The lion viewing on the crater floor was exceptional with good cheetah viewing, too. The crater floor met all my expectations, particularly with regard to game viewing. I stood on the edge of the world and saw my heart soar into its ancient sky.

Cat viewing and photography is excellent at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. In the early 1980s this was my first experience of a private game reserve. It remains one of the best places to see leopards and the other big cats.

Phinda Game Reserve is situated in lush northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The area comprises seven distinct habitats and an abundance of wildlife, including the big five. Cheetah viewing here is exceptional.

Ngala Game Reserve in South Africa hosts exclusive game lodges and walking safaris, and during my stays I had very good lion and leopard viewing, which offered excellent photographic opportunities.

Desert and Delta offered good photographic opportunities and friendly, efficient staff. A special thank you to Helga Hagner and Jonathan Gibson.

Overlooking the Chobe River in Northern Botswana, the Chobe Game Lodge is the only lodge situated within the Chobe Game Reserve in the Kasane area. The 48-room lodge offers luxury and comfort and great game viewing. Lions are well represented and very visible and the elephant viewing is excellent in the dry winter months. Game viewing is conducted on both land and water.

Camp Moremi is situated on the beautiful Xakanaxa Lagoon in the eastern Okavango Delta within the Moremi Game Reserve. The area supports abundant cats, including leopards, which are very visible and relaxed, and which make for good photography.

The Kwando Safari experience in Botswana is truly unforgettable and offers very good predator viewing lion, leopard and wild dogs are well represented. The camps are intimate, private and exclusive. My times there were filled with a spirit of adventure and it was a uniquely African experience.