HISTORY

In 1994, the Hartslief Family Trust bought a bankrupt dairy farm about 20 miles northeast of Parys, a small town in the Fezile Dabi District of the Free State Province of South Africa. The Hartslief family moved to this property soon after their first son was born and renamed the farm The Savannah. Slowly they turned the arid landscape into a wildlife preserve and educational facility. Systematically animals that were indigenous to that part of South Africa were reintroduced onto the property. Not without incident; the first animal they acquired was a male giraffe who casually stepped over the fence and wandered off into the mountains, much to the consternation of the neighbors. Today the preserve is home to more than 28 different African species who live and breed in safety.

One day in 2004 a female cheetah was acquired and this has led to a passionate love affair with the endangered cats. Today a portion of this preserve houses a facility that breeds and raises cheetah, with the intent of reintroducing them to the wild. The Cheetah Foundation is also based out of Colorado Springs and has applied for 501(c)3 tax status.

The Savannah was always intended to be an education facility. After the Hartslief family moved to the United States the original farmhouse was converted into a lodge and six luxury tents were installed, which today provides accommodation for more than 20 people. Annually more than five hundred young children from around the world visit the Savannah and describe the experience as a “once in a lifetime” experience. Please click on the pictures that appear on each page to hear the views from a group of students from California. The initial objectives of converting an arid dairy farm into a safe haven for indigenous animals and educating people about how man and nature can coexist have been achieved. The challenge facing us all is to sustain this small piece of paradise for futures generations.

Visitors to The Savannah can participate in game- viewing drives and educational classes, watch the cheetah run, and other adventures. Come join the fun!