Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre in Maruleng Platteland, Limpopo

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is situated just outside Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

The Endangered Species Centre is recognized as a pioneer in the conservation of rare, vulnerable and endangered animal species. It has a very successful breeding and rehabilitation program and has seen several species of animal nursed back to health or rehabilitated such as the Tigers of ADI (Animal Defender’s International), Jabulani (namesake of the Camp Jabulani Elephant Herd) and Ronnie the Rhino from the United Kingdom.

The Centre offers a fascinating insight into the lives of these vulnerable and rare animal species with fun interactive tours, drives and excursions on a daily basis. Visitors are treated to tours, with experienced Guides, on open safari vehicles between various enclosures that are home to cheetah, lion, wild dog, African wild cats, Sable antelopes and ground hornbills. Tours are two hours long to ensure visitors have enough time to ask all the questions they can think of.

Guests can also watch rare African Vultures feeding on carcass remains at the “Vulture Restaurant”. The Marabou Stork and the Bateleur Eagle also frequent this area fairly regularly.

The Centre is located close to the Kapama Private Game Reserve, allowing visitors to also have the option of booking a morning or afternoon game drive on the reserve, tracking down the “Big 5”.

Things to do and see

• Guided Tours
• Watch Vultures being fed
• Kapama Game Drives
• Elephant Safaris
• The Deli
• Curio Shop
• Art Gallery
• Accommodation

Admission

Daily tours cost between R65 and R100. Bookings are essential. Prices are subject to change, please contact the Centre directly for confirmation of pricing and availability.

Climate

Summer months, October to March will experience average temperatures of between 16˚C to 31˚C with the highest rainfall months being between November and February.

Winter months, May to August, will bring temperatures down to between 8˚C and 24˚C.

Transport

Flights are offered from both Johannesburg and Cape Town to the Hoesdpruit Eastgate Airport. Self-drive trips from Johannesburg will take approximately 5 hours.