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What not to do on your safari
Bet you didn't experience wildlife like this when you were on your last wildlife safari. Marlice van Vuuren is a Namibian animal conservationist and a woman very familiar with the ways of the African cheetah. She should know, her last 34 years were spent growing up around animals in Namibia, and she currently runs the N/a'an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary with her husband Rudie.
It's that sort of experience that's prepared her for this close interaction with wild cheetahs, no doubt mixed with a healthy dose of bravery and maybe a shred of craziness. Check out this video where van Vuuren gets off of her dirt bike and walks around among the wild cats, often advancing towards them and showing her dominance -- it's a pretty amazing show.
Unfortunately, the clip appears to be spoken in English, then dubbed in French, so here is a translation of what Marlice Van Der Merwe is saying about her encounter:
If I lower myself down to their level, they'll approach as we appear to be be of similar size ... I'm doing this to show how cowardly they are, not to tease them ... But also, to get a rush of adrenaline ... As soon as you turn your back on them, they attack ... As soon as you look them in the eyes, they're afraid of you ... If you run, you're prey. But, if you turn around, they stop ... I think they've had enough
Filed under: Africa, Namibia, Video, Transportation, Travel Health
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
Vi May 3rd 2011 3:37AM
wow! I have been on couple safari in Africa but didn't see anything like this.
Nicole May 3rd 2011 12:49PM
I'm all for conservation, but what is the point of this video? These animals were clearly distressed, worried and this was probably a major event in their lives as they scrambled to protect their young and form ranks against someone invading their territory. Okay, lady--educate us, but don't freak out the innocent animals just trying to live out their lives. She's chuckling and did this for entertainment purposes. The end is sweetly played with the music over her petting one, but again, what was the point? Are they trying to keep these animals wild? Or tame them and make them showcases? Ugh. Not sure what the point is with this and hate feeling so curmudgeony about it...sorry. It just makes me think of all the idiots who feed gators here in FL just to get a cheap thrill. Later it's those gators that take out a family pet, child or attack someone swimming. Gah.
jim May 3rd 2011 1:40PM
Heck no, me neither. They were all brunettes, and not nearly that good looking!
barb May 3rd 2011 2:14PM
She's not brave, just stupid.
Anteaque May 3rd 2011 2:22PM
What is the point of this? It's cruel!!
vickie May 3rd 2011 7:16PM
ya.......someday she will make a mistake...and she will get what she deserves....the only thing I see is a dumb blonde......
betty May 3rd 2011 6:42AM
beautiful cats, she should be very careful as cats can jump on you when just fooling arround ,just like house cats but these beautiful cats have bigget claws and teeth...remember the bengal tiger that maulled its owner on tour... the cat was just fooling arround and playing..now the guy is wonded for ever...just saying...
Cathy May 3rd 2011 6:53AM
This woman is a complete idiot! It would have served her right if she'd been attacked! Moron!
tankerrich May 3rd 2011 10:14AM
Just got back from a 4 day safari in South Africa, our second trip in 3 years. Walked and petted 4 Cheeta in a pack with no problems. Also a Bush Pig named ALF walked with us, a really friendly guy that was wild but came in on his own into the camp an befriended us humans. After the Cheeta's killed an Impala we were just feet away from them and a Ranger actually went in and was able to pull part of the kill away from the Cheeta's without any reaction from them. An hour later they were back at camp walking around us as we were having lunch and we were able to pet them.
Don't try this with the lion cub that is over 1 year old that's a different animal. So what the lady is doing is just what we learned about them. The best thing is to go to Africa and see for yourself. BTW we walked with a 2 year old female lion 3 years ago and this year we walked with her 4 month old cub. They also had a 2 week old cub. This is the best 2 vacations we ever had. Go see for your self!
DayDreamer May 3rd 2011 12:09PM
Tankerrich where do you go on your safari? I have never been but would love to expierience it, and you seem to know a great place to enjoy the trip with the wild.
Shari B May 3rd 2011 12:35PM
She couldn't do this with lions or tigers. Cheetahs are notoriously shy. Also it is not cowardly to pounce when the "prey's" back is turned; this is cat strategy!
dootise May 3rd 2011 1:17PM
Cathy dearest..this woman has more pizzazz and moxie and knowledge of things in 30 seconds than you will ever have in your entire lifetime...pity.
becky May 3rd 2011 5:27PM
I don't think the young lady was being cruel at all. Those animals get bored; think about the excitement she brought their way for just a short time. It gave them something to think about. After all, how was that cruel? She had no weapons, she didn't hurt them. They were fascinated by her.
Yes, they could have attacked, but they didn't. And I'm sure she was prepared for the worst.
patrick May 3rd 2011 7:24AM
I suppose she never heard of the moose lady - her last confrontation ended rather unwell.
Betsy May 3rd 2011 9:16AM
Not to mention, NOW the big game hunters will be able to do the same, and not have to take a chance on "missing" with their high power rifles and scopes thanks to her 'blonde' moment and bad judgement! Personally, I'm for the animals..thank God they look scared and confused, instead of hungry!
Linda May 3rd 2011 7:20AM
Same mentality and quite similar to the cats thoughts.
Frank May 3rd 2011 7:13AM
It's the age-old story of story of how wild animals ought to be nice, and if they attack her, it shows they are evil and deserve to be killed.
john May 3rd 2011 11:31AM
It's like she has no common sense. God gave these animals teeth and claws, he gave humans a brain. If she is going to mess around with wild animals she should bring a gun. Fortunately for her, cheetahs are relatively docile animals. Ancient Egyptian used to domesticate them and have them as pets.
Mynnia May 3rd 2011 2:37PM
Since it's apparently too hard to google or click a link:
"Marlice Elretha Jansen van Vuuren born 14 May 1976 as Marlice Elrethra van der Merwe, is a popular Namibian conservationist who grew up surrounded by animals on her parents' farm in Namibia where for more than 30 years injured or orphaned animals have found refuge. Marlice also grew up closely with the San Bushmen community and is one of only a handful of white people who can speak their language."
I think you are slandering her a bit unfairly here.
loiters21 May 3rd 2011 3:50PM
She, the pretty lady could have been eaten by those cheetas. IOf she lived, she might not be called a pretty lady any more