EWT CHEETAH RELOCATION FROM BUFFELSDRIFT GAME RESERVE TO UKUZWANA GAME RESERVE

EWT Cheetah Relocation. On Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, a collaborative conservation mission led by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and The Bateleurs saw the successful aerial relocation of a female cheetah from Buffelsdrift Game Reserve (Western Cape) to Ukuzwana Game Reserve (Mpumalanga). The mission was coordinated by Olivia Sievert (EWT Cheetah Range Expansion Coordinator) and flown by Bateleurs volunteer pilot Nick Lincoln in his Beechcraft Baron G58 . 

Veterinary support was provided by Dr. Eugenie Petges (Ikhala Veterinary Clinic) and Dr. Willem Burger (Wildest Vet). Thanks to the combined efforts of Buffelsdrift and Lalibela Game Reserves, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), and the Ukuzwana Witbad Foundation, the cheetah now joins a male coalition previously relocated by EWT—marking a major milestone in expanding cheetah range and restoring a breeding population in Mpumalanga.

Mission team – Nick Lincoln, Olivia Sievert, Dr. Eugenie Petges and Dr. Willem Burger

PILOT REPORT: Nick Lincoln

On Tue 29th April, at around 12:00 sharp, with an empty cheetah box loaded in the vacant rear seats, Olivia Sievert and I set off to Buffelsdrift Oudtshorn, in ZS-MFG, my beloved Beechcraft Baron 58.

Blessed with tailwinds we made good time, routing Harding, Queenstown and on to Oudtshorn, and landed 15 min ahead of the 3H15 schedule.

We were met by a friendly gentleman called Pieter who kindly assisted with refuelling in prep for the next day. We were also greeted by most of the local flying club, only to be disappointed that the cheetah box was empty, but, were very happy to assist in giving MFG a push into the parking bay, and promised to be back the next day!

Kayla from Buffelsdrift whipped us off to the boma for a quick pre inspection of the cheetah to be moved and then arranged for an amazing night stay in their tented camps - certainly a privilege when going on tour like this for the night!! After a gin or 3, a delicious dinner, an early night was in store to be up early for the next day as weather was approaching, and we were hoping for an early start.

The next morning, we got up at 5am, to a heavy drizzle, much to the local farmers delight, but certainly did not dampen our spirits! A few coffees later, and the arrival of the cheerful vet Dr Willem Burger, we were off to the boma. Very swiftly, our cheetah was darted, re-collared, thoroughly checked over and loaded into the box onto the bakkie. A short 15min drive and we got to the airfield, with our same enthusiastic crowd waiting for us.

A quick load up, photos by many, preflight, and we were on our way. The weather Gods were not quite as friendly this time, with some showers and storms to dodge, but we were blessed from Graaf Reinet with beautiful blue skies and an amazing view from the West into the berg. A tailwind also caught us from around Maseru, and before long we had Piet Retief in sight. 3H30 later, a hop and a skip on the gravel runway, and voila, a team waiting for us to unload this beautiful cat.

One or 2 pleasantries with the new proud owners, and we were soon on our way again, charging to meet the requested 17:00 Durban Wings Club rendezvous with our esteemed commander Steve McCurrach. A quick 45 min flight meant we put our wheels down at 16:55. Sadly, Steve could not meet us, so I accepted a raincheck for the next mission!

I'd like to thank the Bateleurs once again for this incredible opportunity and look forward of being of service again as soon as possible!

EWT MISSION REPORT – CHEETAH RELOCATION

Date: Wednesday April 30th, 2025

Key personnel:

• Olivia Sievert – Cheetah Range Expansion Coordinator (EWT)

• Nick Lincoln – Volunteer Pilot (The Bateleurs)

Aircraft: Baron G58 Beechcraft (Nick Lincoln)

Mission team:

Nick Lincoln, Olivia Sievert, Dr. Eugenie Petges and Dr. Willem Burger

Mission:

Relocate a female cheetah from Buffelsdrift Game Reserve (Western Cape) to Ukuzwana Game Reserve (Mpumalanga)

Flight Path:

Virgina Airport (KwaZulu Natal) → Oudtshoorn Airport (Western Cape) → Piet Retief Airport (Mpumalanga) → Virgina Airport (KwaZulu Natal)

Report:

What could have been a gruelling 30-hour, 3,000 km road journey was transformed into a seamless airborne mission, thanks to the exceptional support of The Bateleurs and volunteer pilot Nick Lincoln.

The relocation mission started over the Freedom Day long weekend, a time when most South Africans were enjoying a well-earned break. However, Olivia and Bateleurs pilot Nico (safety pilot of Henning) were busy at Rand Airport in Gauteng, working diligently to determine how to load a cheetah transport crate into a Piper Cherokee. The objective: to relocate a female cheetah from Buffelsdrift Game Reserve near Oudtshoorn (Western Cape) to Ukuzwana in Mpumalanga, a vital step in establishing a new breeding population in the region.

After several hours spent removing nearly every seat from the aircraft, a major hurdle emerged: although the crate fit inside the aircraft’s cabin, it could not pass through the narrow doors. This logistical setback proved to be a valuable lesson in field adaptation.

Fortunately, The Bateleurs’ pilot Nick Lincoln swiftly stepped in to assist. With revised plans and rebooked appointments with veterinarians and provincial officials, Olivia joined Nick on a flight to Oudtshoorn via Durban.

Wednesday brought much-needed rainfall to the Karoo, an environmental blessing, though a temporary challenge for the mission. The team having been up at 05h00 to get the day started found themselves spending their morning huddled together with coffee under a canopy waiting for rain to pass. Thankfully, by 09h00 a break in the weather allowed the team to safely sedate the female cheetah and begin the journey. The scenic flight over Lesotho offered a moment of awe after a demanding day.

Just 5.5 hours after darting the cheetah, the aircraft landed at Piet Retief Airport, where the team from Ukuzwana was ready to receive her.

Now joining a coalition of males that had been relocated by EWT in February, the foundation for a new cheetah breeding population in Mpumalanga is firmly in place. This milestone could not have been achieved without the dedication and collaboration of many committed partners.

Special thanks go to Ikhala Veterinary Clinic and Wildest Vet for their expert care, to Buffelsdrift and Lalibela Game Reserves for generously donating cheetahs to the project, and to the provincial conservation authorities, particularly the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, for their tireless efforts to restore cheetahs to this landscape. The Ukuzwana Witbad Foundation deserves heartfelt recognition for providing a safe and secure habitat for these vulnerable predators.

Excitingly, this is only the second breeding population of cheetah in Mpumalanga outside of the greater Kruger. EWT is working closely with MTPA to identify suitable areas and restore cheetah across the province with Ukuzwana being the first in what promises to be a much larger conservation project.