Few experiences in life left me feeling more ridiculous than when I walked out of the Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn. I wanted to smack myself. I wanted to pummel Rich. I wanted to ring the necks of every half-wit teenage employee within the facility. I also wanted a refund.
I am fascinated by most wildlife, especially cats – big cats. Not the kibble eating kind. Lions, Tigers, and Cheetahs, oh my! They’re amazing. When Rich told me that we could get up close and personal with these furry friends, I was skeptical. I usually shy away from these types of activities, but after reading about Cango, specifically their Cheetah Conservation Foundation, I was cautiously optimistic. It seemed that if I wanted to have an encounter with these animals, this would be the best place to do it. Sure, it might be a little cheesy, but I could handle that in exchange for 15 minutes of playtime.
When we arrived, we were grouped with a handful of adults and given a guided tour of the grounds. I enjoyed watching the Pigmy Hippos, Lemurs, and Flying Fox’s, but I could have done without our guides Disney Land display. If we were part of the 12 and under crowd, I’d be all for it, but that was not the case. In fact, I’d be willing to bet I was the youngest one there (besides our guide). That seems to always be the case, no matter where I go.
After completing the tour, we coughed up the cash, and headed to the back. We both opted to spend time with adult Cheetahs and baby White Tigers. The Cheetahs were first. It’s hard to put into words just how amazing they are. They’re incredibly gentle, purr when you pet them, and have the most mysterious big black eyes. I wanted nothing more than to cuddle up with them.
All was going well for the first minute or two, but alas, all good things must come to an end. The “keepers” swept in and we were lost in flurry of activity. Young, obnoxious little boys, snapping photos left and right, barking orders at us. And just like that… it was over. Next was the White Tiger cubs. The same whirlwind ensued, but primarily around Rich. I sat there, hovering over a little one while he drank. To be honest, I think they took one look at Rich and thought “jackpot.” Is all you have to do is glance at the photos below. He struts in there looking like Fabio with his pearly white smile and coiffed mane – an advertisement in the making. Sorry, Rich, but you know it’s true. I bust up every time I look at them.
We walked out of there, feeling slightly confused about what just happened. Our senses were overwhelmed, and not in a good way. Without talking, we both knew exactly what the other was thinking: did we really just drop $100 on that??? The answer is yes. Yes, we did.
We were hoping the experience would be enjoyable and educational, but in the end it was a glorified photo shoot. No matter how you toss it, we still had the chance to be around them, so it wasn’t a total loss. Hopefully, with enough feedback, they swap out the kids for qualified professionals. With a few tweaks, it has the potential to be something truly special.
Oudtshoorn happens to be the Ostrich capital of the world, with farms surrounding the city. We intended to visit one, but after our Cango experience, we were feeling a little dejected. We needed to get away. The next morning we hit the open road, making a loop through the Swatberg Pass. The sun was shining, scenery stunning, and we were smiling. For an afternoon, all was right with the world.
