Geology

The Erindi reserve today comprises c. 65,000 hectares (160,000 acres) and consists of the farms Erindi, Constantia, and Otjimukara.^[1] It is located on a central plateau in Namibia's highlands. The terrain is made up of eroded soils from adjacent mountains. The Erongo Mountains in the reserve's west have been linked to the Post-Karoo Complex.^[2] The area's geology is dominated by granite, basalt, and volcanic rocks. The Omataku Mountains to the east are inselbergs that rise intermittently throughout the lowlands. These are made up of Etjo sandstone and magmatic rock. This evolved over millions of years. Erindi Private Game Reserve has elements of both mountain ranges. The reserve is traversed by two perennial rivers. When there is substantial rainfall, the Slang River rushes to the south, while the Otjimakuru River runs just outside the northern boundary.

Climate

In Omaruru, the summers are long, hot, and partly cloudy; the winters are short, cool, windy, and clear; and it is dry year-round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 9 °C to 34 °C (49 °F to 94 °F) and is rarely below 5 °C (42 °F) or above 38 °C (100 °F).^[3] Namibia itself has extreme temperatures that fluctuate greatly between day and night. In summer the minimum summer temperature recorded is 17 °C and the maximum 43 °C. In winter temperatures range between 1 °C at night and 28 °C during the day.

Global Leopard Project

In Namibia, leopards (Panthera pardus) are considered ‘problem animals’ since farmers perceive them as a threat to livestock. In 2010, the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism declared a moratorium on leopard hunting and in 2011 launched a census program to try to manage the sustainability of the leopard population. The stability of Leopard populations is governed by complex interactions between individuals and thus groups must be studied on a long-term basis to understand the positions of individual leopards within a group. Their shy and elusive nature compounds the challenge of observing them closely and over sustained periods for research.

The Global Leopard Project is a registered foundation established in Erindi Private Game Reserve in 2007, with research, communication, and conservation as the core strategy. Many Erindi leopards are studied, tracked, and monitored using visuals and GPS collars. The data collected from these wild leopards is shared widely to assist in the sustainable use of the species by other researchers, farmers, hunters, and any other interested parties. Guests at Erindi can support the foundation by participating in the specialized Leopard Project Drive, Leopard Project Presentation, and Leopard Project Walk.

Cheetah Conservation Project

The cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is classified as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List. Cheetahs are one of Africa’s most endangered big cats, whose numbers have declined by 90% over the past century. There are only about 7,100 cheetahs left in the wild today.^[6] The main reason for the decline is human-wildlife conflict, disappearing habitat, poaching by humans and the illegal taking of cheetahs from the wild for the exotic pet trade, and loss of sufficient prey base.

A group of four cheetahs was released into Erindi in 2012, and since then more cheetahs have been successfully rewilded into the Erindi landscape, including a female that has now raised a litter of wild cubs.^[7] Released cheetahs are normally fitted with special GPS monitoring collars by which conservation staff can follow and monitor their movements and behaviors in the time after release. Monitoring is undertaken in order to assist reserve planning efforts and to provide care, medical treatment, supplemental food and water if needed, or to facilitate the recapture of an animal that needs more intense assistance or recovery.

In 2014, Erindi Private Game Reserve was invited to the Annual CCF Gala and presented with the award for the 2014 Cheetah Conservation Business of the Year by Laurie Marker and Uahekua Herunga, Namibia’s Minister of Environment and Tourism.^[8]

African Wild Dog Project

The African wild dog, or African Painted Dog (Lycaon pictus)), is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest wild canine in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus Lycaon, it is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The adult African wild dog has few natural predators, but habitat fragmentation, human persecution, and domestic animal diseases have slashed its surviving numbers. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the African wild dog is one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world. Current population estimates are between 3,000 and 6,600, with only about 1,400 of these being breeding adults.

The African wild dog conservation program at Erindi Private Game Reserve began in 2007 when owner Gert Joubert decided to create a safe haven for a natural African wild dog population, and two groups of animals were brought into the reserve.

Despite natural and human-created conflicts over the years, causing some ups and downs for the project, at present there is a strong pack of 23 members on Erindi, which are carefully monitored and vaccinated regularly due to their susceptibility to domestic-animal-borne diseases.^[9]

Pangolin Project

A species of pangolin or scaly anteater, called the ground pangolin (Manis temminckii) is a solitary, nocturnal mammal that lives in savannah woodland and scrub habitats in southern, central, and east Africa. Its diet consists mainly of ants and termites which it scoops up with its long, specially adapted tongue. Pangolin populations worldwide are sharply decreasing due to hunting, illegal poaching, and habitat degradation. The world's most trafficked mammal, pangolins are being illegally poached in unsustainable numbers. Many ground pangolins have been located on Erindi and had VHF tracking transmitters affixed to their scales to enable research and monitoring of these wild animals.^[10]