As a Field Officer, you learn to expect the unexpected! What was meant to be a quick two-hour cheetah relocation from one reserve to another turned into a full-day adventure, thanks to some persistent car troubles.

Now, most field staff are well-versed in the art of vehicle recovery and minor repairs, but these days I spend more time on tar roads than off-road tracks and, given my dislike for vehicle mechanics I have forgotten most of what I had once known. So imagine my surprise when, with two very awake cheetahs in the back, a reserve staff member waved me down to point out that part of the vehicle was hanging off where it really shouldn’t be! Thankfully, the brilliant Shambala team immediately had a bush mechanic’s fix in mind: “We’ll wire it together, just drive carefully”.

Still, before setting off, I had to send a few long voice notes to EWT Senior Conservation Manager Lourens Leeuwner, my ever-patient vehicle guru, for the all-important “yes, you’ll be fine” reassurance. Then, I was  off again. With any relocation it is key to minimise the time the cheetah are in crates, especially with the heat we were experiencing that day, so this was a huge relief.

However, just when I thought we were in the clear at Mabula Game Reserve, the cheetah vehicle gave one last surprise: the back refused to open! Cue a new plan involving teamwork, heavy lifting, and careful crate manoeuvring. At last, the cheetahs were safely released, tucking into an impala meal as if nothing had happened.

After a quick check over from the Mabula mechanic, I limped back into Johannesburg, five hours later than expected, but grateful, safe, and reminded once again that fieldwork is all about teamwork. Huge thanks to the Shambala and Mabula teams for their quick thinking, muscle, and good humour. Without them, this relocation wouldn’t have been possible, and the cheetahs certainly agree!