The Hoedspruit Research and Breeding Centre for Endangered Species (the Centre) is situated on 100 hectares within the Kapama Private Game Reserve, a reserve found near the town of Hoedspruit in the Northern Province of South Africa.

Established in 1988, the Centre is the brain-child of Lente Roode, the wife of successful businessman Johann Roode. It was initially established as a breeding programme for the then endangered cheetah, but following the enormous success of the cheetah breeding programme, has evolved into a legitimate breeding programme for other endangered African animal species.

The ultimate objective of the Centre is to return endangered African species to the wild once their numbers have increased to such an extent that they can be released. Needless to say, this is a long-term objective which requires substantial commitment, both human and financial.

The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is situated on over 100 hectares within the Kapama Private Game Reserve, a reserve found near the town of Hoedspruit in the Northern Province of South Africa. Established in 1990 as part of a breeding programme for the endangered cheetah, the centre has expanded to breed and conserve other African species for reintroduction into the wild.

The objective of the centre is to make a fundamental contribution to the conservation of Africa's endangered animal species for future generations. Extreme care is taken to ensure suitable breeding environments, in some cases in co-operation with the breeding programmes of the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria and the Zoology Department of the University of Pretoria.

Visitors can witness feeding sessions of various rare African vultures as they swoop down into the 'vulture restaurant' to feed on the remains of carcasses. The centre's veterinary staff operate an animal hospital where injured or abandoned animals from elsewhere are cared for and eventually released back into the wild.

The centre, a non-profit enterprise, is funded from gate takings and sales from the curio shop and restaurant. Visitors to the centre have a number of options, including tours of the centre and game drives on Kapama Private Game Reserve.

Game Drives

Daytime and evening game drives are provided through the centre for non-resident visitors, followed by lunch or dinner in the form of a gourmet barbecue at either the Rhino Inn boma or the Elephant Inn boma.

These two unique bush restaurants are located on the Kapama Private Game Reserve.
Game drives are taken in open safari vehicles and offer clients the opportunity to see Africa's Big Five as well as a variety of smaller wildlife.

Rhino Inn and Elephant Inn Bomas

Daytime and evening game-viewing drives for visitors to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre finish with a lunch or dinner in the form of a gourmet barbecue at either the Rhino Inn boma or the Elephant Inn boma.

The bomas are thatched enclosures on the Kapama Private Game Reserve. The Rhino Inn boma can accommodate 120 guests and the Elephant Inn boma can accommodate 40 guests.
They can be used for private parties, functions and informal conferences. Superb gourmet meals, infused with an African flavour, are served around a crackling fire under the star-filled sky.

They two bomas also make a wonderful romantic venue for a bushveld wedding. The Elephant Inn boma easily converts into a chapel while the Rhino Inn boma makes an excellent reception area. A delightful safari atmosphere is maintained at all times, enhanced by the staff's meticulous attention to detail with the guests' comfort foremost in mind.