by: Agnes and Anselm Tandler
Savannah is maybe the youngest resident at Vuyani lodge – the three year old African wild cat mix is famous for her loyalty and survival skills.
When Uyai, the tracker, moved to Vuyani Lodge, he was up for a surprise – in his old workplace he had raised Savannah, an African wild cat mix, from when she was a little kitten. Cats are territorial, so when Uyai left, he did not expect to see her again. But unlike other cats, Savannah turned out to be so loyal to her master that she searched for Uyai for weeks. Finally, she found him on the other side of Moditlo Game Reserve and stayed with him for good.
Cute, loving and adventurous , the African wild cat mix combines the best of wilderness and civilisation. With her large emerald-coloured eyes and her cheetah like fur on her belly she is a favourite with the guests at Vuyani lodge.
Uyai, a mild mannered man from Zimbabwe, had raised many other wild and semi wild animals – amongst them a tree squirrel and a caracal called Pixie. He had grown very fond of Savannah. “She used to sleep in my bed and came running to me to greet me. “ Like Uyai, Savannah has a story of her own: At first glance, you would be forgiven to mistake her for an ordinary house cat, but look a bit closer and you see that Savannah is indeed quite a different type. One of her ears is bend and torn from a fight with a caracal, the desert lynx, with its long tufts at the tip of the ear that stick out like antennae. The bush can be an unforgiving place. Ujay, the tracker, remembers that he woke up one night to a loud fighting noise outside the lodge: it was Savannah who had come under attack from a caracal – one of the many wild cats roaming around the lodge at night.
“When I came out, I could only see Savannah. She was badly bruised and wounded”, remembers Uyai. “I had to take her to the vet. Her right ear was bent and bleeding.” The vet told Uyai that a cartilage had been damaged and would never grow back again. After the vicious attack Uyai nursed the injured Savannah back to health. At first, the experience left her a bit skittish and standoffish. She did not enter the lodge and just stayed outside the premises shying away from guests and staff alike.
Not any more. Savannah is now enjoying her days on the sofas or in the office on her favourite, grey wool blanket. She has become a serious purrer, loves to be stroked and cuddled basking in the attention of the guests. Surprisingly, unlike domestic cats, Savannah has never caused allergic reactions to anyone. The three year old feline carries her bend ear like a badge of honour. “Now she does behave like she does not know me any more”, says Uyai.
When she is not busy charming the guests, Savannah enjoys going on hunting trips. Although she likes to eat from a huge bag of dry cat food , there is nothing more exciting than chasing lizards, mice or Franklin birds. “Sometimes we spot her a kilometre away from the lodge”, says Uyai. The avid hunter also goes after skinks, small reptiles, on the swimming pool deck. She once got stuck in a safety net on the roof of the lodge when she was on a chasing tour and had to be rescued. Uyai climbed up the roof and entangled the enraged cat who was furious of being captured. After all, Savannah is still a wild cat.
