Tiger Canyon Conservation Tour

John Varty (JV) is a South African conservationist and filmmaker who specializes in Big Cats. JV established Tiger Canyons near the town of Philippolis on the Van der Kloof Lake in the Karoo of South Africa.

JV is not trying to introduce tigers into Africa. But, rather is trying to creating a free-ranging, self-sustaining tiger population outside Asia. From this population, third and fourth generations of tigers can be returned to Asia into parks that meet a set of criteria which give the tigers a chance of surviving.

We will design a tailor made itinerary that includes accommodation, transport and  the Tigers Canyons package.

Tiger Canyons Package Includes

• A tiger talk by John Varty (JV) who will explain to you about the Tiger Canyon project, its mission and objectives.
• A game drive in a specially protected vehicle where you may get up close to free ranging tigers. The landscape and famous Karoo evening light provides perfect photographic opportunities to photograph the tigers.
• Walking and playing with the tiger cubs (two normal and one white)

Tiger Canyons is a microcosm of restoring the Karoo to its former self. It involves removing the domestic stock, sheep, goats and replacing it with indigenous wildlife. Over the last 7 years, John Varty has been involved in the conversion of 61 000 hectares from sheep farms to indigenous wildlife in the Karoo.

Tiger Canyons is fenced with a 3,6 meter electric fence, including a 1 meter trip wire in front of the main fence. It is probably the most effective predator proof fence in the world and holds the key to much of the tiger conservation in Asia.

The Tiger Canyons project presumes that whether a tiger hunts a warthog in South Africa or a wild boar in Asia, the basics and instinct to hunting remain the same.

Tiger Canyons habitat is varied - from a rugged lakeshore to rocky mountains; from deep gorges to open veld.  Tiger Canyons will eventually support a diverse array of wild life - Blesbuck, Springbuck, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Mountain Reedbuck, Impala, Grey Duiker, Steenbuck and Ostrich.

A study will be implemented to see which prey the tiger prefers. Will the tiger pirate kills from the cheetah on the open veld, like lions do in the Serengeti? Only time will tell.

Submit an enquiry and come and visit this Tiger conservation programme that is being run in South Africa by a man passionate about wildlife conservation!