Cheetahs return to Beekse Bergen safari after safety redesign
Visitors to Safaripark Beekse Bergen can once again see cheetahs during the popular car safari, following a major redesign of the cheetah enclosure prompted by a series of safety incidents involving park guests, according to the Beekse Bergen.
The renewed enclosure, open as of Monday, now features a wide natural moat that separates vehicles from the animals. While the cheetahs remain clearly visible from the road, direct proximity has been eliminated. “Visitors are now part of the landscape, without being in the same space as the cheetahs,” the park said in a statement. “By cleverly using elevation differences and sightlines, the safari experience remains intact.”
General manager Rens Willemsen welcomed the reopening. “We are pleased that visitors can once again admire the cheetahs during the car safari thanks to the smart landscape design,” he said in the same statement. “In addition, it is now also possible to house young cheetahs along the car route.”
The redesigned habitat includes hills, natural materials, and hiding spots that encourage the cheetahs' natural behaviors. Logs have been added so the animals can leave scent markings, and both cheetahs and visitors now have views of nearby animals such as rhinos and eland antelopes from elevated vantage points.
The changes follow several dangerous incidents in recent years involving visitors entering restricted areas. In 2018, a French family left their car against park rules and was approached by multiple cheetahs. The following year, a German adult and child exited their vehicle during the safari. In 2022, during a walking safari, a German teen was grabbed by a cheetah.
