Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen
Founder and Director
Riana is the founder of Cheetah Experience. She is one of the leading “Cheetah Ladies” in South Africa and her passion is to educate people about these endangered animals.
Riana is committed to ensure that the South African cheetah populations chances of survival are strongly improved through strengthening blood lines and is pushing for DNA testing and the establishment of a stud book in the country to make breeding ethical.
Cheetah Experience was founded with the intention of assisting in the prevention of the further decline of cheetah populations. For this reason it’s mission is to ethically breed cheetahs, in unison with other cheetah conservation projects, in an attempt to ensure viable genetic diversity.
The future aspiration is to purchase an area of land to release cheetahs back into a ‘protected wild’, where they will be interfered with as little as possible by humans, yet will still be monitored closely by vets and researchers. This will allow us to gain a better insight into the lives of these magnificent creatures.
Ute Vierling
Resident
Ute is originally from Germany, but now a permanent resident of South Africa. She always dreamed of working with animals, driven by her deep love and passion for them—especially cats, both big and small. Now, at CE, she has the opportunity to give them the best life possible and we appreciate all her efforts.
Miekie Wiese van Tonder
Head Curator
Miekie’s journey with wildlife began as the very first student and volunteer of Riana at Cheetah Experience, where her passion for conservation was born and nurtured.
With over 20 years of experience working with a wide variety of wildlife species, she has dedicated her life to animal rescue, rehabilitation, welfare, and conservation. Her hands-on experience and deep understanding of animal behaviour have made her a passionate and committed wildlife professional.
After 18 years away, Miekie returned to Cheetah Experience, coming full circle to continue her journey alongside Riana and the team at Limpopo Cheetah Experience.
For Miekie, wildlife is more than a career—it is her purpose, passion, and way of life.
Ami Hyslop
Chief Administrative Officer
Ami's journey into wildlife conservation began at Sondela Nature Reserve, where she completed a three-year qualification in Captive Animal Management. During her studies, she gained hands-on experience working with a variety of remarkable species, including caracals, servals, and many smaller animals, laying a strong foundation for her career while nurturing a deep passion for animal welfare and conservation.
Having always been fascinated by big cats, Ami dreamed of one day working closely with these incredible animals. Since becoming involved with cheetahs, her admiration for the species has only grown, inspiring an even greater appreciation for their unique nature and the vital conservation efforts dedicated to securing their future.
For Ami, caring for animals is far more than a profession—it is a lifelong commitment and a way of life. Her passion continues to grow every day, and she feels privileged to dedicate her time to the care, wellbeing, and conservation of the animals she works with.
She is excited to continue expanding her knowledge, contributing to cheetah conservation, and helping create a brighter future for these extraordinary animals.
Shannon Knight
Animal Care Giver
Shannon Knight is passionate about wildlife, conservation, and hospitality, with a genuine enthusiasm for continuous learning and personal growth. Her conservation journey began at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, where she worked as a Field Guide and Cheetah Handler, gaining valuable experience in animal care, cheetah handling, guided tours, and environmental education.
She later joined Thekwane Lodge as a Data Administrator, further developing her organisational and administrative skills before returning to the field as a Field Guide at Glen Afric Country Lodge. There, she led game drives, shared her knowledge of wildlife with guests, and assisted with lodge operations and maintenance.
These diverse experiences have shaped Shannon into a dedicated and adaptable conservation professional who is passionate about wildlife, creating meaningful guest experiences, and contributing to the protection of South Africa's incredible biodiversity.
Tyler Woollard
Animal Care Giver
Tyler is a passionate wildlife professional with over three years of hands-on experience in the field. Raised on a farm, her love for animals, especially big cats, was sparked early and has only grown stronger with time. At just 17, she began her journey at Seaview Predator Park in Port Elizabeth, where her dedication to conservation and animal care took root. Since then, Tyler has embraced the wildlife industry as more than a career, it's a way of life he wouldn't trade for anything.
Quintin Reynders
Meat room Manager
Quintin brings over 11 years of hands-on experience working with dangerous and exotic wildlife, building a career dedicated to animal welfare, conservation, and wildlife management. As Head Animal Handler at One Cat Foundation NPC and Mbidi Lodge, he has cared for a wide variety of species, including lions, tigers, cheetahs, servals, caracals, African wild dogs, bears, reptiles, and many other animals. His responsibilities include animal husbandry, food preparation and nutrition, meat room management, enclosure construction and maintenance, enrichment planning, veterinary assistance, record keeping, and maintaining the highest standards of safety when working with dangerous animals. Quintin also supervises and mentors volunteers and staff while educating visitors about the importance of wildlife conservation.
Beyond animal care, Quintin plays a vital role in protecting both wildlife and the reserve through anti-poaching patrols, having removed hundreds of snares over the years, while also assisting with security operations, access control, and visitor inspections. His extensive experience, strong leadership, and unwavering commitment to conservation continue to make a meaningful contribution to the wellbeing and protection of the animals in his care.
Melissa van Zyl
Animal Team Member
Melissa is a 2024 Nature Management graduate who has further expanded her knowledge through additional studies in Anti-Poaching and Wildlife Forensics. Throughout her conservation journey, she has primarily worked with cheetahs and rhinos, developing a strong passion for protecting South Africa's iconic wildlife.
After completing her studies in 2024, Melissa joined the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC), where she gained valuable hands-on experience working with endangered species. She later returned home and worked as a pet relocation agent at Berrakaw before the opportunity arose to return to wildlife conservation at ZA Cheetah Conservation (Cheetah Experience).
Now part of the Cheetah Experience team, Melissa continues to grow both personally and professionally, expanding her knowledge while contributing to the care and conservation of these remarkable animals. She is passionate about making a meaningful difference in wildlife conservation and is committed to learning and improving every day.