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.
Gerbie Mir
Chief Operating Officer
Gerbie oversees the projects daily operations, ensuring that the business runs efficiently and effectively while in line with strategic objectives.
With a strong background in Conservation and Hospitality Education Management, she brings 20 years of leadership experience to the role. Her understanding and passion for animals and people will ensure that our residents are well looked after.
Kerry O'Mahoney
Animal Care Giver
Kerry is one of our youngest and most passionate team members. Her exceptional skill and experience with big cats quickly shone through, as she wasted no time in getting to know the animals intimately. Her positive attitude is a rare gem, and she possesses a unique talent for teaching people and training our animals.
Jason Erasmus
Animal Care Giver
Jason has worked with animals for many years and have always wanted to gain more experience in working with different species. He is passionate about nature and working at Cheetah Experience has given him the opportunity to learn more about the amazing beings.
Karla de Klerk
Animal Care Giver
Karla has dedicated her life to animals, turning a lifelong passion into a purpose-driven career. She has years of hands-on experience in wildlife care, working with animals of all ages. This includes nurturing young ones, as well as providing comfort and specialized care for geriatric animals and those with special needs. She brings a strong work ethic, a nurturing heart, and a special bond with cheetahs that shines through in her daily care. She’s a true animal person, devoted, driven, and deeply connected to the work we do.
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.