A Cheetah, a Birthday and a Beautiful "YES"

Posted on Thu November 27, 2025.

Jade and Levinia met in the most unexpected way. Both attended the same church - he played the organ, and she was trying to leave early, and found her car blocked in by his. While he played, she waited. When she finally drove off, neither imagined that moment would change their lives.

Later that day, Jade apologised over Facebook. Levinia ignored him for two days before replying. Messages turned into long conversations. They exchanged numbers and learned more about each other. He lived in Oudtshoorn. She lived in George. Every Sunday afternoon, he made the drive to see her. Their bond grew stronger with every visit. This year, on her birthday, Jade decided it was time.

Their plan for the day was simple. An Ambassador Animal Connection with one of the cheetahs. A birthday surprise for Levinia. What she didn’t know was that Jade had already contacted the team.

Behind the scenes, preparations began quickly.
Jowellen from the Animal Care team phoned the Marketing Manager with the news that Jade planned to propose inside the cheetah enclosure. There were only minutes to prepare. The goal was clear. Capture the moment without giving anything away.

The team moved fast.
Jesseca, one of the animal caregivers, was handed a camera and told the cover story that new high-quality photos were needed for branding updates. Staff positioned themselves naturally. The Marketing Manager stood on the bridge making radio calls about “tracking connections” to maintain the illusion of a normal workday. Guests stayed unaware. Jade stayed calm. Levinia suspected nothing.

Inside the cheetah camp, the moment unfolded.
With Jesseca ready as the “photographer”, Jade went down on one knee. Levinia’s smile said everything. Her hands shook. She said yes. The cheetah rested quietly beside them, with warm sun on his coat, and shared a soft chesty rumble. It was calm, natural and filled with emotion. A birthday she would never forget. A proposal Jade had planned with care. A moment the team felt privileged to witness.

 

Moments like these show why Cango Wildlife is more than a place to visit. It is a place where stories begin. A place where people fall in love with nature, with conservation and sometimes, with each other.

Congratulations to Jade and Levinia.
Thank you for letting Cango Wildlife and our team be part of such a special chapter in your story.

 

Further Reading

A Little Piece Of Africa, Forever Wed September 30, 2026

Some memories are captured in photographs. Others come home with you in a slightly more permanent way. For Australian volunteers Jamie, Hayley and Jess, and Cango Academy student Zenny, their time together in the Klein Karoo was marked with an experience they will quite literally carry with them forever.

Read This Article
From Cango To Kruger: Sharing The Story Of Project ZOA Wed September 30, 2026

Cango Wildlife CEO Douglas Eriksen recently took Project ZOA to a new audience, delivering the keynote address at the 18th NRF-SAEON Graduate Student Network Indibano in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, on 16 September 2026. The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), a research platform of the National Research Foundation, brings together scientists working across South Africa’s terrestrial, marine, freshwater and atmospheric environments. Its Graduate Student Network connects Master’s and PhD researchers from across the...

Read This Article
Planting For The Future: Arbor Month Takes Root At Cango Academy Wed September 30, 2026

The final day of Arbor Month brought with it a fitting moment of growth at the newly opened Africa Skills Cango Academy, as representatives from the Garden Route District Municipality joined the Cango team for the handover and planting of indigenous trees. The Garden Route District Municipality donated 35 indigenous plants, comprising 20 Karee trees and 15 Spekboom, to be planted at the Academy. The initiative formed part of Arbor Month and...

Read This Article