South Africa - Wild Cat Sanctuary

Having the opportunity to spend every day with amazing animals and people. Everyday was different, but an opportunity to do something to have a positive impact on the life of the animals at the sanctuary. One of my highlights were preparing the food for the animals and then the sunset drives to see the lions

The most rewarding experiences was interacting with the animals and seeing the lions be fed. I would absolutely go back next year and do it again. The sanctuary was a beautiful place to stay, surrounded by nature and animals.

My most memorable experience was watching the family engage with the animals, it was amazing. Clearly there is a very special bond. Very much enjoyed the experience. Learned a great deal as well.

Just being with the animals all day, every day at the centre was amazing! Preparing their food, feeding them, cleaning up/fixing/enlarging enclosures, looking after the animals in general felt like we were really helping them and the family!

This project is life changing! It helped me overcome my fears and deal with new type of things. I got to meet friends fir life. I also want to say how amazing the family how own the farm! They made me feel at home and helped me with EVERYTHING!

I have spent the most beautiful 2 weeks volunteering in this peaceful farm with amazing and happy animals. It is truly where dreams become reality! Thank you to the family who was so good with us and kept us laughing everyday. My heart is full. I will come back soon!

I had an incredible time and learnt so much from the animals I worked with, the staff at the Wild Cat Sanctuary and the other volunteers. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and I would go back in a heartbeat. It was awesome having the chance to work closely with amazing animals and seeing how passionate the staff members were, and experiencing an authentic South African lifestyle.

I had an incredible time and learnt so much from the animals I worked with, the staff at the Wild Cat Sanctuary and the other volunteers. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and I would go back in a heartbeat. It was awesome having the chance to work closely with amazing animals and seeing how passionate the staff members were, and experiencing an authentic South African lifestyle.

Everything was incredible, but most I enjoyed just being with the animals and getting a real, personal experience with every one of them. I also loved that I knew I was helping at a place that is actually making a difference, with people. The owners of the project are both amazing people who are truly passionate about saving lions from being hunted, as well as rehabilitating and caring for those who have been mistreated. Everything they earn and own is for the animals' well being, and while at the centre I knew I was always doing something that was actually beneficial. By the end of my trip I had made many friends who I will definitely see in the future and will no doubt be returning to the project.

I had an incredible time and learnt so much from the animals I worked with, the staff at the Wild Cat Sanctuary and the other volunteers. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and I would go back in a heartbeat. Having the chance to work closely with amazing animals and seeing how passionate the staff members were, and experiencing an authentic South African lifestyle.

I enjoyed the interaction with the animals the most, as well as learning new things every day and making great new friends. I loved my whole experience, The owners included us in their lives and family and we were treated well and with respect, I will never forget my time there and have every intention of going back someday, hopefully for a longer time!

Everything was incredible, but most I enjoyed just being with the animals and getting a real, personal experience with every one of them. I also loved that I knew I was helping at a place that is actually making a difference, with people. The owners of the project are both amazing people who are truly passionate about saving lions from being hunted, as well as rehabilitating and caring for those who have been mistreated. Everything they earn and own is for the animals' well being, and while at the centre I knew I was always doing something that was actually beneficial. By the end of my trip I had made many friends who I will definitely see in the future and will no doubt be returning to the project.

I had a really great time there! Chriszanne and Nicole are two very nice people who appreciate your work. It's not only fun to spend time with them, they really try to make your trip as unforgettable as possible!

The name says it all, there are so many wild cats here you can be very satisfied with your African experience. There are lions (old and young), white lions, cheetahs, caracals and more. Though not the best SA project on offer - a very good contender though. Your work is split up into three groups for morning tasks which are feeding, water and house duties. The first task you will need to go into the meat room and cut up and prepare meat. If you are squeamish the coordinators are very nice and will allow you to do another job before you go and feed - you then go out to feed all the animals. Second task is simply cleaning the water out and topping them up. Third task is cleaning the house that you live in. These are rotated daily. Afternoon tasks include building new enclosures and assisting around the farm. You can get very close to the cheetah and teenage lions here which may be a highlight for some! There are also additional activities such as heading to the movies and going out for dinner to really make the project feel like a social time where you get to know everyone. I would recommend you consider this project for your SA volunteering. Date volunteered: January 2016 Recommended time spent here: 1 week Living conditions: Dormitory style bunk beds, hot showers, kitchen access, TV WiFi: Not bad - you are required to pay $10 for access though. Vegetarian friendly: No Additional Notes: They do a money kitty for nights out (we had 2 nights out) for eating. In theory it should work but in the end we paid almost double what our meals should be. However, South Africa is a reasonably cheap country to explore. Thank you to Go Eco for allowing us to experience this incredible volunteer project in (country). Our opinion is, as always, our own.

I cannot speak highly enough of the incredible experience I had volunteering at Felidae Centre in January this year. Being my first time going abroad as a volunteer, I was slightly apprehensive about what to expect, but from the moment I was greeted by Nicol and Chriszanne I felt so at ease and excited for what lay ahead. The brother and sister team went above and beyond to ensure we felt welcome and appreciated at all times, providing us with meals, including us in family activities, teaching us about the animals they look after and African culture, and showing us around their area during our down time. They are incredibly passionate about their work, an infectious trait and something I will always remember. The work we did both with the animals and to support the growth of their project was always varied and rewarding, and we always had the assistance we needed. On top of this, we would have several hours each day to spend with the animals to get to know them, which again was truly incredible. I feel so lucky to have spent 2 weeks at Felidae, and to be part of the amazing work that goes on there. I would go back and do it all again in a heartbeat, and recommend anyone thinking about working with big cats and other animals to give it a go! The team at GoEco who arranged the placement for me were equally as fantastic. They were in regular contact with me and made sure everything was set to go, and that I was comfortable with any arrangements made. When I needed to make alterations to my trip they were extremely accomdating and helpful, which made the planning all the more easy for myself. Thanks for an incredible experience Felidae and GoEco!