In 2002, Len and Mandy Freeman uprooted their lives in Kwa Zulu Natal to move to the beautiful Garden Route seaside town of Plettenberg Bay. Originally, the move was planned to improve their quality of life, but when Len was diagnosed with cancer in the planning stages of the move, it became a life-changing decision to continue with their dreams.
As their skills in nursing wild animals back to health became known in the community, Len and Mandy realized that there was a great need in the area for a fully functioning Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. The ever growing human population descending on the Garden Route, along with high levels of unemployment and poverty in the migrant workers flocking to the area in search of work, are all placing a heavy toll on wildlife populations and our environment. In the early days the Freemans funded all the rehabilitation costs, but it quickly became evident that a sustainable source of income was needed in order to support the on-going costs of the rehabilitation centre. This, together with the deep-seated knowledge that education is the most powerful tool of change, led to the concept of the Awareness Centre being born.
Len and Mandy are a special husband and wife team, demonstrating a passion for what they do and this translates and is embodied in every fibre of Tenikwa. Len has the vision to create and translate their dreams into reality. Mandy’s way with animals can bring a tear to your eye. Their combination of skills is grounded with sound business sense creating a solid base from which to run a growing and ever expanding facility.
Whilst Len’s cancer is in remission, it brought home to this dedicated couple how little time left there is to open the eyes and ears of our communities. For some species we are the last generation who can make a difference.
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When visitors arrive at Tenikwa they feel a sense of energy and well-being. This is mirrored by the passion and dedication of the team who care for the creatures of Tenikwa and who readily work long exhausting hours to nurse a wild animal through the night.
Staff are chosen for the manner in which they relate to animals and this translates through to the various activities. All tour-guides are also responsible for animal-keeping duties. This allows them to form a bond with the creatures and stay in touch with what Tenikwa is all about.
Animal Keeping staff are encouraged to join The Animal Keepers Association of Africa (AKKA), to uphold professional animal keeping principles and Tour guiding staff are encouraged to attain their FGASA certification in Field Guiding.
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Nola-Mari is our chosen SPECIAL PERSON. She joined Tenikwa late last year to finsh her Nature College Practical. Len and Mandy were so impressed by her guiding skills as well as her talent with animals that she was offered a permanent position at the begining of February 2011.
She was brilliant with guests and on her tours she would describe the need for conservation with rare clarity and utter conviction. Along with being a guide she took on the responsibilies of looking after the sick and young animals. She loved it so much that she volunteered at the local vet on her days off. Nola had found her passion with animals and never left work without smiling.
She became the surrogate mother of 3 serval kittens and was extremly patient and attentive to them. They are doing well now and one has been named in honour of Nola - we called him Mola!
Tenikwa had never met anyone so driven and with such vision and determination. One of her ambitions was to work with the moutain gorillas in the DRC, but sadly this was not to be and Nola lost her life in a tragic accident at Nature's Valley while she was hiking.
All of us at Tenikwa feel the loss of Nola deeply and she is greatly missed, but her life will be celebrated daily in all of our conservation efforts.
Our on-site Animal Keeping Team consists of our resident vet, Dr Magdalena Lukasik-Braum, Curator Jared Harding, and Animal Keeper Kim Allnut. Animal Keeping Assistant staff include Sicolo Hlongwane and Msizi Shange.
Dr Laura Snyman from The Crags Veterinary Clinic consults to Tenikwa Wildlife Centre and is here on a weekly basis to attend to patients.