Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Plettenberg Bay

Tenikwa is a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre located in the rural suburb known as The Crags outside Plettenberg Bay and only 40 minutes from the popular town of Knysna. The pristine Garden Route in the Western Cape province of South Africa is well known for its many natural attractions, protected National Parks, and vibrant coastal eco-tourism activities. Tenikwa, through its wildlife rehabilitation expertise, plays a crucial role in providing rehabilitation and recuperation facilities where injured or abandoned wildlife can be rehabilitated according to strict rehabilitation protocols, so that they are given a second chance to be returned to the wild where they belong.

Nature Lodge Accommodation, Day Tours, and Overnight Experiences

Tenikwa is a non-profit organisation and depends on visitors to our Awareness Centre for funding to carry out wildlife rehabilitation activities covering the whole of the Garden Route for marine and terrestrial species. Whilst the Rehabilitation facilities are not open to the general public for obvious reasons, Tenikwa offers a selection of conservation based tours to suit all interests and budget. All programs have an educational focus on the indigenous wild cats of South Africa, the role of small predators and other local endemic wildlife. A variety of indigenous birds, such as Blue Cranes, Marabou Storks and waterfowl frequent the gardens of Tenikwa, the extent of which covers some 8ha with the balance of the 46ha of indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest and Cape Floral Fynbos set aside as a corridor for the wild animals occurring in the area.

Tenikwa has recently extended its offering to include overnight experiences, with accommodation in the Tenikwa Lodge and family suites, so that guests may stay at Tenikwa and enjoy a complete nature experience.

Guests are charmed by the sincerity of Tenikwa, the friendliness of our staff and the way in which Tenikwa’s passion for conservation shines through.

Whether you visit us for a day, or for an hour……..
“Come with an Open Mind, Tread with a Lighter Step, Leave with a Change of Heart”

More about our accommodation

Our first wildlife hospital

Tenikwa grew from humble beginnings in 2002 when the founders started rehabilitating injured birds in a wooded shed behind their house. Today it is one of the largest active wildlife rehabilitation centres in the Western Cape, attending to a diverse variety of animals accepting both terrestrial and marine species, and specializing in small-predator rehabilitation

Through visitors to our centre, learning about the indigenous cats of South Africa and conservation issues facing our wildlife, this is our rehab hospital today