Testimonials:

“One of the highlights of our Trip”

Great fun. We took our 9 month old daughter in a backpack on the one hour tour and she was fine – still able to take her into most of the wild cat enclosures but couldn’t take her into the cheetah enclosure ( understandably!) but I walked along the edge with her and still got great views. The guides were excellent. Very informative, educational and awe inspiring to be so close to the big cats. There are different packages available including sunset walks with the cheetahs which sounded amazing but over 16’s only! Highly recommend.

“Well worth a visit!”

We planned to visit Birds of Eden, but stopped by Tenikwa first to see if we could book the sunset walk – no space, so we stayed for a tour of the facility. Our guide was Mthobisi and he was very informative. Only the two of us on the tour, and our arrival mid-afternoon meant we were there for feeding time. Loved seeing all of the cats (the lion cubs are adorable!) but especially the leopard. We stood directly underneath him in the little wire tunnel – amazing! We also loved seeing the cheetahs even if we didn’t get to walk with them. Don’t miss the maribou storks and the meerkats!

Close Encounter”

Tenikwa Wildlife Reserve is a charming centre to experience African Big Cats. They also have a rehabilitation centre on site where they rehabilitate injured animals found in the Garden Route. The work the staff does is extraordinary as the amount of care given to these animals is phenominal. Our guide Peter was brilliant in that he was very knowledgeable about the animals and the conservation work going on at Tenikwa. I will definitely recommend this place as my experience getting up close to a cheetah was a once in a lifetime experience and something i will treasure for the rest of my life.

“Fantastic Wildcat experience”

We visited the Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre on recommendation from our friends. I don’t really like going to zoo’s or places where animals are kept cages, but this place is different. Here animals have large enclosures where they are able to roam about. All animals were born in captivity which makes it impossible to be released into the wild. This place takes great care of them and does an exceptional job educating people about wild cats (and a few other animals like penguins and birds). Our guide, Msizi was fantastic. He had great respect for the animals and always put them first (not allowing exploitation with photographs). He answered all our questions and took great care of us.
We will certainly recommend it.

“Cats up close”

We had had the pleasure of doing a few safaris before coming here, but the enclosures did not dampen the experience. The staff were proud as they should be of the education and assistance they’re providing to visitors and the animals. Other cats and wildlife we did not expect to see were also there for eg. African wild cats (which look like a domestic cat). Staff were very attentive to our group. When it started to rain within minutes we were provided with ponchos. Being able to photograph baby lions up close was a real treat also. This centre is very worth a visit.

“Amazing place! Definitely worth a visit”

On family holiday down the garden route our guide suggested we visit here to see the big cats up close and personal. It was a brilliant suggestion the staff that showed us round were very well informed and capable of answering any questions. they also clearly enjoyed there job and the work they do with the animal.
I thoroughly suggest you visit here you wont regret it!

“Great experience!!”

Great experience to visit this place, truly an awareness centre – not a zoo!
Animals are treated very well, some wounded animals have found a home here and are well taken care of. You can truly feel the respect the staff has for all the animals here!

“Incredible experience and best guides ever!!”

Went to the place this morning as it was on our way along the garden route. We are all from the UK and over to SA for a wedding/holiday.
The reserve is amazing. All the animals are treated to the highest standard and the staff do so much to rescue and care for felines aiming to put them back into the wild if and when appropriate. They are very well kept in very big areas and fed as much as they need. They are clearly comfortable with people which is astonishing to see.
Our guide was Senzo: an amazing gentleman who explained everything in plain English adapting his vast knowledge to the audience. He answered every single question with precision and professionalism. One can tell Senzo simply knows everything about his big cats, and not only that, he loves his job.
I definitely recommend this experience. The reserve is well signalled along the route and the shortest walk is only an hour.

“Fantastic Place for Animal Lovers”

This Wildlife Awareness Centre is absolutely Brilliant. We spent three quarters of a day there and that was not long enough. The whole set up is amazing. We did a Photographic Tour for two hours. Our ranger was excellent. His knowledge of the animals and their backgrounds was first class. His obvious love for the animals was inspiring. We had been promised great photographic opportunities and we were not disappointed. Their work with injured and orphaned animals and birds is heart lifting and some of the injuries to these poor animals brought tears to my eyes. I strongly urge every animal lover to visit this centre to appreciate exactly what they are trying to achieve. It manages to be fun and informative at the same time, not always easy to accomplish

“Trip Highlight!”

Having read about the Tenikwa Wildlife Centre in the Lonely Planet Guide to South Africa, we had to visit, and were not disappointed; this is a MUST DO attraction. We booked onto a 2-hour photographic tour, with friendly and knowledgable guide Msizi, and had plenty of opportunity, 1:1, to view the big, and not so big, cats up close and personal, and to get some memorable photos to remember the trip with. A really good facility doing valuable work with rescued wildlife.