African Dawn Wildlife Sanctuary — Attraction in Kouga Local Municipality

Saying "Hello" to strangers is easy, but saying "Goodbye" to friends is one of the hardest things.

I want to say thank you for the possibility to work with animals, travel alone and also to be safe as a woman in South Africa. However there were moments when unfortunately it wasn't that what I would liked or what was promised. There is a lack of gratitude, warmth and joy on the part of the owners to us, the volunteers for financing this project/the Sanctuary in our free time, our vacations. Sometimes we are/were just seen as workers and not as volunteers. I am also sad that there were at my time just a few volunteers. Would be nice to know this before arriving.

Instead of spending the free time together we had off days alone. It was a way to accept doing things alone in south Africa - not always that safe - how it was promised to choose the off days and having them together with other volunteers.

Though I don't want to let the negative things take over. I learned a lot about animals. How to handle different kind of animals like birds. I felt in love with colorful birds, duikers and spent a lot of time by playing with dogs, Robin and Clyde.

I want to say thank you to the people who where there for me, went through the same thing as me.

Thanks to Merril and Kaya for holding this project together. Unfortunately and cause of that they had not really the time to spend with volunteers.

Thanks to the volunteers Sandra, Lisa and Malo for making feeling like a family during the time.

All the biggest thanks to my non-stop-working-girl Erin, my wife and soulmate. You making a great job girl, I hope they tell you one time!

However how good and bad the time was. At the end I loved it and made friends by heart in another country far away from home.

Thanks also to all the friendly workers, important to my best cooking girl and mum from another world - Liezel. All of you making a great job, I hope your work will be appreciated once more. Also payed more.

I will miss the place and all the people who making this colorful Sanctuary alive.

In love Iris from Austria.

Note to future volunteers: find out how many other volunteers are there at your time. Otherwise it won't be such a great time that you can also use as a vacation. After all, we count enormous amounts of money (I accepted it, but it's far too expensive for the little...

Despite African Dawn being an incredible experience, there were a few areas for improvement.

The road leading to the reception is gorgeous. You start getting that adrenaline and appreciating nature. The diversity of wildlife was awe-inspiring, with a wide range of animals easily spotted throughout the reserve. The birdlife was equally stunning, with numerous species on display.

However, I was slightly disappointed with the staff, who didn't quite live up to the warm and welcoming African hospitality I've experienced elsewhere.

The road through the reserve was an adventure in itself! While navigating was great fun, I would caution visitors to ensure their vehicle has sufficient clearance and that their driver is comfortable managing clutch balance on rough terrain. The road markings were clear, but I wished for a map to help navigate the reserve.

Additionally, it would be wonderful if African Dawn could provide a guidebook or checklist for the various bird species found on the reserve.

Despite these minor quibbles, I highly recommend African Dawn to anyone seeking an unforgettable wildlife experience. With its incredible diversity of animals and birds, it's a true gem waiting to be discovered.

Tips for Visitors:

Ensure your vehicle has sufficient clearance for the rough roads. Bring a driver who's comfortable with managing clutch balance. Have enough battery power for pictures. Great site for picnic...

Overall, it was a nice place to visit. All the animals here are rescues that wouldn’t survive in the wild, which adds a meaningful aspect to the experience. One of the highlights is a springbok with only three legs, a testament to the care and compassion shown at the facility.

There’s a good variety of animals, including birds, springboks, ostriches, a hedgehog, snakes, a crocodile, and more.

A small on-site restaurant is available, although the selection is quite limited. There is ice cream, chips, cooldrinks, and a few trinkets for sale.

Cups of mieliepitte (corn kernels) are available for purchase, allowing visitors to feed some of the animals—an activity the kids especially enjoy.

The paths between the animal enclosures can be quite bumpy, with several holes, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

Despite that, the animals are clearly well cared for, the facility is clean, and the staff are friendly...