The Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary — Attraction in Mabe

A little piece of heaven, for donkeys and the humans who visit! The donkeys are clearly well loved and greatly cared for by a team of dedicated and caring staff who work tirelessly for all the animals in their care.

Visiting Flicka has done wonders for my mental health! The atmosphere is so calming and the donkeys give off an air of tranquility. Despite their traumatic pasts so many of them are trusting enough to let you show them love and will lap up all the attention and scratches you can give, all you need to show is patience and kindness and you will be rewarded!

The site is well maintained and very clean. The staff are welcoming and friendly. Even dogs are allowed to visit. There is a vegan tearoom for those who want refreshments and a little sit down.

It is a working sanctuary so don’t be too disappointed if a specific donkey you want to see isn’t easily accessible as they are free to go out and enjoy the paddocks so might not always be close by, but there will always be someone ready to be loved by you nonetheless, and wherever possible staff are happy to help you find the donkey you’re looking for. Car parking can be limited during peak seasons but again, it’s not a visitor’s attraction it’s a working sanctuary and as much space as possible is needed and used by the donkeys - the stars of the show!

The sanctuary doesn’t charge for entrance but gratefully accepts donations which help with their huge running costs, vet, farrier, dentist bills, enormous feed expenses, etc. You can even virtually adopt a donkey where you receive a little adoption pack, which also helps support the donkeys care. There are donations boxes as well as card payment machines discreetly placed if you wish to make a donation but it’s certainly not forced on you. From what I’ve seen on my visits, the money is very well spent on making sure the donkeys’ needs are perfectly met and they are certainly all thriving at Flicka.

There is a gift shop with a variety of donkey themed goodies so you can continue to enjoy donkeys from the comfort of your home!

This sanctuary is small but mighty in all it accomplishes in caring for the rescued donkeys and ponies. Thank you Flicka for all you do! You can’t keep me away now I’ve found you! (Maybe I should write a bad review instead so everyone stays away and I can get all the donkey cuddles for...

Truly spectacular place and I highly recommend for a day out for anyone local or visiting.

I couldn't begin to share just how great of a day we had here. We were welcomed warmly by the fantastic staff who were not only kind and helpful, but so knowledgeable and happy to answer questions and share their love of their animals.

The centre is free to enter, with donations accepted, however I did appreciate that there were multiple donation sites around the centre so at no point did I feel pressured to donate unless I wished.

Firstly, wow!!! I never expected the setting and scenery to be quite so spectacular. Incredibly beautiful. Plus highly accessible to all with no steps anywhere, and wide open pathways suitable for wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs, and buggies.

Secondly, and most importantly, the animals were just the highlight of the visit. I didn't expect the quality or the quantity to be so high, but I shouldn't have been so surprised as it is clear that all the animals here are abundantly loved and cared for at the highest possible standard. Every animal had access to multiple areas both indoor and outdoors, with plentiful food and water at all times. They were all clearly groomed and cared for on a one on one basis regularly, which at over 100 donkeys is a giant feat!

I loved that each animal had a plaque with their story, I even took pictures to read later as I couldn't take it all in. Each and every animal here truly felt equally valued which is special.

We were also very glad we skipped the pack lunch that day (although there were picnic benches for those that had) as the food and drinks available were delicious. I was delighted to find a wholly vegan cafe and even more pleased by the food offered. The food was fairly simple but delicious and with a wide arrange of offerings from pasties, salads and toasties, to soup, cream teas, and crumpets. Plus all at a reasonable price. The cakes were also a delicious bonus I'd recommend.

Overall I couldn't say enough good things about flicka. I wish I had found it before my grandad passed as he would have adored this sanctuary, although I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a donation...

Myself and a friend visited the sanctuary today and we couldn't have had a better experience. All of the staff and volunteers were amazing with a special shout-out going to volunteer Bob who was greeting everybody on the gate with a massive smile and great chat. Entry to the site is free, but donations are appreciated - even if it comes through buying something at the gift shop. Another shout-out to one of the other members of staff, Rachel, who we found frequently gently encouraging the donkeys to get closer to the public for cuddles and love. She was also taking people's phones to go get close-up photos for them. The ladies in the gift shop were super friendly, and the café staff were excellent when dealing with an allergy in our party. All of the animals were obviously very well cared for. As people who grew up with horses and donkeys, we could tell they all get the best love, and staff are obviously dedicated to their wellbeing. The sanctuary has lots of parking including accessible spaces and drop off zones. Everyone was happy to be there, including the many families with young children. We didn't come with a dog, but saw many wandering around, greeting the donkeys themselves. We will almost certainly be back (probably in a few days!). Thank you to everyone who volunteers and...