Welcome to the Family – The Latest Arrivals at the Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa!

Welcome to the Family – The Latest Arrivals at the Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa!

Posted by Leanne Sturrock on 8th Jan 2020

Happy new year, and welcome to the first blog post of 2020! Who is looking forward to what the year has in store…? We certainly are! But as exciting as it is to think about the year ahead, today we will be reflecting on what the Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa got up to in the final quarter of 2019.

September

As you may already know, the Wildlife Orphanage team are keen to provide the local youth with access to education. Topics such as English, maths and biology round out the curriculum, while wildlife conservation remains an important element of the children’s studies. At the end of every week, an ‘awards ceremony’ is held in order to celebrate the achievements of each child, and it is during this ceremony that the children are able to deliver a brief presentation of what they’ve learnt to an audience of their peers. As well as being a rewarding end to the week, it’s also a fantastic opportunity for the children to vocalise their commitment to the environment.

Students at the Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa

As the children deliver their speeches, the whole group are reminded of the strong bonds that they have forged throughout the week. One student, Debra, expressed her gratitude while reading her letter aloud:

‘During my week at the Wildlife Orphanage, I have learnt that we have to protect our environment and our nature. I don’t know how I can thank you enough for what you have done for us. It was really an opportunity of a lifetime.’

The volunteers at the ceremony loved Debra’s letter and decided to nominate her for ‘Student of the Week’. Thanks to her dedication to learning and her passion for animals, Debra was sent on a special excursion alongside the previous weeks’ winners. They were all driven to a private game reserve in order to see wild animals in their natural habitats – a particularly special treat, as many of them may never have seen these animals before.

Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa Game Drive

Although not every child is lucky enough to head out on a game drive, the education they receive at the sanctuary is certainly valuable, as they are able to learn in a more intimate setting than what is typical in South Africa. Regular classes are often as large as 130 students or so, but just 8 children attend the classes at the orphanage each week, allowing them to learn so much even in a short space of time. At the end of the week, the children are invited to take photos with the volunteers before being transferred home with a head full of knowledge and a heart full of compassion!

October

The Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa plays a key role in rescuing and looking after orphaned animals, and as heavy rains arrive at the end of each year, the team tend to have their work cut out! The rains restore the bush to is summertime state, turning it a vibrant green with flourishing trees. Babies are also born at this time, and while there have been many happy families roaming around the farm, others are not so lucky.

Bonnie and Clyde at the Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa

Back in October, the project team stumbled upon two abandoned African wild cat kittens near the campsite. The decision to rescue and release the cats was taken, as the team determined that it wouldn’t be long until their instincts to hunt rodents, birds and even small antelope would take over. We’ll tell you more about the kittens’ progress at the end of this page, but for now, we’ll continue to focus on what else happened throughout October!

A few weeks after the kittens were found, two young squirrels fell off the roof of a chalet in camp. The stunned babies were immediately taken care of and with a lot of love and care, they were playing around and eating well in just a matter of days.

After a violent storm hit the region, a baby mongoose was found alone by some nearby locals. They called the wildlife orphanage in the hopes that the mongoose would be taken care of, and of course the project team were happy to oblige! The affectionately named Goose was soon found to be a very vocal, energetic mongoose indeed, and it didn’t take him long to start digging and climbing everywhere!

Wally at the Wildlife Orphanage in South Africa

Last but not least, October saw the arrival of a baby duiker. The animal had been found by a community who, thankfully, were already familiar with the Wildlife Orphanage, and they wasted no time in putting in a rescue call to the team. Wally (as the duiker has been named) adjusted well to his new environment, and time will tell when he is ready to be released back into the wild!

November

Earlier on in this post, we mentioned the arrival of two African wild cat kittens. When they were first spotted back in October, the project team were reluctant to interfere in the hopes that their mother would return to claim them, but as the night drew dark and cold the two kittens began shivering and crying out for food. It was decided that the kittens should be taken in by the project staff and, as you can see in the video below, they were not about to go hungry at the orphanage…!

Soon enough, the kittens were given names, so ‘meet’ Bonnie and Clyde! Throughout November the kittens continued to grow and gain their strength, and while there is no word yet on when they’re likely to be released, for now they are a much-loved part of the family at the Wildlife Orphanage. Whenever we hear more about this adorable duo, we’ll be sure to share an update with you all!


Share this Article...

Share this article with your friends and followers by using the social media buttons below.


Leave a Comment...

Wanting to add something to this story or just let us know your thoughts? Just leave your comments below. Please be aware that all comments will be moderated: abusive behaviour or self-promotion will not be allowed.

500 characters remaining

Has this blog inspired you to volunteer? If so, why not enquire today? Simply fill out an enquiry form, and allow a member of our travel team to assist with your query! Please note that blog comments are not monitored by the travel team, so any questions related to bookings may be missed.


us Sunnah Foundation commented 1 year ago
Brothers and sisters...
Let's help orphans and needy people in Indonesia with us
Please support us at ussunnah.org/orphans

500 characters remaining

Featured Videos


Experience The Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary

See what you could get up to as a volunteer at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary! This volunteer project offers you the chance to get up close and personal with some of the country's most iconic species.

Discover The Great White Shark Project

Come face to face with one of the world’s most misunderstood predators whilst aiding great white shark conservation. As a volunteer, not only will you get the incredible opportunity to dive with sharks, but you will also assist the team in raising awareness of the great white as you work alongside tourists and local school children to provide them with knowledge of the local environment and the importance of living in harmony with South Africa’s marine life.

Volunteers Review Their Experience at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary

Volunteers talk about their recent experience at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary in Borneo.

Latest Blog Arcticles


The Team Returns - James & Lauren's South Africa Experience

The Team Returns - James & Lauren's South Africa Experience

Lauren and James have returned and are ready to relay tales...

The Great Projects On Tour: Upcoming Staff Trips

The Great Projects On Tour: Upcoming Staff Trips

Team members Lauren and James, joined colleague Georgia to...

Lynne's Top Tips For Volunteering at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary

Lynne's Top Tips For Volunteering at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary

Volunteer Lynne Coe shares her valuable tips on what to...

10 More Orangutans Released Back Into The Wild From Nyaru Menteng!

10 More Orangutans Released Back Into The Wild From Nyaru Menteng!

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Borneo...

Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary May Update

Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary May Update

The Great Projects volunteer coordinators, Matt and Niamh,...

Latest At The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary

Latest At The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary

The Great Projects' volunteer coordinators Matt and Niamh...

Volunteer Update From Samboja In April 2023

Volunteer Update From Samboja In April 2023

As the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Project begins once again...

Inge’s Experience at the Harnas Wildlife Sanctuary

Inge’s Experience at the Harnas Wildlife Sanctuary

Inge volunteered at the Harnas Wildlife Sanctuary in...


Where you can go
Contact Info
UK Office
The Great Traveller Ltd,
3 Dairy Yard
Star Street
Ware, Hertfordshire
SG12 7DX
United Kingdom

Opening hours:
   Mon-Fri 8:30am–5:30pm
   Sat 10am-4pm

T: +44(0) 208 885 4987