Living with Big Cats: Caring for Injured/Ill Wildlife

Abigail Hnedak Start Date: Jan 7, 2020 - End Date: May 6, 2020
  • Hartbeespoort, South Africa

My Travel Story

by: Abigail Hnedak Start Date: Jan 7, 2020 - End Date: May 6, 2020
"Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved." -Jane Goodall


Hi everyone! I have recently been accepted into a volunteer program in South Africa for two weeks. Volunteering with this organization, Volunteer Southern Africa, and in this particular program, Living with Big Cats, has been a dream of mine since I was 15. I decided 2020 is the year to turn this dream into a reality and commit to service work, but I can't do it without your help! 

During my stay in Hartbeespoort on a private sanctuary, I will be providing care and lots of maintenance work for a variety wildlife including lions, tigers, hyena, elephants, and much more. These animals cannot be rehabilitated back into the wild for various reasons, so it is up to volunteers to take care of them and the reserve they live on. This is in no way like a zoo because the animals have very large natural enclosures that give them a chance to live as if they were in the wild. Some of the volunteer tasks are cleaning out the enclosures, walking the elephants, building shade areas, preparing meals and feeding the animals, assissting with enrichment activites for animals, weeding out toxic plants, and lion training camp. 

I'm sure many of you are questioning why a volunteer program would cost any money, but it all goes towards supporting the animals. The program fee is considered a donation to the facility so that they are able to maintain these animals with the best enclosures and vet care possible. This fee also includes 3 meals a day, 2 airport transfers, a room, laundry, and a tshirt for volunteers. The only other cost is the airfare.

WIth being a single mom and only able to work part-time, I would never be able to do this without support from people like you. Anything helps! If all you can do is share my fundraising page on social media, it would be greatly appreciated!

Dankie (Afrikaans for thank you)
  • Hartbeespoort, South Africa

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