African Dawn Wildlife Sanctuary

Description

African Dawn Wildlife Sanctuary is a wonderful rehabilitation centre situated just 20 minutes from Jeffrey’s Bay and 30 minutes from Port Elizabeth. Nestled on a beautiful estate between rolling green hills, the sanctuary provides a fantastic outing and educational experience for all ages. Visitors can expect to see a variety of animals in natural enclosures, from cheetah and serval, to numerous bird species in the largest aviary in the Eastern Cape.

The sanctuary was established as a family interest; taking in orphaned and injured animals and birds. The sanctuary grew as more orphans were brought in. In 1997 they decided to open the doors to the public to support the cost of feeding and caring for the animals on a daily basis. The animals that reside in the park have either been found by members of the public, referred from local veterinarians and organisations, or are unwanted pets.

The sanctuary aims to rescue and treat all animals brought to the park, rehabilitate them, provide a safe environment for those unable to survive in the wild, and educate the public about the importance of conservation.

You can expect to see cheetah, serval, lynx, squirrels, marmosets, monkeys, duikers, meerkats, wallabies, a crocodile, and several buck species (common and blue duikers, grysbok, steenbok and bushbuck) in the park. Birding enthusiasts will be in their element with over 250 species of birds indigenous to South Africa and from overseas. Birdlife includes the Knysna loerie, the laughing dove, red bishop, African grey, flamingo, emu, lorikeet, crowned crane, hornbill, hawks, owls, and more.

The sanctuary also runs an endangered animal breeding programme. They are currently breeding cheetahs, blue duikers, blue crane, and serval cats. If you’re lucky, you may be able to spot several wildlife babies during your visit. The sanctuary offers volunteer programmes as well as animal adoptions.

Spend the day with your family and make use of the excellent facilities, such as scenic picnic spots and braai areas, as well as a bar and restaurant serving delicious home-cooked meals.