Much like how all sea life eventually evolves into a crab, all land animals eventually evolve into cats. These are the three best locations in Cape Town to experience nature’s favourite mammal, writes Joshua Kearney.
A lion family in Chobe National Park, Botswana/Wikimedia Commons
1. Panthera Africa
6-year-old lion, Phinda Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal/Wikimedia Commons
4-month-old lion cub, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve/Wikimedia Commons
Up first is the non-profit company of Panthera Africa. Found not far from Gansbaai, between Stanford and Papiesvlei, Panthera is a sanctuary dedicated to housing captive-bred big cats.
The company was founded by Lizaene Cornwall and Cathrine Nyquist in 2014. Its name is inspired by the four panthera species: leo, pardus, onca, and tigris. As you might expect from this, it’s home to a mix of lions, leopards, and tigers. But it also supports caracals, servals, and – oddly – jackals.
Panthera Africa is devoted to its mission of protecting their big cats from exploitation. One of its main goals is to become the first “green” big cat sanctuary in South Africa, run entirely on solar power. They hope to showcase how a non-profit can become entirely self-sustaining and provide a blueprint to convert breeding facilities into ethical, environmentally friendly projects.
They offer various visits for small groups, families, and schools, as well as opportunities to volunteer and learn to care for animals. Booking prices, varying by option, range from R140 to R1100 per person.
2. Ashia Cheetah Conservation
A resting cheetah in Phinda Game Reserve/Wikimedia Commons
A big stretch for a big cat in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya/Wikimedia Commons
A cheetah cub, unknown location/Wikimedia Commons
Up next is Ashia Cheetah Conservation, another non-profit sanctuary. With its main Cheetah Center located in Paarl, its name means “hope and life”, an aspiration that they aim to live up to.
As an organisation, Ashia is dedicated to preventing further decline of cheetah populations in South Africa. Whether through reintegration, relocation, or reintroduction, the company is far more than just a protected place for raising big cats.
Founded in 2016, Ashia’s impact on our cheetah populations cannot be understated. Through research and conservation, a census of cheetahs in the wild, volunteering, and more, they have made great strides in protecting their chosen big cats.
Outside of day visits, they also offer the unique opportunity of working holidays. Balance volunteering with exploring the sanctuary.
3. Drakenstein Lion Park
A leopard stalking the Kruger/Wikimedia Commons
Close-up of a leopard in Bali Safari Park/Wikimedia Commons
Found along the road between Paarl and Klapmuts, the Drakenstein Lion Park is our third and final stop for big cats in Cape Town. As the longest-operating big cat sanctuary, it boasts 28 years of experience in providing these incredible animals with long, fulfilling lives.
Dedicated primarily to rescuing lions and other big cats from abusive circumstances, the sanctuary takes great pride in its commitment to no breeding, trading, or visitor-animal interactions under its banners.
As a highly acclaimed sanctuary, it has been looking after big cats for decades using practical, hard-earned experience. It carefully tailors its approach to each resident, treating them as sentient individuals worthy of respect rather than as unthinking products or investments.
Open on Monday to Sunday from 09:30 to 17:00 – including public holidays – visitors can experience the lion park for a small fee. South African citizens pay R100 per adult and R50 per child, while non-citizens pay R160 and R80 respectively.
Visitors can even watch live feedings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 16:00. They even offer an overnight stay within a safari tent surrounded by the enclosures for R2,980 per night for 2 adults (R990 for children up to 18 years old), including a dinner braai and tea or coffee and rusks in the morning.
If you’re just hoping to help out, you can “adopt” a lion or tiger for R1,000 annually, or R10,000 for their lifetime. Though expensive, this donation will directly contribute towards their care and each adoptive parent will be acknowledged on the lions information board at the park.
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