Without a doubt, one of the main draws of visiting South Africa is the native wildlife.
Almost as soon as you picture visiting South Africa – or Africa as a whole – images of iconic animals spring to mind – lions, zebras, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and cheetahs to name just a few.
Of course, the best way to view the local wildlife is in the wild. There are countless safaris to choose from, allowing you to see these animals in their natural habitat, such as Sanbona which we visited near to Cape Town.
However safaris can be quite expensive, span for a few days and there is of course no guarantee of sightings. So, for a lot of people, whether you are on a budget, or limited time, the next best alternative to see native wildlife is by visiting a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa.
Choosing a South African Wildlife Sanctuary
When it comes to choosing among South Africa wildlife sanctuaries to visit, there are a few things to take into consideration.
- First, where is the sanctuary located – is it easily accessible to where you are based or staying?
- Secondly, what can you expect to see there? Does the sanctuary have permanent residents, or do the animals change?
- And for us, most importantly of all, is the sanctuary ethical – and how so?
As we were lucky enough to spend 3 months in South Africa during 2019, we managed to visit quite a few different sanctuaries.