Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre

Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre at Plettenberg Bay offers a truly unique Wildcat Experience. Guests are taken on a guided tour to meet captive-bred furry felines, living in a semi-natural environment. So close, you can hear them purr…

During the one hour guided tours you are guaranteed to see the charismatic Cheetah, ZweLakhe the Leopard and enjoy a cat and mouse game with South Africa’s seldom seen Lesser indigenous cats, such as the African Wild Cat, Servals, Caracal. Experience the inquisitiveness of the busy Meerkats, watch the Blue Cranes dance and take pleasure in getting to know the mischievous Marabou Storks.

For the more adventurous we offer a walk with the Tenikwa Cheetahs. Take an exhilarating stroll through Tsitsikamma Indigenous Forest and Cape Floral Fynbos as you join the Tenikwa Cheetahs on their daily walk. A unique and personal experience with these amazing animals, the Cheetah Walk will stay with you for life.

At Tenikwa, our animals speak for those who have no say. Learn about their struggle for survival in the wild during our guided tours. Your support funds our Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release Program (NPO 9300 29955). Give us an hour of your time and we will change your life.

Tenikwa's rehabilitation program grew from humble beginnings in 2002 when the owners started rehabilitating injured birds in a wooden shed behind their house. The rehabilitation work that is conducted at Tenikwa is primarily funded out of gate-takings to the Awareness Centre where Tenikwa offers various programs to the public to see non –releasable indigenous Wild cats of Southern Africa and other wildlife often caught up in the human-wildlife conflict.

Through tourism and guests visiting Tenikwa, the Rehabilitation Centre has evolved to its present state with a specialized wildlife clinic and surgery as well as several specialised enclosures and treatment rooms. Today, Tenikwa Rehabilitation Centre is one of the largest Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres in the Western Cape, and one of the few in the world that admits both marine and terrestrial species.

The wildlife hospital admits approximately 250 – 300 creatures per year. These animals arrive at Tenikwa through the nature authorities governing the area, the general public and the community at large. No wild animal is turned away and no money is ever asked of the public to support the costs of treatement. All cases are overseen by a specialised wildlife veterinarian and the passionate staff at Tenikwa are trained to work with these sometimes dangerous wild animals affording them the maximum chance of full recovery and return to the wild.

After the initial stabilization and hospital admittance, the rehabilitation plan for each animal is finalised utilizing Tenkwa’s Release Protocols. Potential release sites are identified and agreed in conjunction with Nature Authorities taking into account where the animal was extracted, the circumstances which led to the event, the chance of survival post-release, and the impact of the release at the potential site.

Tenikwa Rehabilitation Centre is a Section 21 PBO Organisation. The animals under rehabilitation are not exhibited to the public.