Verified Company
I had a rather unique experience at San Wild in March this year. It was unusually quiet in terms of volunteers! The staff and rangers were wonderful and I got to see first hand and experience the day to day reality of running a wildlife sanctuary. The ups and downs and definitely not a “sanitized” version. I was grateful to be treated as s member of the team. Fixing fences, rhino proofing the rhino holding enclosure. Moving the lions. Grooming zylar and taking her hunting, almost being chased by Moloto! Seeing the water buffalo and the giraffes. Feeding the animals. Clearing their enclosures. The team were amazing and I was humbled to play a very small part. Wonderful experience, wonderful people, animals and country. Thank you.
I had absolutely the best time at SanWild and was so impressed with the passion and compassion I witnessed during my 2 week stay. It felt important to me to understand more about the bigger picture of conservation and these guys are totally on it. Yes, you do get to be with and see some incredible animals in a beautiful setting, but I was equally happy to spend time with the people who care for them and who share their knowledge so willingly. Incredible place, brilliant experience, highly recommended.
I spent 2 wonderful weeks at SanWild in 2024. I loved my time there..the sanctuary is run on highly ethical lines..everyone involved in the sanctuary is absolutely passionate about animal welfare. This was a bucket list experience for me...I'd never ever done anything like this before and am in my mid 60s. I heartily recommend this very special place.😍
Ein Ort, der die Seele berührt: Sanwild ist mehr als nur ein Wildschutzgebiet
Unsere Reise nach Südafrika hatte viele Höhepunkte, doch nichts hat uns so tief bewegt und nachhaltig beeindruckt wie unser Besuch bei Sanwild. Dies ist kein gewöhnlicher Ort, keine touristische Attraktion – es ist ein Zufluchtsort, ein Versprechen und ein schlagendes Herz im Kampf für die afrikanische Tierwelt. Von der ersten Minute an spürt man die unglaubliche Hingabe, die in jedem Winkel dieses Heiligtums steckt, und diese Leidenschaft hat einen Namen: Didi Schoeman.
Schon bei der Ankunft wird klar: Hier stehen die Tiere an erster Stelle. Didi, die treibende Kraft und Seele von Sanwild, hat eine Atmosphäre geschaffen, die auf authentischem Respekt vor der Natur basiert. Die Tiere, die hier leben, sind keine Ausstellungsobjekte; es sind gerettete Seelen. Viele von ihnen haben traumatische Vergangenheiten hinter sich – sie wurden vor Wilderern gerettet, aus Fallen befreit oder als Waisen aufgefunden. Bei Sanwild bekommen sie nicht nur eine zweite Chance, sondern ein Zuhause, in dem sie in riesigen, natürlichen Gehegen so artgerecht wie nur möglich leben können.
Das Highlight unseres Besuchs war zweifellos die Begegnung mit den Tieren, für die Didi und sein Team unermüdlich kämpfen. Den majestätischen Giraffen dabei zuzusehen, wie sie elegant durch die weiten Flächen schreiten, oder die unfassbare Kraft eines Nashorns aus sicherer Nähe zu spüren, ist ein unbeschreiblich demütigendes Erlebnis. Besonders bewegend war es, die geretteten Löwen zu sehen – nicht als Könige im Jagdfieber, sondern als Überlebende, die hier endlich in der Sonne dösen und Frieden finden können. Man erfährt ihre individuellen, oft herzzerreißenden Geschichten und versteht, dass jeder von ihnen eine Persönlichkeit ist.
Die wahre Inspiration hinter allem ist jedoch Didi selbst. Seine absolut hingebungsvolle Art, seine unerschütterliche Entschlossenheit und die Liebe, die er für jedes einzelne Tier ausstrahlt, sind einfach ansteckend. Er ist das Herz von Sanwild und verkörpert den Geist dieses Ortes. Ihm zuzuhören, wie er von den Herausforderungen und Erfolgen erzählt, verändert die eigene Perspektive auf die Welt für immer.
Fazit:
Wer eine sterile, durchorganisierte Touristen-Erfahrung sucht, ist hier vielleicht falsch. Wer aber mit dem Herzen reist und durch eine inspirierende Persönlichkeit wie Didi die wahre, ungeschminkte Schönheit des afrikanischen Tierschutzes erleben möchte, für den ist Sanwild ein absolutes Muss. Es ist ein Ort, der inspiriert, bildet und tief berührt. Wir verlassen diesen Ort nicht nur mit unvergesslichen Erinnerungen an Giraffen, Nashörner und Löwen, sondern auch mit dem brennenden Wunsch, diese lebenswichtige Arbeit zu unterstützen. Fünf Sterne sind bei weitem nicht genug, um die Bedeutung dieses Projekts zu beschreiben. Ein wahrhaft magischer Ort!
Verified
There are so many reasons to love SanWild
SanWild scores an A+ for their care and concern for wildlife; their future plans are even more exciting. But SanWild isn’t for everyone. Things can go wrong, schedules change, and it isn’t a 5-star safari lodge. You need to be flexible, enjoy being surprised, and know your volunteer relationships will play a significant part in your enjoyment. In addition, recognize that SanWild is much more than just viewing animals. We stayed for three weeks. Sometimes, we were the only volunteers, and other times, there were ten of us. We appreciated everyone. Their various personalities, skills, and interests added immensely to our stay. At SanWild, you are more than a hotel guest. You get to know everyone and build relationships beyond a regular safari visit. The cooks, staff, coordinators, Rangers, and leaders are all wonderful. Other reviews mention the type of activities that may take place. We liked everything. All volunteers also took advantage of the additional weekend trips. They aren’t cheap, but they significantly expanded our experience. In case you wonder, your age doesn’t matter. We are older than most volunteers, but that didn’t matter in the least. The workload varies in subject and difficulty, and when your contribution is minimal, you laugh about it. For many, this is the experience of a lifetime. It was for us, mainly because it’s dissimilar to anything else. When you leave, you immediately miss the people and each animal. It sounds cliché, but the animals and people become family. We feel like the most fortunate people alive to now be part of the SanWild community.
I can honestly say this has been the best holiday experience I have ever had. Lukas and his team of rangers, Junel, Gustav and Duane involved me in every activity including feeding the carnivores, moving animals from one enclosure to another, releasing zebras in to the wild and being present to watch the tracking collars being fitted to 2 rhino and a bull elephant. In addition to that I got to see all the other animals up close that were roaming the reserve during our daily rounds of the sanctuary. The rangers and staff were all very welcoming and provided a 5 star service yet keeping a very warm and homely feel to the lodge. I shall definitely be returning next year and more than likely annually.
A huge thank you to Didi for opening his gates to volunteers like me, it was truely magical.
Verified
Sanwild is simply phenomenal!
I recently travelled on my own to do two weeks volunteering on this beautiful sanctuary where you can get up close and personal with the rescued animals. The reserve is stunning with an abundance of African wildlife and the adventure just gets better with each day. There is some hard work to be done but it is rewarding, exciting and so enjoyable. It is run by a friendly, knowledgeable and inclusive team who are keen to get you involved in everything - from feeding the animals, clearing enclosures, collaring large game (including rhinos & elephants) and generally getting under the skin on how a wildlife sanctuary works. Unlike other volunteer projects, it is smaller and more personal, with a relatively laid-back approach and no set programme. The tents are all comfortable with lots of hot water, food is simple but delicious and the pay-for bar is fully stocked. I travelled as a solo and was lucky enough to meet and laugh endlessly with 2 other lovely volunteers of my own age (50's). So if you're looking for a down-to-earth, friendly, inclusive and adrenaline-fuelled experience, Sanwild is the place for you. I can't wait to go back!
Verified
Wonderful experience.
Great location in the lush bushveld, the rooms are clean and comfortable with a luxurious feel. The staff are really friendly and always willing to assist. One can enjoy a drink on the tranquil deck next to the blue swimming pool, while watching the elephants and other animals down at the waterhole. Lovely experience, I would highly recommend the lodge to anyone.
Verified
Something everyone should experience at least once or 100 times in their life!
The duvet cover is the most comfortable one ever!! The tents are super cute and cozy. All their animals are beautiful and well taken care of. The staff were all so friendly it’s made us feel welcome. It was definitely an experience I would never forget. I loved it so much!!! I
