Cango Chronicles

There is a shift in the air this year. You will feel it as you move beneath the tree canopies, where 40 years of conservation have led to this moment. You will hear it first. The sound of excited children moving ahead. Searching. Running. Engaging with nature as it was always meant to be. On 4 and 5 April, we will host our third annual Easter Egg Hunt. This is not only...

At Cango Wildlife, a children’s party becomes a full day of movement, discovery, and connection. Not a room. Not a routine. A space where energy runs free and curiosity leads the way. From the moment the group arrives, the experience opens up. A guided tour brings the wild closer. Wildlife Guardians share stories, small details, moments that shift how children see the animals around them. It sets the tone. This is not...

Some people never ask to be seen. They show up. They do the work. They hold things together, quietly and consistently. Aunty Jackie is one of those people. At our facility, every animal eats because of her. Every portion is measured. Every diet is prepared with care. It is precise work. Demanding work. Work that leaves no room for error. And for years, she has carried it with pride, discipline, and a...

Some careers are chosen. Others take shape slowly, over time. For Jenna, the path into wildlife care did not begin with a single decision. It began in childhood, outdoors, in gardens, on camping trips, and in small, consistent moments that built a lasting connection to nature. Growing up between Johannesburg and the UK, her early years were shaped by movement and change, but one thing remained constant, a deep curiosity about the...

On a warm morning on 11 March 2026, a group of Cango Wildlife Volunteers set out with a shared purpose. To give back to the local community and spend time with animals who need it most. Their destination was Oudtshoorn Diereherberg, a privately run dog shelter that has become a place of hope for many abandoned and rescued dogs.

A Fossil Excursion on our Private Reserve I owe my fascination with dinosaurs to the 1993 science fiction adventure film, Jurassic Park, like many children of the 90’s. Ever since the silver screen palaeontologist, Dr Alan Grant, swept away loose soil with a paintbrush in the opening scene of the film, revealing something extraordinary hiding in plain sight, I have wanted to hunt for dinosaurs. So, when the invitation came to join...

Cango Wildlife recently had the privilege of hosting a deeply insightful and inspiring staff training session led by Dave Morgan, a respected figure in global wildlife conservation and a representative of Wild Welfare. This special presentation formed part of our ongoing commitment to professional development and ensuring the highest standards of animal care. Dave’s visit was not only professionally enriching but also personally meaningful, given his long-standing relationship with Cango Wildlife and...

Some journeys start with a placement. This one became a calling. In 2025, AJ du Plessis arrived at Cango Wildlife as part of a pilot programme with NGI, an early step toward what would become Cango Academy. At the time, the idea was simple. Bring education into a working conservation space and see what grows. AJ did more than participate. He stepped fully into it.

In early December, a male bat weighing just 1 gram arrived at Cango Wildlife after being attacked by a cat and brought in by a concerned member of the public. At that weight, he fit easily into the palm of a hand. Fragile. Silent. Fighting for survival long before he reached our care. Whenever wildlife has contact with a cat, immediate veterinary care is essential. Cat saliva carries bacteria that can be...

On the first of February, Monique and Rouan Engelbrecht chose to celebrate one of life’s most meaningful milestones in a way that reflected their values. They hosted a conservation conscious gender reveal at Cango Wildlife.