Continuous learning and professional development play an important role in maintaining high standards of animal care and welfare. From 7 to 10 September 2026, I had the privilege of attending a four-day Animal Husbandry Workshop hosted at Lory Park Animal and Owl Sanctuary and presented by Wild Welfare UK. The workshop was an incredibly valuable experience, offering the opportunity to expand my knowledge, exchange ideas with fellow animal care professionals and gain...
Lilizela Azards - Cango Wildlife Ranch wins Provincial Award

October ‘16, 2016 – Cango Wildlife Ranch, Oudtshoorn has been named a provincial Visitor Experience: Wildlife Encounters Award winner in the Western Cape at the Lilizela Tourism Awards 2016, honouring best-in-industry Wildlife Encounters within the Western Cape
Launched in May 2013, the Lilizela Tourism Awards aim to recognise and reward the highest levels of excellence in tourism value chain. The name is derived from the Zulu word ‘’Lilizela’’ which means celebrating and praising by ululating when someone has done well. These awards are an initiative of the National Department of Tourism (NDT); spearheaded by South African Tourism and delivered by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. The Lilizela Tourism Awards are largely consumer based. 80% of the score that is given to the establishment is based on Consumer Reviews. These reviews are in the form of the votes from the Lilizela Tourism Awards website as well as the TripAdvisor score for that establishment. 20% of the score comes from the deliberations of the judges in that respective panel for the respective categories. In 2014, South African Tourism called out to the industry to join the Lilizela Tourism Awards Adjudication Panel.
In February 2017 Cango Wildlife Ranch will be celebrating 30 years in the industry and they are kicking off celebrations a little early with their first time win of the award! Oudtshoorn can proudly boast with winning 3 overall categories within the Western Cape, being best represented per capita in South Africa.
Cango Wildlife Ranch is now aiming at going from winning a provincial award to obtaining a national one. The national Lilizela Tourism Awards are held in Johannesburg during the month of October 2016.
Further Reading
The Cango Wildlife team traded their usual working environment for muddy trails and obstacles at the 2026 Dust 4 Glory Challenge. On 17 October 2026, Wilgewandel Holiday Farm in Oudtshoorn came alive with energy, determination and plenty of muddy smiles as participants gathered for the annual Klein Karoo Dust 4 Glory Obstacle Challenge.
As Cango Wildlife celebrates 40 years of conservation in 2026, we continue to introduce new ways for visitors, volunteers and interns to experience and connect with our facility. October marked two exciting milestones with the official launch of BOA Pods at Cango Wildlife and our new Circle Volunteer & Intern Community Hub.










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