Volunteering at Cheetah Farm

The Start

The pick up from the airport went smoothly, as did the drive to the host family, which in my case consisted of a host father who lived alone in a small house 2 km from the cheetah project on the Cheetah Farm. There I had a small room with two single beds and two closets with another volunteer. The house was very clean and tidy and Ian, the host father, was extremely accommodating and eager to make our stay as good as possible.

The project

On the cheetah farm, the entire work is very structured and is largely done by volunteers, both local and international helpers. The working hours are different, but at the end of a week there is always a work schedule for the next, so that you can plan the days off accordingly to see a little more of South Africa.

Day at work

In addition to the cheetahs, the Anatolian Shepard Dogs, Bat Eared Foxes, Jackals, Servals and Caracals also live in the Cheetah Outreach. All the animals need to be fed in the morning and in the afternoon and, if necessary, entertained, be it by taking a walk with the dogs or a toy with the other animals.

Support from experienced volunteers

When working with the animals, you are always accompanied by an experienced volunteer who has usually been helping on the farm for years. Except for working with the dogs, you are never entirely on your own. The work with the cheetahs varies depending on the length of the stay in the outreach, the longer you are there, the more you can learn and gradually take on it yourself.

Take on more responsibility yourself

If you feel safe enough in working with the animals, you can then be “signed off” for certain activities, which means you take a kind of small test, after which you can take over the activities sometimes without further direct supervision (You are never alone in a cheetah cage).

Further tasks

Accompanying and guiding tourists through the facility is part of the work in the first few weeks. The tourists receive guided tours and the safety briefing from the volunteers, which must be done before each walk into a cheetah cage. Here you come into contact with a wide variety of people from all over the world.

Safari & wine tasting

Apart from the orientation days, during which you get to see a lot in Cape Town and learn something about the culture and lifestyle of the South Africans, you can explore the area by bus or rental car on your days off. For example, I was at the Cape of Good Hope, for a wine tasting and on a 2-day safari outside of Cape Town. The Rainbow team in South Africa (Jemaine, Verena and Lisa) on site were of great help and even gave some tours of this kind for us. So traveling is not neglected in addition to work.

My recommendation

The work in the cheetah animal project in South Africa was really great and it was an incentive to visit this great city again. In my opinion, if you want to go to the Cheetah project, you should stay at least 2 months so that you can really come into closer contact with the animals and learn everything about them.

Cheetah Animal Project South Africa Experience report by Kerstin N.