Welcome to Wildpark Africa
We aspire towards a more sustainable, charitable and holistic way of life.
Want to be part of something wild?
Wildpark Africa is a community-led wildlife sanctuary, born to protect and care for wildlife while also offering holistic retreats in our pristine mountain forest reserve.
Welcome to a New Era of Co-Habitation
Whether you’re an animal advocate, a champion of sustainable living or seeking a healing experience, Wildpark Africa welcomes you.
Join us in creating a sanctuary for wildlife and people led by a community of dedicated staff and volunteers inspired by connecting with mother earth.
Orphaned Wildlife
Contact us now to inform us of orphaned wildlife in your area. We are based in Waterval Onder, Mpumalanga but we can travel to rescue wildlife in your area.
Apply for Volunteering
Take part in caring for wildlife or helping with holistic retreats and share progress with our community on social media. Learn how to be self-sufficient and reap the endless rewards of protecting our precious natural habitat.
Donate
We rely on the generous spirit of people like you to establish long-term protection for the animals and people of our sanctuary. Donate today, and your contribution will help create a more sustainable circle of life in the South African hinterland.
Holistic Retreats
We are busy preparing our space to host retreats and welcome anyone interested in organising and hosting retreats at Wildpark. The chance to connect with plants and wild animals in this self-sustainable haven is a truly unique opportunity.
ABOUT OUR “COMMUNITY SANCTUARY” PROJECT
Our NPO provides a sanctuary for wildlife at the Rocky Drift Nature Reserve and the chance to retreat into the hidden mountain forests of Mpumalanga, South Africa
Here, between the commanding canyon walls and enchanting emerald forest, a sacred space exists allowing people and wildlife to connect. Our goal is to create a flourishing ecosystem of animal care and healthy lifestyle options where both animals and local people can thrive.
What to Expect at Wildpark Africa
Self-Sufficiency
Our reserve will operate entirely off-grid to ensure the hard work we do is not undone by our presence in the area. Living harmoniously alongside nature, we help locals do the same by providing platforms for them to sell handcrafted goods in the global marketplace.
Transparency
Whether our volunteers are caring for rescued wildlife, building eco-conscious cabins, outreaching to local communities or assisting with our holistic retreats we share everything with our online community. Sharing our story is our invitation to you to be part of our online community and witness how we grow.
Wellbeing
We care a lot about our wildlife and about the community who care for the wildlife. We know this relationship people share with animals and nature is incredibly powerful towards personal wellbeing and we want to share it with everyone. So those individuals seeking healing experiences within nature and wildlife now have the chance here at Wildpark Africa.
our vision
The goal is to create a self-sufficient community working towards integrating a wildlife sanctuary with holistic retreats. Caring for others and caring for ourselves is the sacred standard by which we live and work and it brings about a unique idea we call a “community sanctuary” where wildlife, people and plants are welcome.
To carry out this vision, the mission is to
Create a community of people who are willing to live and work within an off grid, self reliant lifestyle. The volunteer work is focused around the goals of:
- Self-sufficiency and sustainable living, close to nature
- Holistic retreats connecting people with wildlife and creating journeys of self discovery
- Wildlife care and ecological restoration programmes
- Modular, DIY construction for every structural requirement
- Community up-liftment through economic development in rural communities across Africa
The Beauty of Wildpark Africa
There is also a significant botanical interest in the area because of the natural enclosure of the canyon walls, the forest has been left undisturbed allowing for amazing diversity in flora and fauna. Nourished by a tributary of the Elands River, the ‘Joubert Spruit’ is a pure water supply fountain fed from the surrounding mountain tops and of the highest quality. At no point in living memory has the stream ever dried up.
Being surrounded by mountains, the Nature Reserve is ecologically contained and home to many species of fauna e.g. Bushbuck, Baboon, Klipspringer, Duiker, Steenbok, Vaal Reedbuck, Vervet Monkeys, Leopard, Genet, Rooikat, Rock Pythons and sometimes even a shy male Hippopotamus.
Bird life includes, Black Eagle, Fish Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Kites, Falcons and some very curious Lapwings (Knysna Lourie) to name a few.
During midsummer, butterflies can be seen in such immense volumes they appear as thick as water streaming from one tree to the next, as the wind gently pushes them along as far as the eye can see, a truly magical experience.
The Mystery of Wildpark Africa
Stone Circles
We are surrounded by these mysterious stone circles hinting at something truly astonishing about the history of humanity on earth. Scattered all the way to Mozambique and spread over many hundreds of kilometers, they are said to all converge in one main stone circle know as ‘Adams Calendar’ not far way at Kaapsehoop.
Right here on the property, an enormous complex of interconnecting circles spans from the river all the way to the top of the mountain. One of the biggest complexes unveiled to date, it remains completely hidden by the indigenous forest.
Spiraling circles combined with huge contoured terraces, the discovery resembles that of an ‘ancient village’ complex within an ‘stone temple’ multiplex, cascading across an entire mountainside.
Boer War
The valley is steeped in history from the time of the Boer war during the 1900’s. The valley once housed President Paul Kruger’s Commandos during the period of his escape to exile via Lourenco Marques (Maputo).
During his stay he had a massive amount of gold brought in (7 train carriages full) and buried it somewhere in the area. Known as the ‘Kruger Millions’ it has never been found and is another fascinating mystery in the area.
Volunteer Program Journey
Volunteers at play an important role in the functioning of Wildpark Africa. Applicants should have a genuine passion for native African fauna and be someone who understands that being a wildlife volunteer can sometimes be challenging and hard work, but can also be a lot of fun and extremely rewarding.
WILDLIFE RANGER
Journey: From baby to adult, from 2 to 15 breeding pairs, from 3 hectare to 257-hectare enclosure, from non-endangered to endangered wildlife, from conservancy to sanctuary.
CABIN BUILDER
Journey: From foundation to finished, public spaces to private cabin in the forest, team build to one man build, from novice to expert builder
OUTREACH ADVENTURER
Journey: From Rocky Drift to Lake Malawi, from 0 to 100 orders per month, from 3 to 20 mama suppliers
Are you Planning to Volunteer?
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
A place that heals!
“A place that heals all hurt…. try it !!! The project, the people, the land… engage it all…”
-Kirsti Hugo
Some of Our Conservation Targets
Orphaned Rhino Baby Care
To accommodate rhinos, particularly orphaned baby rhinos who require immediate and attentive care if their parents have been poached.
Reduction of Poachers
The target is an annual reduction of 30% of the total poachers active in the conservation area.
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