In January, I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks volunteering in South Africa at the Wild Cat Sanctuary project. Being both my first trip to Africa and my first volunteer experience abroad, I was slightly apprehensive about what to expect.
The minute I stepped off the bus and was greeted by the staff, my worries disappeared and I knew I was going to have the experience of a lifetime. From the very beginning we were made to feel at home and like part of the sanctuary family. Chriszanne and Nicol, who founded the center, were so passionate about the work they do, and it was truly amazing to feel as though the work we did with them was contributing to the growth and success of their shelter. The tasks we did were always varied, keeping things new and interesting, and we had plenty of time on a daily basis to spend with the animals who were living at the shelter. Coupled with the fantastic time we spent on site, we were given several opportunities each week to go into the town or to see the local sites.
The owners really went above and beyond to ensure our experience was such a positive one, and shared so much of their knowledge, time and culture with us. I truly loved my time volunteering in South Africa at the Wild Cat Sanctuary project and look forward to returning in the future to see for myself the fantastic work they continue to do for their animals.
