Are you scared of big cats? Well, you should be. These ferocious carnivores have earned their title as ‘kings of the jungle’ for good reason. Though they will grow up to be prowling hunters of the night, they don’t start out that way. Actually, at two months old, they are simply adorable creatures who are always in search of care and attention. This is where you come in. At the big cat breeding center, you will help care for the cubs by getting involved in a host of activities including feeding and playing with the cubs and their older brothers and sisters!

Raising Lions & Tigers At A Glance

* For durations longer than 2 weeks please call our office at 416.461.0231

This project is a breeding park for lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards and other carnivores. The owner started the breeding program from her love of ‘big cats’ and her desire to give people the opportunity to come face to face with these amazing creatures. Many of the species of cat at the project are close to extinction so breeding centers are key to their survival. All the cats need attention but the cubs especially need more than the limited staff can provide. You are needed to help raise the cubs to ensure they grow up happy and healthy.

The project is run by a small number of permanent staff but volunteers are really needed to help give extra attention to all the cats. At such a crucial stage of their development, the staff need all the help they can get to ensure the cubs wellbeing. You’ll also be lending a hand with maintenance and repairs, feeding cleaning, enclosure inspections, even tour guiding! Someone has to get involved in the rough, tumble and scratching, it might as well be you.
Activities and schedule

Your working hours on this project will be flexible and according to the requirements of the project.

Lion cub

You’ll be working very closely with these majestic animals on a daily basis by feeding and caring for them, raising the cubs and being involved in all the day to day activities of the lion center. You will be working alongside lion experts who have years of experience in the field. You can also help give tours to visitors to the project. This isn’t where it stops though!
There are a variety of tasks to get involved in, including:
* Inspecting the lions, tigers and jaguar enclosures, making sure that there is no damage to the fencing
* Feeding the lions – this will involve fetching animal carcasses from nearby farms and helping to prepare the meat for the cats

(don’t worry – this activity is optional!)
* Cleaning the lion, tiger and jaguar enclosures, removing old bones, giving the cats fresh water and maintaining the lion enclosures

* Cub duty – hand feeding twice a day, playing and giving attention, there will also be some night shifts on a rotational basis as these little cuties still get hungry through the night!
* Guided tours, take visitors on guided tours
* General farm maintenance and improvements, repairing and improving the enclosures

* Learning about the breeding of lions, jaguars and tigers, being a tour guide, and any other topics that you are keen to know more about

Trip Highlights:

- Helping to look after lion, tiger and other ‘big cat’ cubs
- Tumbling around with the lion cubs
- Learning about all the different big cats
- Being surrounded by the beautiful wilderness of South Africa

Your first week

Day 1 (Monday) – Arrive into Johannesburg Airport (airport code JNB) Today you will be met at the airport and taken to our backpacker’s hostel in Pretoria. You’ll need to arrive in before 4pm so that you’re all ready for the orientation which kicks off at 5pm. The journey from the airport to Pretoria should take around 45 minutes. The orientation is a crucial part of settling in to life in South Africa and will take you through what it’s going to be like at your project, do’s and don’ts, how to stay safe and it’s your prime opportunity to ask any

burning questions that you haven’t yet had answered. After the orientation you’ll have some time to relax and prepare before your first day at the project tomorrow.

If you aren’t able to arrange a flight to get you into Johannesburg before 4pm then we’d recommend you fly in a day early. We can arrange an early airport pick-up for you including one night’s accommodation. Please give us a call for more information.

Day 2 (Tuesday) – Introductions at your project. You’ll be up early

this morning to take the bus, which takes around three hours, from Pretoria to Kroonstad. Here you’ll be met by the lion center team who’ll take you the short trip to your new home! The project and accommodation are on the same site so you’ll never be late for work! Take time to settle in, because this is home for you for the next few weeks.

Your first day will be all about settling in, getting to know the staff and how things work. The team at the project will be on hand for you to ask any questions so ask away!

Lions in Africa

Days 3 to 5 (Wednesday to Friday) – Keep up the good work. Once you’ve had a day to learn the ropes you will act as an extra pair of hands at the project assisting in whatever is needed. There’ll always be someone there to help you but the more pro-active you are the more you’ll get out of the experience. If you think something needs doing, get in there and do it! From cleaning cages to feeding meat to the lions, it’s all done with the lion’s welfare in mind. Surely the toughest job of all is Cub Duty; hand feeding the lion and tiger cubs twice a day, playing with them and giving them that all important one on one attention. You will also need to be prepared to work some night shifts too to feed these little cuties through the night! This will be on a rotational basis.

Working hours are flexible and night shifts will be included on a rotational basis.
Days 6 and 7 (all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon) – Free time. The weekends are your valuable free time to rest and explore. You probably won’t want to move away from the swimming pool at your accommodation, however, if you can drag yourself away, there are plenty of places of interest worth visiting in the nearby area. The team on site can help you with ideas and logistics. You will be able to arrange trips over the weekend into the nearest town (about 20 minutes drive) to catch up on e-mails and so on.

There are also fantastic views from the verandah of the animal enclosures, so relax and soak up the sights and sounds of rural South Africa.  From time to time you will also be able to go to local bars and restaurants or have a traditional South African braai (BBQ). The team has close links with reputable tour companies so there will always be something going on!

Following weeks

Mondays to Fridays you will be working hard  with the lions and tigers at the project, with your weekends free to fill with whatever you fancy! The more you put in, the more you get out of this project so get stuck in!

Your Last Day (Monday)

The time to leave has come around already and you can expect to leave Kroonstad on the bus at around 9.30am and arrive back in Pretoria at around 1pm. The team will take you to the bus stop and your return bus ticket to Pretoria is included in the project fee.  Your return transfer from Pretoria to the airport is not included, but our team will be able to advise you of the best route depending on your onward travel after the project.

For more information about this tour or to contact an agent to confirm this vacation please call 1.888.461.0231 or fill out the form below.