Lion & Cheetah Sanctuary is a home for animals and a place for people to understand them better. In the Cullinan bushveld near Pretoria, the sanctuary combines guided visits with accommodation, volunteering and the practical work of caring for animals that need a long-term home.
Some of the animals in our care cannot be returned to the wild. Giving them a place to live, and helping visitors see them as individuals, sits at the heart of the sanctuary’s story.
Behind a visit are people who know the routines, notice changes and do the work again the next morning. Shandor Larenty and the team bring animal care, guiding and hospitality together so guests can experience the sanctuary with more understanding.
The memorable moments matter. So do the quieter tasks that make them possible.
A sanctuary visit is a starting point for questions about care, behaviour and the place of wildlife in our lives. Explore how visiting works, read about the work behind the scenes and learn where education and wider conservation conversations connect.
A guided drive introduces the animals and their setting. Staying overnight reveals another part of the place: the evening light, a fire after dinner and, from some units, the sound of lions and hyenas nearby.
The sanctuary is close to Dinokeng, in the wider Cullinan area of Gauteng. Choose a day visit from Pretoria or Johannesburg, or allow more time with a chalet or tented stay. The Spa and smaller functions add other reasons to spend time here.
A species name tells only part of the story. A lion, a cheetah or a smaller animal has its own needs, responses and history. Our guides help visitors look beyond a familiar label and ask better questions.
Long-term sanctuary care and conservation in the wild are connected subjects with different responsibilities. We want our stories to explain those differences clearly, rather than assume that one visit can tell the whole story.
There is more than one way to be involved. Visit, spend a night here, enquire about volunteering or talk to us about practical support. Each begins with an interest in the animals and the people caring for them.
