Tenikwa Awareness and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Len and Mandy Freeman have turned their passion into reality at a level of dedication which makes Tenikwa one of the absolute musts when you Cruise The Crags. It all started when, twenty years ago, Len Freeman finished the Otter Trail at Nature’s Valley and decided that this was where he wanted to live. But he and Mandy spent another fourteen years in KwaZulu-Natal, before they re-assessed their priorities and decided to relocate to the Western Cape.

Len came down first and spent fourteen months on an undeveloped 46ha plot, creating the infrastructure they needed at Tenikwa so that Mandy and their furry and feathered friends could join him. They quickly became known in the community for their animal skills and ability to heal injured wild birds, then, over time, people started bringing in all sorts of wild animals in distress. About three years ago, Len and Mandy realised that the volumes of animals they were receiving, indicated a great need in the area to have a fully fledged rehabilitation centre, and so they registered a rehabilitation centre with Cape Nature.

Tenikwa Rehabilitation Centre accepts any injured or abandoned wild creature, but they have also specialised to cater for predator and problem-animals. It was inevitable that Cape Nature should contact them when a very young and traumatised Caracal cub was found in Harkerville. The couple hand-reared little Ferrodo for six months and did the initial rehabilitation required to raise him to the point of return to the wild. In discussions with Cape Nature, a suitable release area was located. With the Riversdale Mayor and 50/50 filming the event, Ferrodo was set free. However, it was not to be. Everyone was shocked to hear that Ferrodo was shot a week later by a farmer.

Rehabilitation can save one or two individual animals

Both Len and Mandy mourn the ignorance which has made the Caracal “the most persecuted animal in the country”. “There are many alternatives to killing” Len points out. “Caracals, like many other so-called “problem animals” are territorial. When the dominant male is killed, another usually moves in, or the gap created allows a whole new species to overcome the territory. Sometimes, it is an innocent animal that is killed, simply through ignorance, or being in the wrong area at the wrong time!” The deliberate killing of Ferrodo reinforced Len and Mandy’s resolve to make Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre reach deep into the consciousness of all communities. Mandy is emphatic about what can be achieved through effective education and awareness. “Rehabilitation can save one or two individual animals”, she says, “but teach children to question accepted practices (adults are often too set in their beliefs), and entire species can be saved!”

Len and Mandy Freeman have turned their passion into reality at a level of dedication which makes Tenikwa one of the absolute musts when you Cruise The Crags. It all started when, twenty years ago, Len Freeman finished the Otter Trail at Nature’s Valley and decided that this was where he wanted to live. But he and Mandy spent another fourteen years in KwaZulu-Natal, before they re-assessed their priorities and decided to relocate to the Western Cape.

Len came down first and spent fourteen months on an undeveloped 46ha plot, creating the infrastructure they needed at Tenikwa so that Mandy and their furry and feathered friends could join him. They quickly became known in the community for their animal skills and ability to heal injured wild birds, then, over time, people started bringing in all sorts of wild animals in distress. About three years ago, Len and Mandy realised that the volumes of animals they were receiving, indicated a great need in the area to have a fully fledged rehabilitation centre, and so they registered a rehabilitation centre with Cape Nature.

Tenikwa Rehabilitation Centre accepts any injured or abandoned wild creature, but they have also specialised to cater for predator and problem-animals. It was inevitable that Cape Nature should contact them when a very young and traumatised Caracal cub was found in Harkerville. The couple hand-reared little Ferrodo for six months and did the initial rehabilitation required to raise him to the point of return to the wild. In discussions with Cape Nature, a suitable release area was located. With the Riversdale Mayor and 50/50 filming the event, Ferrodo was set free. However, it was not to be. Everyone was shocked to hear that Ferrodo was shot a week later by a farmer.

Rehabilitation can save one or two individual animals

Both Len and Mandy mourn the ignorance which has made the Caracal “the most persecuted animal in the country”. “There are many alternatives to killing” Len points out. “Caracals, like many other so-called “problem animals” are territorial. When the dominant male is killed, another usually moves in, or the gap created allows a whole new species to overcome the territory. Sometimes, it is an innocent animal that is killed, simply through ignorance, or being in the wrong area at the wrong time!” The deliberate killing of Ferrodo reinforced Len and Mandy’s resolve to make Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre reach deep into the consciousness of all communities. Mandy is emphatic about what can be achieved through effective education and awareness. “Rehabilitation can save one or two individual animals”, she says, “but teach children to question accepted practices (adults are often too set in their beliefs), and entire species can be saved!”

Len and Mandy Freeman 

Tenikwa sources it’s employees from adjacent communities. Trained to the highest professional level possible in their respective roles; the staff at Tenikwa know that not only is their care and dedication vital for the welfare of the animals in facility, but their passion and belief in Tenikwa’s conservation objectives directly contributes to its success.

Our team of Animal Keepers, Tour Guides and Vet Nurse on staff takes responsibility of the Awareness and Rehabilitation animals. While our dedicated departments of Administration, Finance, Marketing and Food & Beverage personnel make sure the Awareness Centre is fully operational and clients participating in tours which funds Rehabilitation Centre receives the best service.

Tenikwa employees more then 30 full time employees and the Rehabilitation Centre operates under the guidance of Dr. B Tindell from The Robberg Vet Clinic. 

Tenikwa offers exceptional ethically-based conservation educational programs, guests at Tenikwa have the chance to learn about South African Indigenous Wild Cats in an environment which emulates natural habitat. During the programs, guests are exposed to non-lethal up-to-date methods of predator management, environmentally-friendly and techno-savvy farming practices, and how we can co-exist with wildlife. Interest-specific and age-targeted programs are offered like the Private Photographic Tour and EcoKidz Family Challenge designed to challenge the whole family to learn about the Wild Cats of South Africa in a fun and educational manner. Tenikwa adheres to the safety protocols and a no-touch policy with the cats on all our programs.

The programs Tenikwa offers play a pivotal role in educating both young and old about the issues these cats face in the wild and how to support and protect biodiversity.

Tenikwa has a conservation philosophy that involves initiatives to promote Biodiversity as well as Wildlife Rehabilitation as an immediate intervention to elicit long-term change in behaviour. This is fundamental to sustainable conservation success. Tenikwa recognises that community involvement plays a great role in contributing to, and benefiting from, our philosophy, as well as national conservation objectives to which we are aligned. Our community development initiatives have always, in some manner or form, linked back to our philosophy.

Continuing to support small, medium and micro-sizes entrepreneurs from the local community, Tenikwa sources our employees from adjacent communities. Trained to the highest professional level possible in their respective roles; the staff at Tenikwa know that not only is their care and dedication vital for the welfare of the animals in facility, but their passion and belief in Tenikwa’s conservation objectives directly contributes to its success.

With over 10 years in Conservation Awareness Tenikwa continues to Empower, Educate and Rehabilitate.

Penguin Splash Pool: The splash pool will serve a very important role at the Centre, as Tenikwa receives on average 60 penguins a year with the cost of rehabilitating a penguin averaging at R2 000 each. Penguins get washed up and are stranded across the coast, throughout the Garden Route, after big storms at sea. They are then too weak to try and swim back to their colonies. Lucky for the penguins, members from the public find them and bring them to Tenikwa. Here, they undergo a complete health check, are dewormed and monitored carefully while they recuperate and rebuild their strength. Once strong, they are transferred to a Marine Rehabilitation Centre where they are released back to a colony. The role of a splash pool at Tenikwa is very important, because with the ability to swim and move around, the penguins can groom themselves and also eat on their own, which will speed up the recovery process. Monthly Animal Care Clinic in

Kurland Village: It is held every first Tuesday of the month at the Kurland Community Hall, from 14:30-16:30, where Tenikwa vets and staff are available to give professional veterinary care to the animals of Kurland Village. All costs are covered by the Tenikwa Rehabilitation Centre.

Annual Spay Clinic: This year the Spay Clinic will be held the weekend of 5th September 2010. We are looking for businesses and caring community members to sponsor a township spay at R200 per animal.