The decision was in fact quite spontaneous. I had never heard of the place or what they did, but I knew I didn’t want to spend an entire year just working before I started studying.
So I went online. While being totally unaware of what I was looking for, I scoured quite a few pages of various travelling and trips around the world, but it was only when I saw the project at Zanchieta, that I stopped looking for other alternatives.
I’ve always had a passion for animals and their well being, so as I kept reading about the project, it became more and more obvious that I had to go! Also I have never been one to lie on a beach for two weeks when travelling.
When I go out into the world, I do it to experience something, see something, get to know new places, and new people. Therefore, volunteering at Zanchieta Wildcat Farm seemed like the perfect way of spending 8 weeks of my life. I went there to make a difference for the animals, and make their life at the farm better.
Anyone wanting to volunteer should keep this in mind before they order their stay. When you volunteer, you volunteer to work. Not saying that the workload was heavy- not at all!!-, but as people came and went, I came to notice that some of them hadn’t realised that they would have to work when they came to the farm.
They had somehow imagined that they could just play with the animals all day, and then that was it. Playing with the animals is part of it, however, it’s not all there is to the volunteer experience. So if you go, go open-minded. Don’t be the girl tanning in the corner when everyone else is making an effort to help the animals.
Animal interaction time: One of the best parts of the day! You get around an hour a day, where you can just be with the animals. Play with them, cuddle the ones that are safe enough to cuddle, or just enjoy having a meercat sleep in your lap. It’s amazing to be so close to the animals!
When you can see that your work has made a difference: After a load of rain, the grass in the camps had to be cut down. This in itself is not particularly interesting, but it is so rewarding to see how much you have achieved in only one and a half hour!
Also you know that you are helping the animals a lot, since snakes and spiders could hide in the tall grass, and end up biting an animal.
Nights out and off-days: Nights out are the best! Since we are off on Saturdays, Friday night is often spend eating out, having drinks, going to clubs, or doing whatever the volunteers are in the mood for. Plus you get to know the other volunteers so well when you work together, live together, have fun together, and party together!
Personally, I have had the pleasure of adding people from, England, Norway, Sweden, Finland, South Africa and Denmark to a new list of people which I shared an amazing experience with, and most of whom I am certain I’ll never forget.
Response from Zanchieta Wild Cat Farm
Asta Freja Alexandersen
Truly appreciate your review and rating.
I understand the internet connection at the volunteer house is slow, this is due to our location outside Bloemfontein. We will make contact with our service provider and see if we can find a solution for future volunteers.
Enjoy your future travels and thank you for volunteering @ zanchieta
Without Your support we would not be able to look after all the animals.
Lots of Zanhieta love.