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Description
Our Farm Animal Sanctuary is based on a private farm seven kms outside the village of Greyton. It offers a permanent home for rescued, orphaned, sick, abused or retired farm animals where their every need is met for the rest of their natural lives. Vets attend the farm regularly and every individual is named, known and given all that they need for a full and happy life, including lots of cuddles and love.
The animals, currently numbering 210, comprise pigs, sheep, goats, cows, an antelope, geese, chickens, peafowl, a blue crane and a duck. We also have 7 dogs and 7 cats. The sanctuary gives our farm animals a chance to communicate to visitors how special they are, how they want to live and to enjoy their natural behaviours for their normal lifespan.
We live off the grid in our self-built, straw bale homes. Volunteers become part of our family and every evening we enjoy a communal supper in the founder's house, There is a volunteer barn space where you can relax and enjoy the spectacular views. We often hold movie nights and there are many games available to use.
We are particularly keen to welcome volunteers who are headed for, or already in, a career working with animals but we welcome anybody with a passion for animals. We do ask for a commitment to following a vegan lifestyle whilst at the Sanctuary as we do not bring any animal products on to the farm out of respect for our residents! Because of the huge risks we are unable to accept smokers. Anybody susceptible to an allergic reaction to cats or insects may find our space a challenge! Volunteers should allow for an expense of up to US$5 a day to purchase their own food.Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
All aspects of caring for animals, meeting fellow compassionate volunteers from around the world, farm living, working alongside South African people from all sectors of the community.
Help
Animal feeding and caring, feed preparation; care of baby animals and occasionally some wildlife (we have a blue crane chick and a baby antelope we are raising at present); keeping feed prep room clean and tidy.
We also look for: Ability to work in all weather conditions (it can get very hot in South Africa in the summer months - November to March), ability to perform strenuous physical labour and heavy lifting, willingness to follow detailed Animal Sanctuary’s work protocols, commitment to our goals and programmes. It is essential that volunteers are very tidy and well organised as our animals' health depends on strict hygiene, regular cleaning and prompt clearing up of feed bowls etc. Previous animal care experience preferred but not required. Familiarity with farm and/or country life is also an asset.
Please Note: Farms generally have 'visitors' such as spiders, fleas, flies, mosquitos, snakes and rats. We have humane control programmes for all these interlopers (our bats eat most of the mozzies!) and have them under control but they are a regular feature on any farm so if you have never stayed on a farm please be forewarned! Volunteers need to be fairly fluent in the English language as we rely on accurate understanding of instructions so that the animals' safety is not compromised.Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Double bed in caravan. Double bed in Shepherd's Hut. Two single beds in spare room in cottage. Three beds in large converted barn. Shared hot water showers and composting loos (flush loo available to volunteers in owner's house and the cottage). We currently can accommodate 6 single volunteers or up to four couples
What else ...
Greyton is currently the South African Town of the Year. It sits in the foothills of the spectacular Riviersonderend Mountain range and has two rivers running through it.
Greyton owes much of its charm to the fact that its Cape Vernacular architectural heritage has remained largely intact. It is an extremely popular weekend and holiday destination for visitors who enjoy its combination of old-world charm and modern conveniences. Many of town’s original buildings and features have survived, including the original leiwater(irrigation) system of street furrows, the town kraal and dipping tank, a blacksmith's house and forge, the school's boarding house and the extensive public commonage crisscrossed by walking, hiking and cycling paths that surround the town. There are also two old churches, some of the earliest cottages built between 1854 and 1860 in Vigne Lane and at the end of Vlei Street, as well as an old shepherd's cottage built prior to 1840, which is now incorporated into "The Old Potter's Inn" building on Greyton’s Main Road.
There is the historic town of Genadendal (Valley of Grace) that is approximately 15 minute drive from the farm. Genadendal has a rich spiritual history and was the first mission station in southern Africa. It was founded by Georg Schmidt, a German missionary of the Moravian Church, who settled on 23 April 1738 in Baviaans Kloof (Ravine of the Baboons) in the Riviersonderend Valley and began to evangelise among the Khoi people. The Moravian Church (originated in 1457 in Moravia, today part of the Czech Republic) had a particular zeal for mission.
In 2011 the Founder of the Animal Sanctuary, Nicola, established South Africa's first ever Transition Town, part of a worldwide movement of over 3000 cities, villages and towns committed to bringing their communities together to find local solutions to the global challenges of peak oil and climate change. From time to time there may be opportunities to spend some days working on Transition Town projects for those volunteers who are interested. The Sanctuary also has a vegan restaurant situated in the village.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We can, providing they can work around feed times and also be mindful of other volunteers, especially at night when we prefer to have peace and quiet after 10 pm.
Space for parking camper vans
We have plenty of space for campervans but we can't guarantee hooking up to power or to sewage.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours a day
Feedback (27)
Your main task will be to take care (feeding, prepping food, collecting and cleaning bowls/buckets/containers) of the 100 or so pigs and "the babies" (3… read more
Unfortunately they are having fleas!!! We left the farm after 4 days beaucause we couldn't handle the itchy bites. Nicky didn't told us before we arrived so we didn't had a choice. When we wanted to leave, Nicky drove us all the way to… read more
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Your main task will be to take care (feeding, prepping food, collecting and cleaning bowls/buckets/containers) of the 100 or so pigs and "the babies" (3… read more
Unfortunately they are having fleas!!! We left the farm after 4 days beaucause we couldn't handle the itchy bites. Nicky didn't told us before we arrived so we didn't had a choice. When we wanted to leave, Nicky drove us all the way to… read more
My job here was to feed the pigs and to spend time with… read more
This was my first Workaway experience, and I can hand on heart say it has been life changing! Nicky and Rohan have created a sanctuary, together with their amazing team, not just for animals, but for humans as well. They are so welcoming, and you immediately feel a part of the family. The love, dedication,… read more
Starting from Nicky, Rohan and Ever who make this project possible always with a big energy and dedication 💚; following with the always smiling and helpful workers team 😄; the strong bond created with the volunteers 🤝; and of course, will never forget the love of all the lovely… read more
In the first weeks we were warming up with easier… read more
The last 5 weeks have… read more
This place is paradise for all animal lovers. You get the chance to learn a lot about pigs as well as sheeps, goats and cows. It is amazing to get to know the animals and their personalities and it was fun to feed and interact with them. I also loved all the cats and dogs 🙂
Nicky is… read more
The animals are amazing, it's a wonderful experience getting to know them and their individual personalities and its obviously very difficult to leave them.
The work is great. If you… read more
She was an absolute star. Extremely reliable, considerate, helpful and friendly! She was really good with all of our animals!
We would certainly recommend her to assist in any project and hope that one day she comes back to visit us again!
She was friendly, reliable and hard working and was a pleasure to host. She helped us out in many ways and we were very grateful for her stay with us!
At the sanctuary, I was primarily exposed to sustainable farm living, animal care and also the rehabilitation of various farm animals. Every day starts with feeding the animals and ends with a great vegan meal shared around the family table. Days in the… read more
I have a new found respect… read more
Together with my brother I stayed for five weeks on the farm and enjoyed it very much. Nicky and Rowan are very friendly and welcoming and together with the other volunteers I had a great time.
The work was fun and all around the animals. We fed and watered them, put new straw in the sheds,… read more