Updated in September 2026, this Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre is a wild cat rehabilitation and awareness centre in The Crags, near Plettenberg Bay. Tenikwa no longer offers cheetah walks, a programme withdrawn in 2020 that some older guides still list. This guide was updated in September 2026 to reflect the current tours. You can book in advance through Viator before your visit.
Quick facts about Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Forest Hall Road, The Crags, Plettenberg Bay, 6602 |
| Opening hours | Daily from 9am; Wild Cat Experience tours run 9am–4:30pm |
| Wild Cat Experience (adult) | R445 |
| Wild Cat Experience (child 4–12) | R240 |
| Infant admission | Free, ages 0–3 |
| Parking | Free, on site |
| Typical visit duration | 1 hour for the standard tour |
Why book Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre tickets?
- 🏛️ Seven indigenous wild cats: See African wild cats, servals, caracals, cheetahs, lions and a leopard in naturalistic enclosures.
- 🎟️ Tours every half hour: The Wild Cat Experience departs on the half hour, so there’s rarely a long wait.
- 🌿 A working rehabilitation centre: Your ticket helps fund the care of injured and orphaned wildlife from the Garden Route.
- 📜 Guaranteed sightings: Safety walkways bring you close to every cat on the tour, whatever the weather.
- 💰 Free for under-4s: Children aged 3 and under join for free on every programme.
Opening hours at Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
Tenikwa opens daily from 9am, 365 days a year. The Wild Cat Experience departs every half hour between 9am and 4:30pm. Other programmes, including the Private Tour and the Forest and Fur Combo, run to their own separate timetables.
Ticket prices for Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
| Tour | Adult | Child (4–12) | Infant (0–3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Cat Experience (1 hour) | R445 | R240 | Free |
| EcoKidz Family Challenge (1.5 hours) | R455 | R295 | Free |
| The Private Tour (2 hours) | R670 | R310 | Free |
| Forest and Fur Combo (4 hours, with picnic) | R1,020 | 10% off | Free |
| Cats in Conservation (8 hours, full day) | R1,670 | R1,300 (ages 9–12 only) | — |
Prices are current as of September 2026 and may change without notice. Payment on site is by Visa or Mastercard. You can book through Viator to secure your preferred tour and time.
How to get to Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
By car, Tenikwa is about 20 minutes from Plettenberg Bay. Follow the N2 towards Port Elizabeth and turn at the signposted Kurland Village turn-off, opposite a large tourism board for Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, the Elephant Sanctuary and Tenikwa.
The final stretch runs along a gravel road, with the Tenikwa turn-off about 900 metres past Kurland Village.
By air, the nearest airport is Plettenberg Bay, with George around one and a half hours away and Port Elizabeth about two and a half hours away.
By bus, InterCape, Translux, Baz Bus and Greyhound coaches all stop at Plettenberg Bay, from where a transfer or hire car covers the final stretch.
Parking at Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
Free parking is available on site at reception.
How long to spend at Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
The standard Wild Cat Experience takes an hour. Visitors wanting more time or a photography focus can choose the two-hour Private Tour, while the full-day Cats in Conservation programme fills an entire day.
Accessibility at Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
The Wild Cat Experience is wheelchair friendly, with a slow pace and frequent stops for anyone who needs to rest. Guides are happy to split the tour so guests can pause at Chesters Coffee Shop partway through. The Forest and Fur Combo’s forest walk covers flat but sometimes uneven ground and isn’t suitable for wheelchairs.
What to see at Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
The Wild Cat Experience walkways. Safety walkways lead past African wild cats, servals, caracals, cheetahs, lions and a leopard, all kept for educational purposes.
Other resident wildlife. Meerkats, marabou storks and other local species share the centre alongside its wild cat collection.
Chesters Coffee Shop. A refreshments stop serving snacks and toasted sandwiches, and a handy place to rest partway through a tour.
The private forest reserve. Historical logging paths wind through stands of towering Yellowwood trees, home to the Knysna Loerie and, occasionally, the shy Narina Trogon.
The rehabilitation facility. Not open on standard tours, but visible on the Cats in Conservation programme, which shows how injured and orphaned wildlife are treated and prepared for release.
Practical tips for visiting Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Come in the morning | Most of the cats are nocturnal or crepuscular, so they’re liveliest on the early tours. |
| Leave the selfie stick at home | Photography of the cats is welcome, but selfies and flash aren’t allowed. |
| Pick the right tour for children | The Wild Cat Experience suits under-6s and over-14s; the EcoKidz Family Challenge is built for ages 6–12. |
| Ask to split the tour if needed | Guides can pause at the coffee shop partway through for anyone who needs a break. |
| Book tickets in advance | Advance booking is recommended, especially in peak season, and you can book through Viator. |
Frequently asked questions about Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I touch or walk with the cheetahs? | No. All animal-contact programmes, including cheetah walks, were withdrawn in 2020. |
| Is Tenikwa a zoo? | No. Tenikwa describes itself as a wildlife rehabilitation and awareness centre rather than a zoo, and runs no breeding programmes. |
| Is the Wild Cat Experience wheelchair accessible? | Yes, the walkways are wheelchair friendly, though the Forest and Fur Combo’s forest walk isn’t. |
| Can I visit on a rainy day? | Yes, tours run rain or shine, with rain jackets provided. |
| Should I book in advance? | Yes, particularly in peak season. You can book in advance through Viator. |
Things to do near Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary is a reptile park a couple of kilometres away, home to more than 100 snakes and other reptiles.
Monkeyland is a free-roaming primate sanctuary nearby, home to rescued lemurs, gibbons and spider monkeys.
Birds of Eden, next to Monkeyland, houses thousands of birds in the world’s largest single-dome free-flight aviary.
The Elephant Sanctuary offers close-up elephant interactions elsewhere in The Crags.
Bramon Wine Estate has a restaurant set among the vines, a short drive from Tenikwa.
Alternative attractions to Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
The Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, in the same area, is a big-cat sanctuary with guided tours past lions, tigers and leopards.
Cango Wildlife Ranch, in Oudtshoorn, pairs cheetah encounters with reptile exhibits, about two and a half to three hours’ drive away.
Knysna Elephant Park lets visitors walk alongside rescued elephants, about 40 minutes’ drive away.
The Garden Route Wolf Sanctuary, between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, offers guided encounters with rescued timber wolves.
The Featherbed Nature Reserve, in Knysna, combines a boat cruise with a guided nature walk, about 45 minutes’ drive away.
More South Africa travel
Other South Africa travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Knysna Old Gaol: What to expect and when it’s open.
- Highgate Ostrich Show Farm in Oudtshoorn: Learn everything there is to know about ostriches and watch them race.
