Cango Wildlife Ranch
191 Baron Van Reede St., Oudtshoorn, South Africa, 6620
The Cango Wildlife Ranch, home to endangered species from across South Africa and beyond, is dedicated to wildlife conservation and educating visitors about the challenges facing everything from its majestic big cats to prized Cape Vultures. In addition to viewing wildlife in their natural habitats, you can see big cats from an elevated boardwalk and have personal encounters with select animals in separate enclosures.
The Basics
Located in the scenic Western Cape just off the Garden Route, you can visit the ranch for an hour-long tour or spend the day enjoying the numerous activities and restaurants. The ranch is an easy outing from the nearby town of Oudtshoorn and an ideal stop on the way to the popular Cango Caves. It is also included on many multi-day sightseeing tours of South Africa alongside other Garden Route attractions such as wineries, beaches, and national parks.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Animal lovers are attracted to the ranch’s vast array of endangered species and opportunities for up-close encounters.
- Visitors ages 14 and up can touch hand-reared cheetahs in an enclosure.
- There are shops, restaurants, and event space at the ranch.
- The ranch is wheelchair friendly.
How to Get There
The Cango Wildlife Ranch is located off the Garden Route, 2 miles (3 kilometers) outside of Oudtshoorn on Baron Van Reede Street. You can reach the ranch in your personal car or by joining a tour of the Garden Route.
When to Get There
The ranch is open year-round from 8:30am to 5pm in the high season (December–March) and 4:30pm in the low season (April–November). The hour-long tours are not offered at specific times but the ranch ensures that you will not wait more than half an hour for a tour.
Animal Encounters at Cango Wildlife Ranch
The ranch offers personal encounters with individual animals that have been selected as “ambassadors” for their species. The close-up experiences range from the chance to pet a cheetah to joining snakes and lemurs in their enclosures. If you are really feeling adventurous, you can try the croc cage dive and be lowered into a clear-water crocodile pool to see the predators up close from the security of a cage.
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