at the farm
meet the team
Lizette
Owner and Founder
Lizette van Schalkwyk started Zanchieta Lodge and Wild Cat Farm in November 2007 when she took in two orphaned caracal babies, Zani and Ghieta. From there her love, passion, and determination to help animals has grown tremendously. Zanchieta now has over 110 wild animals of many different species to feed and care for daily, whom she loves unconditionally. She grew up on a farm, and later focused her life on the fulfilling task of helping animals. Lizette has over 35 years of relevant life experience with wild animals, a pleasure and commitment which taught her many lessons which cannot be captured in books. Beginning in her childhood she has always made an effort to help animals – one time as a child she found baby hedgehogs after their mother had an accident and she introduced them to a young cat who had just given birth to a litter of kittens. The cat raised the baby hedgehogs as well, who otherwise would not have made it on their own. Mother of many, Lizette finds her daily life immeasurably rewarding. She is a protector of innocent lives, and has proudly dedicated her life to this cause. The teamwork between humans and animals alike at Zanchieta is truly something to be witnessed.
Miekie
Manager, Team Leader and primary Animal Caretaker
Miekie is intensely passionate about wild animals and has dedicated her life to being an animal caretaker. She has over well over 17 years of experience with wild animals, including both volunteer and professional work. She is a qualified rehabilitator, certified in first aid, as well as FGASA training – she has completed level 2 with the Field Guide Association of South Africa, among her many other rehabilitation and wildlife qualifications. Even on her days off Miekie makes herself available in case she may be needed on site. She is amazing at giving guided tours, as she has mastered the art of humorous and passionate storytelling. While she can seem fearless with the animals, she truly respects their abilities and the wildness in their nature. It may be said that she prefers working with animals more than people. Miekie is both a character and irreplaceable member of our team, and it is difficult to capture her nature in writing
Kim
General assistant
Kim has been involved at Zanchieta for a couple years as a volunteer and an intern. On the farm she takes on many roles, including volunteer leader, giving tours, and training under our primary animal caretaker. Her passion for animals is exemplary – she always goes the extra mile and puts in more of her time and energy than is expected. She gets along with all of the workers on the farm, makes herself available outside of normal hours, she is outgoing, and consistently eager to learn.
Maria
Houskeeping
Maria works in the Lodge here at Zanchieta and she has been an integral part of our team since 2011. She manages the lodge rooms, the washing room, and linens throughout the property. She has been responsible for training all new staff members and knows her work well.
Patrick
Maintenance Supervisor
Since 2012, Patrick has spent a majority of his work days in our workshop. He is a very good welder and steelworker and is responsible for building our enclosures. In addition to his passions for design and building with steel, he is also a well-rounded “fix it” man, and can offer a helping hand in many areas around the farm.
Treasure
Volunteer Team Leader & Animal Caretaker
Treasure (aka Madagascar) back for a third time at Zanchieta Wildlife Rescue. Treasure will be joining our team as a volunteer team leader and animal caretaker in 2025.
Treasure got a big love for wildlife, especially monkeys. Still bit shy when working with people, but makes up for it with his dedication with the animals. He is always eager to help around the farm and his smile can light up any cloudy day. On his off days, he likes fishing, watching movies and just recharge for the next task.
Christelle
General Worker
Christelle joined the Zanchieta team in March 2025. She has a deep passion for animals and is always eager to learn and lend a helping hand. Christelle is responsible for preparing food and feeding the animals. She also assists with cleaning and maintaining enclosures. Though she’s known for being quite talkative, her friendly nature and constant smile brightens everyone’s day.
Lizel
General Worker (Trainee)
Lizel also became part of the Zanchieta team in 2025. As an all-round helper she supports various tasks including preparing food, enclosure cleaning and feeding the animals. Her favourite animals are the vegetarians: monkeys, dassies, the warthog and porcupines. Lizel is currently training under Miekie’s guidance to assist in the clinic and help with the grass cutting. She’s a dedicated worker, equally helpful indoors and out and has a natural way with animals.
Active Projects and goals
At Zanchieta, we are constantly working to improve our facilities and provide the best care for our animals. Here are some of our current projects and exciting future goals:
🚧 Big Projects:
🦁 Lion Lookout – An observation platform near the fence between the white and brown lions, offering visitors a better view of these majestic animals.
🏥 Outdoor Health Clinic Enclosures – Five separate enclosures for better observation and medical care of our animals.
🦜 New Bird Enclosures – Spacious, species-appropriate enclosures designed for rescued birds.
🦊 Four New Large Enclosures for Small Animals – Connected by an enclosed hallway for improved movement and care.
🐵 Big Monkey Enclosure – A tall enclosure with trees and enrichment features, located on the lawn in front of Z’s Bar.
🎠 Two Kids’ Corners – New playgrounds near the lodge and dam area, designed to make visits even more enjoyable for families!
🔨 Smaller Projects:
🧩 Enrichment Activities – Providing toys, puzzles, new scents, and creative activities to keep our animals mentally and physically engaged.
🏡 More Platforms for Animals – Adding elevated platforms and shaded areas to give our animals more comfort and lookout points.
We are thrilled to bring these projects to life and enhance both animal welfare and visitor experience! Stay tuned for updates on our progress.
📩 Want to support our projects?
Contact us at bookings@zanchieta.co.za or call 072 200 3272! 😊