Meet our founder
Lizette van schalkwyk
What we stand for
Our Mission: At Zanchieta, we are dedicated to providing a permanent, protected haven where rescued wildlife can thrive with dignity and independence.
Our Approach: We believe that true conservation is rooted in observation rather than interference, acting as silent guardians to ensure our residents' wild instincts remain untouched.
Operational Excellence: Our sanctuary is run by a passionate, mixed-gender team that utilizes a comprehensive master management system—including detailed dietary tracking and medical logs—to provide precise, high-standard care for every species in our refuge.
Professional Standards: We maintain strict regulatory alignment through active coordination with conservation officials, ensuring that our infrastructure and management practices meet the highest ethical benchmarks.
Infrastructure & Sustainability: To support our conservation goals, we are committed to sustainable facility development, including ongoing upgrades to our co-living spaces for our international volunteer team.
Zani & Ghita The caracal girls
Zanie and Ghieta will always be remembered. As the original inspirations behind our mission, they taught us the true meaning of dedication to wildlife. Every successful rescue and every animal given a second chance at life is a living tribute to our beautiful girls. Their legacy is forever etched into our story.
Zani: Meaning "Gift from God."
Ghita: Representing the "Dance" of life and growth.
Zanchieta was built on a promise to two orphaned caracal cubs who almost didn’t make it.
When the previous owners decided to euthanize the babies after their mother passed—unwilling to handle the demanding round-the-clock care—our founder, Lizette, stepped in. To give them a permanent, safe haven,
she took on the massive mission of acquiring land, building specialized enclosures, and navigating complex wildlife permits from the ground up.