Karoo Donkey Sanctuary

Call Directions Website

Karoo Donkey Sanctuary Our mission is to relieve the suffering of overworked and abused cart-horse donkeys.
(313)

We have rescued, rehabilitated and re-homed over 200 donkeys and are currently a refuge for 130 donkeys that we saved from the donkey skins trade The Karoo Donkey Sanctuary has relocated to The Crags, Plettenberg Bay

Page Terms & Conditions

List of prohibited content:

• content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, threatening, abusive, discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or which constitutes hate speech;
• content that is pornographic, obscene, indecent, lewd or otherwise inappropriate;
• content that is false or misleading;
• content that discloses the personal information of any third party
(including contact details), or is otherwise invasive of the privacy of any
person;
• content that infringes the intellectual property rights of any third party;
• content that encourages the commission of any criminal offence;
• content that is unrelated to the topic or that contains links to other
websites;
• content that constitutes an unsolicited promotion, advertisement, contest,
solicitation or spam;
• content that violates Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities
or any other terms of use in place from time to time; or
• content that is otherwise objectionable in the sole discretion of the page
administrator.

22/10/2026

Did you know that a group of peacocks is called an ostentation? 🦚 Frolicking in the sprinklers certainly looks ostentatious!

WE’RE RECRUITING | ANIMAL WELFARE INSPECTOR & OUTPOST TEAM LEADERProposed Northern Cape OutpostThe donkeys need us!!The ...
21/10/2026

WE’RE RECRUITING | ANIMAL WELFARE INSPECTOR & OUTPOST TEAM LEADER
Proposed Northern Cape Outpost

The donkeys need us!!

The Karoo Donkey Sanctuary is seeking an experienced, qualified Animal Welfare Inspector to help establish and lead a dedicated donkey welfare team in the Northern Cape.

This proposed outpost will extend our work into areas where donkeys face serious cruelty, neglect and inhumane slaughter. We are looking for a committed field leader who can turn evidence into action and help build an effective regional operation.

The role will include:

• Helping establish a secure operational base and temporary place of safety for rescued donkeys.
• Mapping donkey welfare hotspots and coordinating targeted field responses.
• Assessing animals, arranging urgent veterinary care and coordinating rescues and transport.
• Investigating suspected cruelty, documenting evidence and pursuing cases through the appropriate authorities.
• Coordinating lawful surrenders and seizures with the necessary authorisations and support.
• Working closely with local SAPS, stock-theft units, veterinarians and animal welfare organisations.
• Leading a small field team and maintaining clear animal-care, operational and case records.
• Supporting public awareness and advocacy through accurately documented findings.

We are looking for someone with:

• A recognised Animal Welfare Inspector qualification and proven cruelty-investigation experience.
• A sound understanding of South African animal protection legislation, evidence gathering and criminal case procedures.
• Practical equine handling and welfare experience, ideally including donkeys.
• Strong leadership, judgement, communication and report-writing skills.
• A valid driver’s licence and confidence working in remote rural areas.
• The willingness to relocate to the Northern Cape and help build a new operation from the ground up.

Applicants from all animal welfare organisations and backgrounds are welcome, provided they meet the qualification and experience requirements.

This is a hands-on role requiring resilience, compassion and the ability to remain calm and professional in challenging circumstances.

The successful candidate will help establish the outpost’s enforcement arrangements, including securing the appropriate legal authorisations to operate on behalf of KDS.

The appointment and commencement date will be subject to finalisation of the outpost’s funding and operational arrangements. Remuneration and relocation arrangements will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

To apply: Please send your CV, relevant qualifications, a brief motivation and salary expectations in confidence to [email protected].

Include details of any current or previous magisterial authorisations and the districts covered.

Subject: Northern Cape Inspector Application

Karoo Donkey Sanctuary
www.karoodonkey.org

www.karoodonkey.org

20/10/2026

A morning meander into the hills for a little herbaceous browsing. 🌿 Sanctuary life at its best.

20/10/2026

COMPASSION DOES NOT STOP WITH DONKEYS 🐄🐖🪿

Equine welfare will always be at the very heart of the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary, but over the years, our gates have opened to many other animals in desperate need of a safe haven. 🌿

Today, alongside our rescued donkeys and horses, you will find cattle, pigs, geese, and other animals who have found refuge within our sanctuary. They arrived with their own histories of neglect or abandonment, and they simply had nowhere else to go. 💔

Every species has different needs, but our philosophy here is unwavering. Their species may be different, but our responsibility to them remains exactly the same. 🤝

Every animal who enters our gates is recognized as a sentient individual deserving of safety, respect, and the freedom to simply be. Whether an animal has hooves, trotters, or feathers, we do not ask what they can give us. We ask what we can give them—and our promise to them is for life. 🏡🤎

Head to the "Our Animals" page on our new website to learn more about the diverse residents who call this sanctuary home, and discover how you can support their lifelong care today. 👇

https://karoodonkey.org/pages/the-animal-species-in-our-care

Ours are the lucky ones. Here at the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary, our rescued donkeys have space to roam, companions to cheri...
18/10/2026

Ours are the lucky ones.

Here at the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary, our rescued donkeys have space to roam, companions to cherish, food, fresh water and a lifetime of care.

For thousands of donkeys working in Pakistan’s coal mines, life is very different.

In mining communities including Chakwal in Punjab, donkeys carry coal through steep, narrow underground tunnels, making repeated journeys between the coalface and the surface.

A single donkey may transport around a ton of coal over 10–12 trips in a day. Working days can last eight to ten hours, with little or no access to drinking water.

The welfare challenges are severe: heat stress, dehydration, respiratory and eye problems, wounds and injuries. The people working alongside these animals also face dangerous conditions, and many depend on their donkeys for their livelihoods.

When we watch our donkeys resting in the sunshine, playing with their friends or simply choosing where to spend their day, we are reminded of how precious that freedom is.

For those who have endured neglect, abuse or relentless work, being able to rest in safety means everything.

Ours are the lucky ones. Every donkey deserves kindness, protection and a life worth living.

📷: Brooke - Action for working horses and donkeys

Discovering De Hoop’s past 🌿Long before De Hoop became home to our rescued animals, other families lived and worked on t...
18/10/2026

Discovering De Hoop’s past 🌿

Long before De Hoop became home to our rescued animals, other families lived and worked on this beautiful piece of the Karoo. An old graveyard on the farm is beginning to reveal their stories.

Among the graves is an impressive monument to Philip Wouter de Vos. Its weathered inscription appears to record his birth on 19 September 1859 and his death on 12 May 1911.

Local historical accounts name P. W. de Vos as an owner of De Hoop, linking our discovery to the early farming history of De Rust and the wider Meiring family story. We believe this may be the same man.

Where did his family come from? One established Cape De Vos lineage traces back to Wouter de Vos of Groenlo in the Netherlands, who settled at the Cape in the early 1700s. Whether Philip belonged to that particular branch is something we still hope to establish.

For now, we are piecing together the story of the people who called De Hoop home before us - and remembering that every old gravestone represents a life, a family and a chapter in this land’s history.

Are you a De Vos descendant, or do you have old photographs, documents or memories of De Hoop near De Rust? We would love to hear from you. 🤎

WE’RE HIRING: EQUINE & FARM ANIMAL CARE COORDINATORKaroo Donkey Sanctuary | De Rust, Western Cape | Full-timeLove animal...
17/10/2026

WE’RE HIRING: EQUINE & FARM ANIMAL CARE COORDINATOR
Karoo Donkey Sanctuary | De Rust, Western Cape | Full-time

Love animals and have practical experience caring for horses and farm animals? We’d love to hear from you.

Karoo Donkey Sanctuary provides a lifelong home to rescued donkeys, horses and a diverse family of farm animals. We’re looking for a compassionate, observant and dependable person to help our animal-care team keep our residents healthy, comfortable and thriving.

You don’t need a formal veterinary nursing or animal health qualification. What matters is solid hands-on animal husbandry experience, a willingness to learn and a deep commitment to animal welfare.

What you’ll do

• Monitor our animals’ health, appetite, behaviour and body condition, with particular attention to elderly, vulnerable and recovering residents.
• Help oversee feeding routines and individual dietary needs, working with our team and veterinarians.
• Support new arrivals as they settle in and recover.
• Assist our veterinarians and care team during visits, treatments and clinics, following veterinary instructions.
• Keep accurate care records, feeding plans and follow-up schedules.
• Notice and report concerns promptly, and help maintain clean, safe shelters and care areas.
• Work alongside colleagues to strengthen consistent, compassionate standards of care.

Who we’re looking for

• Someone with substantial practical experience caring for horses; donkey experience would be a wonderful bonus.
• Experience with other farm animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or poultry.
• Confidence handling animals calmly, patiently and kindly.
• A good understanding of feeding, daily husbandry and the signs that an animal may be unwell.
• Someone organised, reliable and comfortable with physical outdoor work.
• A team player who takes initiative and genuinely cares about every animal entrusted to us.

Experience gained on a farm, at a stable, in a rescue organisation or in a sanctuary is welcome. Relevant qualifications are an advantage, but are not a requirement.

The position is based at our sanctuary in De Rust in the beautiful Klein Karoo. On-site accommodation may be available, to be discussed during recruitment. Some weekend and emergency work will be required by arrangement.

📩 To apply: Send your CV, two contactable references and a short note about your animal-care experience and why you’d like to join us to [email protected].

Applications are open, and we’ll review them as they arrive.

Please share - you may know the person our animals are waiting to meet. 🤎

Thank you Cape Town News for sharing this important information. This is why we do not re-home our donkeys and horses!ht...
15/10/2026

Thank you Cape Town News for sharing this important information. This is why we do not re-home our donkeys and horses!

https://ctnews.co.za/donkeys-can-die-of-a-broken-heart-warns-karoo-sanctuary/

DE RUST: The warning that donkeys die of a broken heart may sound like an emotional description of animal grief, but a Western Cape rescue sanctuary says the loss of a bonded companion can trigger a dangerous chain of physical reactions that may ultimately prove fatal. In a statement issued on Wednesday, 14th October, the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary near De Rust explained that donkeys develop strong and lasting relationships, making separation, abandonment and bereavement serious welfare concerns. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jonno Sherwin says providing food, water and shelter is not enough if an animal is deprived of the companionship on which it depends. The sanctuary’s warning is supported by veterinary guidance identifying bereavement-related loss of appetite as a recognised risk factor for hyperlipaemia, a potentially life-threatening metabolic disorder.

Address

De Hoop Farm
Prince Albert
6650

Opening Hours

Monday 10:00 - 11:00
12:00 - 13:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00
14:00 - 15:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 11:00
12:00 - 13:00
Thursday 10:00 - 11:00
12:00 - 13:00
Friday 10:00 - 11:00
12:00 - 13:00
Saturday 10:00 - 11:00
12:00 - 13:00
Sunday 10:00 - 11:00
12:00 - 13:00

Telephone

+27829006103

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Karoo Donkey Sanctuary posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share