Prickles came into our care as a tiny, wide-eyed orphan—rescued after his mother was tragically killed by dogs on a nearby farm. From that moment on, he became part of our family, wrapped in warmth and raised with the kind of love and devotion that only a little abandoned porcupine could inspire.
Lilizela Azards - Cango Wildlife Ranch wins Provincial Award

October ‘16, 2016 – Cango Wildlife Ranch, Oudtshoorn has been named a provincial Visitor Experience: Wildlife Encounters Award winner in the Western Cape at the Lilizela Tourism Awards 2016, honouring best-in-industry Wildlife Encounters within the Western Cape
Launched in May 2013, the Lilizela Tourism Awards aim to recognise and reward the highest levels of excellence in tourism value chain. The name is derived from the Zulu word ‘’Lilizela’’ which means celebrating and praising by ululating when someone has done well. These awards are an initiative of the National Department of Tourism (NDT); spearheaded by South African Tourism and delivered by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. The Lilizela Tourism Awards are largely consumer based. 80% of the score that is given to the establishment is based on Consumer Reviews. These reviews are in the form of the votes from the Lilizela Tourism Awards website as well as the TripAdvisor score for that establishment. 20% of the score comes from the deliberations of the judges in that respective panel for the respective categories. In 2014, South African Tourism called out to the industry to join the Lilizela Tourism Awards Adjudication Panel.
In February 2017 Cango Wildlife Ranch will be celebrating 30 years in the industry and they are kicking off celebrations a little early with their first time win of the award! Oudtshoorn can proudly boast with winning 3 overall categories within the Western Cape, being best represented per capita in South Africa.
Cango Wildlife Ranch is now aiming at going from winning a provincial award to obtaining a national one. The national Lilizela Tourism Awards are held in Johannesburg during the month of October 2016.
Further Reading
The Flood That Tested Us – and the Strength That Carried Us Through Exactly one year ago, on 4 June 2024, Cango Wildlife Ranch faced one of the most devastating natural events in our 40+ year history. Today, we pause—not to relive the hardship, but to reflect on the resilience, bravery, and unity that saw us through.
How Retired Architect Joseph Zwick left a lasting mark at Cango Wildlife Ranch, Oudtshoorn — June 2025 Conservation is often powered by passionate volunteers — and every so often, one leaves behind a legacy that echoes long after they’ve gone. This past May, retired architect Joseph Otto Zwick spent three weeks enriching the lives of lemurs, aviary birds, and staff alike during his stay as part of the Wild Animal Volunteers program.
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