Choosing Ethics. Building Bridges. Coming Back.

“I usually visit places to check whether they are ethical,” Lana explains. “If they are, I want to bring my community and my people there.”

After seeing the work being done at Cango Wildlife, she gave that approval. And with it came a commitment to return, and to bring others with her.

Lana works closely with wildlife volunteering programmes, particularly in South Africa, and this is her third programme in the country. Her platform represents a Palestinian and broader Arab community, with a strong focus on cultural exchange, education, and ethical engagement with wildlife.

For her, volunteering is about more than animals alone.

“We don’t only want to talk about animals,” she says. “We also want to share our traditions and culture, and help the world understand who the Arab community is.”

She also points to a gap that many people do not often consider. There is limited wildlife education content available in Arabic, and even less that comes directly from people actively working in the field. Lana sees herself as a bridge, someone who can translate lived conservation experiences into stories and understanding for a wider audience.

That sense of connection is what drew her, and her volunteers, to Cango Wildlife.

“One of the biggest reasons is actually the people here,” she says. “Even before the animals. It feels like home, because the people make you feel like you belong.”

Like many experienced conservationists, Lana is cautious about hands-on experiences, especially with carnivores such as cheetahs. Ethics and safety are non-negotiable for her. Having worked with carnivores in a zoo environment herself, she understands the responsibility that comes with proximity to wild animals.

“People want to feel close to animals,” she says. “Instead of sending people to places where animals are sedated or exploited, we can bring them to good places where they can have meaningful experiences in an ethical way.”

That message resonates strongly with her community. When Lana shares her experiences at Cango Wildlife on social media, the response is immediate.

“People really want to come,” she says. “No one doubts my choices, because I always speak about ethics.”

Interest has already translated into action, with future groups booked and additional volunteers signing up. Lana anticipates returning to South Africa twice a year, with Cango Wildlife firmly part of those plans.

While the animals leave a lasting impression, the moments that stay with her are deeply personal. Meeting Xena the cheetah on her first visit remains one of her most meaningful memories. And on this return, meeting cheetah cubs for the first time brought an emotional response she did not expect.

“I cried my eyes out,” she says. “I’m constantly making new favourite memories here.”

When asked what she hopes volunteers take away from their time at Cango Wildlife, her answer is immediate.

“I want them to understand what ‘ethical’ really means,” she says. “There are so many places in the world that lie to you. If you don’t know better, you wouldn’t see the difference.”

For Lana, awareness is impact. If someone leaves with even one new understanding about wildlife, ethics, or responsibility, then the experience has mattered.

As Cango Wildlife continues to welcome volunteers from across the world, stories like Lana’s remind us that conservation is also about trust. About shared values. And about people choosing, again and again, to return.