For a conservation organisation based in Oudtshoorn, moments like this do not come often. And when they do, they are worth pausing for. This year, a South African conservation technology project founded by our CEO, Douglas Eriksen, was recognised on the global stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Project ZOA, or Zoological Open Architecture, was awarded the Startup Innovation Award for Top AI Sustainability Project during Davos Innovation Week 2026.
Cycling his way to Freedom - Yassin Ghallam 'Everest' at Cango Wildlife Ranch
We often meet great people, but yesterday we had the privilege of meeting a real-life adventurer, with a flair for nothing else but freedom.
Yassine Ghallam (34) made his way to Cango Wildlife Ranch from Prince Albert, after spending the night on the snowy Swartberg Mountain. After excitedly telling staff about his journey we just had to know more and met up with him after he spent some time with Raven, our ambassador adult cheetah.
He tells of walking from Morocco to Senegal and then riding his bike for over 23 500km to Mzansi.
From Senegal he decided to continue his journey on a $100 bike, 'because walking will take too long'.
With his bike he travelled from Senegal through Cameroon, through Gabon and the dangerous rebel territories of the Congo. He passed Angola, and after being asked for a Visa at Namibia's border he turned to Zambia instead. He made his way through Mozambique and Swaziland after which he made his way into South Africa.
Ghallam is writing a book about African culture, food, lifestyle and languages.
“My dream is to see the whole world,” he said.
Yassine travels without money and relies on the giving nature of our African culture.
Further Reading
The Dodo once walked freely on the island of Mauritius. With no natural predators, it had no reason to fear humans. Within less than a century of human arrival, it was gone. Extinction is permanent. Once a species disappears, there is no recovery, no second chance, no future generations to protect. Every species on the Red List tells a story of pressure. Habitat loss. Human conflict. Climate stress. Decline that did not...
Some partnerships are built quietly and strengthened over time through consistency and shared purpose. Since 2018, Kraaibosch Nurseries in George has supported Cango Wildlife and the Cheetah Preservation Foundation as a benefactor. Their ongoing contributions help sustain the day to day work of conservation, from animal care and veterinary treatment to habitat management and long term programmes focused on threatened species, including cheetahs and other vulnerable wildlife in our care.










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