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.
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 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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