In 2002, Len and Mandy Freeman uprooted their lives in KwaZulu Natal to move to the beautiful Garden Route seaside town of Plettenberg Bay. As their skills in nursing wild animals back to health became known in the community, Len and Mandy realized that there was a great need in the area for a fully functioning Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. The ever growing human population descending on the Garden Route, along with high levels of unemployment and poverty in the migrant workers flocking to the area in search of work, is placing a heavy toll on wildlife populations.

Tenikwa Rehabilitation Centre started operating humbly out of a little wooden shed in 2003.  In fact, this was the very same shed that Len lived in for a year whilst he built the infrastructure at Tenikwa.

The first season of Tenikwa Awareness Centre was very successful and the takings funded the construction of a proper wildlife clinic and surgery. As the rehabilitation centre accepts any injured or abandoned wildlife, it has to be remarkably flexible in its design, functioning and food sources.

In one week, the centre can accept anything from 15 baby penguins washed up during heavy seas, to a tiny ferocious caracal cub abandoned through the senseless killing of its mother, to a concussed Wood Owl knocked over on the highway.

Since there are a variety of species that the centre accepts, Tenikwa must also grow colonies of mealworm, crickets and grubs.  A near-natural diet is essential if the animal is to be returned to the wild.

In accordance with legislation, no animals under rehabilitation may be shown to the public; therefore the Rehabilitation Centre and the animals being treated are kept away from the public eye, and captive bred animals that are not suitable for release are used for the public awareness program. Entrance fees from the Awareness Centre are used to fund the running costs of the rehabilitation centre.

Any donations, great or small, are always welcome. The rehabilitation centre is a Section 21, Non-Profit Organisation, Registration Number 9300/29955

Our role as a rehabilitator is to give the animal a second chance at life.  The animal may choose to fight, or give up the will to live. We respect that choice, although sometimes it is very hard to say good-bye.

Tenikwa's first Rehab Clinic operated from a wooden shed	Tenikwa’s newly built Rehab Hospital & Surgery opened in Aug 2008	Len and Mandy rehydrating a penguin