WELCOME TO DAKTARI BUSH SCHOOL & WILDLIFE ORPHANAGE

DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage is a local NGO located in the South African bush near Kruger National Park Founded in 2006, DAKTARI works to educate and inspire children to value their environment and stimulate community development.

DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage provides the perfect environment for local children to learn about their natural heritage. The children come to DAKTARI for five days and complete lessons in our Environmental Education Program. In addition, the children help care for some of our animals in captivity who cannot be rehabilitated or released back into the wild. This program instills a sense of care, respect, and empathy towards animals and wildlife in their communities. Volunteers come from around the world to teach lessons and guide the children in caring for the animals at DAKTARI.

DAKTARI also runs an Outreach Program to extend our reach and create a more significant impact on the local communities. The weekly ECO Club and Wildlife Crime Campaigns help inspire children and ignite positive attitudes towards their valuable environmental heritage.

Discover DAKTARI!

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Come volunteer with us and experience living in the South African bush!

MAKE A DONATION

If you want to support our cause, you can easily donate by clicking the button below.

ABOUT DAKTARI

Want to know how DAKTARI came to be? Then click below to read the whole story!

DAKTARI NEWS

Read through DAKTARI's blog to get updated on what's happening at the camp.

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CHILDREN HELPED

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VOLUNTEERS WELCOMED

HOW DAKTARI CAME TO BE

Ian and Michèle Merrifield officially opened DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage in 2006 but it was a long road to make it happen. Ian and Michèle met while Ian was working as a game ranger at Tshukudu Game Lodge and Michèle was volunteering there. While hand-raising injured zebras, wildebeest, and warthogs, Ian and Michèle fell in love.

NOTES FROM PAST VOLUNTEERS

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South African National Parks Kudu Awards
Community Choice Awards Top Rated in 2021 SUPPORT
Community Choice Awards Voted Best 2021 Volunteer Provider
Community Choice Awards Top Rated in 2021 FUN
Community Choice Awards Top Rated in 2021 IMPACT
Top Rate Organization 2021 Volunteer Abroad