Drakenstein Lion Park was established in 1998 to provide lions in distress with sanctuary, where they could live in safety, free from abuse and persecution, and be treated with the compassion and respect they deserved.

The Park is situated in the scenic Cape Winelands and comprises of 50 acres of sprawling lion habitat.

The Park is actively involved in improving the quality of life of lions in captivity, locally as well as internationally, either by offering these animals a lifetime home or working in conjunction with other animal welfare organizations to secure a safe future for individual animals in dire need.

The Park is not involved in commercial breeding or trade and offers lifetime care to all of it’s animals. All the animals brought to the Park are captive bred / hand reared and cannot be rehabilitated to the wild. The animals at the Park are assured a chance of living out their natural lives in an enriched and safe environment.

Drakenstein Lion Park is the only genuine lion sanctuary in the Western Cape, with the largest lion population, including rare white lions.

Beware of facilities making false and misleading claims. Many claim to ‘rescue lions’, undertake ‘research’ and ‘rehabilitate’ lions, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Genuine lion sanctuaries are not involved in captive breeding and provide lifetime care to their resident animals. Genuine lion sanctuaries do not offer ‘petting’ opportunities.