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LIONSROCK BIG CAT SANCTUARY

LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary a FOUR PAWS sanctuary is home to around 100 big cats rescued from around the world. Here they are protected for the rest of their lives in a species-appropriate environment. 

Just 18km outside Bethlehem (Free State), LIONSROCK is conveniently situated approximately 2-3 hours from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Durban. To learn more about our overnight packages and day visitor activities, click here

Pre-booking remains essential.

Romanian lions Roman, Vincent, Ellie, Geena and Dolf at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in Bethlehem in South Africa.

About LIONSROCK

A FOUR PAWS sanctuary

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LIONSROCK Tourism

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A unique combination of 
animal welfare and tourism

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Tigers Jasper and Jade at LIONSROCK

MEET OUR ANIMALS

Home to around 100 big cats rescued from around the world

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RECENT UPDATES 

Don't miss anything!

Lion cub-petting study finds alarming welfare concerns in animal tourism industry

First-of-its-kind study, published in Animals, analyses YouTube videos to substantiate stress behaviours from lion cubs handled by tourists seeking the “Simba effect”

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Lions and tigers at a farm in South Africa

Paid Interactions Fuel Exploitative Big Cat Farming in South Africa

FOUR PAWS warns of tourist attractions that cruelly profit off big cats

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Petting of white tiger cub

Barely Wild

Inside the big cat farming industry for tourism

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Sanctuary Spotlight – Lifesaving LIONSROCK

How LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary provides lifesaving and life changing medical care for big cats

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Romana Kőnigsbrun (Austrian Ambassador to SA), Carsten Hertwig (Director FOUR PAWS Sustainable Sanctuaries), Josef Pfabigan (CEO of FOUR PAWS), Hildegard Pirker (Sanctuary Manager: LIONSROCK), and Fiona Miles (Director: FOUR PAWS South Africa) reopen LIONSROCK accomodation in Bethlehem in South Africa

New look LIONSROCK rocks ethical vision

LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in the Free State has undergone a transformation and was officially re-opened on Friday 6 January

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Lions LIONSROCK

Rescue The Golden Pride

Ten lions were safely transferred from the Gauteng Province 
of South Africa to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary

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#GoldenPride Release

FOUR PAWS takes over ten lions after non-compliance

Animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS takes over ten lions from provincial authorities after a compliance notice was issued to a Gauteng breeding facility

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Lioness Geena arrives at LIONSROCK

Five lions rescued from Romania last year arrive at South African forever home

Former owner keeps exploiting rescued lions’ parents and one-year-old cub

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Argentinian Train Tigers arriving at LIONSROCK

From Argentina to South Africa: ‘Train Tigers’ Feel Grass Under Their Paws for the First Time

FOUR PAWS transfers­ four rescued tigers to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary 

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Lions Samson and Tom at LIONSROCK

SUPPORT THE BIG CATS AT LIONSROCK 

Give our big cats the support they need

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Leopards Tulani and Mike at LIONSROCK

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