The property was was taken over by FOUR PAWS in 2006. During the early days at the newly acquired big cat sanctuary, huge demands were placed on the local team. Massive structural changes had to be made to the area to bring it up to FOUR PAWS' rigorous quality standards.

A lot of research and extensive work

For a year - between October 2006 and November 2007 - research was completed, permits obtained and extensive work was done. The 25 lions that FOUR PAWS had taken over from the previous owners remained on-site and were provided with medical care while work continued on upgrading the enclosures to accommodate more big cats who needed a safe home.

In 2007 a group of nine lions from the bankrupt Austrian safari park Gänserndorf and another from one of the many condemned Romanian zoos were the first to arrive in the Big Cat Sanctuary.

An appropriate environment for all animals

LIONSROCK has already rescued more than 150 big cats from all over the world. These animals are provided with a lifelong home and habitat appropriate to their species. All enclosures are several hectares in size. The main parts consist of open grassland with bushes and trees. In all the enclosures, shelters have been constructed which can be used by the animals as resting places. Natural structures that provide the animals with the possibility to hide and shelter from the elements. The enclosures are circular in shape and follow the natural shape of the land. This ensures that the animals are never in a corner and provides a feeling that there is no border.

LIONSROCK is also home to a variety of game including Wildebeests Blesbuck, Burchell’s Zebra, Duiker, Eland, Impala, Letchwe, Mountain Reedbuck, Red Hartebeest, Reedbuck, Springbuck, Steenbuck and Waterbuck. Furthermore, there is also a wide variety of bird species that have found refuge on the farm.