The Beginning

Six years ago, Dr Johan & Annemarie van Zijl of McGregor village in the Western Cape of South Africa responded to a request from the SPCA to provide shelter for two neglected donkeys.  

The two fellows arrived and soon  it became evident that there were many other donkeys similarly in desperate need of food, water, shelter and care.

The vision of a Donkey Sanctuary was born, but it was a priority to learn more about the range of factors that influence  the care of donkeys. The two donkeys were named Vaal & Japie - "vaaljapie" is an Afrikaans term for everyday wine.

The experience with the first two donkeys was in effect to serve as a pilot project for the Donkey Sanctuary.

During this period many more abused, discarded and elderly donkeys could have been taken in, but lack of space and limited resources did not yet allow for this. Foster homes were found, with some difficulty, for these donkeys.