Annie Beckhelling

In January 1997, founder Annie Beckhelling, launched the project with a hectare of land provided by Spier Wine Estates located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Cheetah Outreach then set out to introduce cheetah to the South African community. Educational efforts began with two cheetahs: Shadow, a one-year-old male, capable of traveling to community events, and Inca, a six-year-old male, whose role was to greet Spier visitors. In the first year alone, Cheetah Outreach and Shadow, visited more than 50,000 people by traveling to educational facilities, community clubs, hotels, malls, and various public events. At Spier, with an average annual visitor ship of 350,000 people, Inca was able to greet more than 10 percent of the guests touring the lovely estate. Since our successful beginning, Cheetah Outreach quickly expanded with the arrival of three cubs in September 1997. Nyana-Spier, Charlie-Girl and Moya enjoyed the public attention. Moya was donated to the Angel Trust Fund (Cincinnati, Ohio) to assist them with their efforts of raising awareness for the plight of the cheetah. Our facility is continually evolving and growing and we are taking on more challenges than ever before. We are actively involved in cub rearing and in the Anatolian Shepherd Guarding Dog program in South Africa

Dawn Glover

Dawn, a zoologist and an environmentalist educator, is overall manager of Cheetah Outreach. Dawn started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in October 1997 and joined as full-time staff in January 1999, heading the education program and ensuring that awareness of the plight of the cheetah was spread through the community through school visits, teacher workshops, incorporating conservation into school curriculums and other activities. She attained her Masters in Environmental Education in 2006. In 2016 Dawn took over running Cheetah Outreach with responsibility for all aspects of the organization.

Michelle Marneweck

Michelle started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in February 2017, sometimes working 5 days a week. Due to her hard work, commitment and confidence around the animals, she was chosen to help with hand-raising new cubs and was hired as full-time staff in November that year, focusing on handling and husbandry duties. Her love for the animals and her willingness to do whatever is asked of her makes her an invaluable member of the team. 

In 2024 Michelle was recognised for her years of dedicated service and was elevated to Facility Manager.

Terrance Gadzayi

Terrance was hired in January 2018 to help with maintenance. Since then he has become indispensable in keeping the facility in good condition and also became the kitchen manager. Terrance is an extremely hard worker and takes great pride in his work, always doing a good job whether it be mowing grass in an enclosure or repairing huts and other structures.  He also prepares all the meals for the animals with great care. 

Bonga Matina

Bonga started working at Cheetah Outreach in January 2008.  Being a jack-of-all-trades he helps out with maintenance and in the kitchen. He left Cheetah Outreach at the end of 2012 but continued to come in on Sundays and volunteer, helping out with cheetah encounters.   He came back full-time to Cheetah Outreach in May 2015 and we are very happy to have Bonga back on the team again as a handler, tour guide and handyman. 

Bianca Wroe-Street

Bianca joined Cheetah Outreach as a volunteer in 2018 and became a staff member in 2024, bringing years of hands-on experience into her role as a handler. Her responsibilities include animal care, handling, and supporting the day-to-day administrative needs of the facility. She values the opportunity to build genuine relationships with a wide range of animals and sees those connections as central to effective care and welfare. Inspired by firsthand exposure to the challenges facing cheetahs, Bianca pursued a BSc in Zoology to deepen her understanding and contribute more meaningfully to conservation efforts.

Donna Cavaliere

Donna joined Cheetah Outreach as a volunteer in 2024 and assists with daily duties, guest engagement, back-handling support, and coordinating website bookings. She enjoys being part of the guest experience and helping visitors learn about the conservation work carried out at the facility. Donna believes strongly in the importance of safeguarding wildlife for future generations and in encouraging respect for all living creatures. Known for her longstanding fondness for cats of every kind, she feels a particular connection with Ebony, whose distinctive presence and resonant purr stood out to her from the beginning.

Liesl Smith

Liesl started at Cheetah Outreach in 2000 as curator. She has always put animal well-being ahead of everything else and also helped start our enrichment program. After 23 years at Cheetah Outreach, Liesl left to spend more time with her family and pursue other interests but she still comes to visit us every week and spend time with the animals.

Doreen Browne

Doreen started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach when the program began in 1997 and over the years has given her Saturday to work at the facility.  Since retirement, Doreen also works every Thursday.  Doreen became a Cheetah Handler in 2001 and is also a small animal Handler.  She used to help out with onsite functions as well as at fund-raising events.  She is very involved in animal enrichment and spends time walking our caracal Grace.  Thank you for all the time and support you have given the program from the beginning.

Lesta Rothero

Lesta started volunteering in 2001 and quickly became an essential part of the team, always ready to step in and help at short notice. She used to work at the facility, overseeing the care of all our dogs, making sure they are walked on a regular basis, and helped with the birth and care of all the puppies born to our breeding females before they moved to Limpopo. She was also one of our main small animal handlers, doing encounters that have become very popular with the public. She has retired but still continues to come once or twice a week to walk the dogs.

Jacqui Friedling

Jacqui started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in 2010 and since then has become a regular.  Despite a busy and demanding career as a doctor, Jacqui still finds time to help us out almost every Sunday as well as during the holidays, days that other volunteers are often not available.  Through her work, she has also provided us with lots of enrichment items for our small carnivores. She is both a cheetah and small animal Handler. She has adopted our servals Baggins and Legacy.  Many thanks to Jacqui for her continuing support.

Mandi Wyngaard

Mandi started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in 2009 and works around her busy schedule as a fitness instructor in order to help out whenever she can. She became a cheetah handler in 2011 but her passion is working with the cubs at our facility. She has become very involved in the cub-rearing program and has been over-seeing it since 2014. We thank Mandi for giving up her free time to volunteer at Cheetah Outreach and for all her help with the cub program.

Tammy Richmond

Tammy started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in March 2013, giving up one of her days-off from her regular job every week to work on Saturdays.  She became a cheetah handler in 2015 and also does bat-eared fox and caracal encounters as well as cub and dog walks and enrichment with our small carnivores and cheetahs.  Her commitment and enthusiasm have made her an important part of the Saturday team, and we thank her for her dedication and hard work.

Frances Mitchell

Frances started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in 2013 helping with tours, in the shop, feeding and spending time with the Anatolians, and helping out with cheetah encounters. She is also a bat-eared fox handler. Her dedication and enthusiasm make Frances part of the spirit of Cheetah Outreach team.

Tony Fitzpatrick

Tony started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in October 2017, giving up one of his days off to come in on the weekend to help out at the facility.  Besides being a cheetah back-handler, he helps with feeding our small predators, walking and training dogs, and doing enrichment with the animals.  He is also a caracal handler.  We appreciate all the time and effort he gives to Cheetah Outreach.

Lynn Fitzpatrick

Lynn started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in October 2017, giving up one of her days off to come in on the weekend to help out at the facility.  She has always wanted to work with wildlife, and loves spending time with and getting to know the cheetahs and small animals. She also enjoys talking to guests, sharing knowledge and explaining the role of Cheetah Outreach in wildlife conservation. Besides being a cheetah back-handler, Lynn helps with feeding our small predators and doing enrichment with the animals.  She is also a caracal handler. We are lucky to have such a dedicated volunteer.

Juan Du Plessis

Juan been volunteering at Cheetah Outreach for 6 years now. When Juan started at CO, he was really introvert and feeling anxious around people, but when he started to work around animals, being the thing he loves the most, really helped him to open up to the world around him. He feels like he is part of a family with us, giving him a sense of personal reward. Thank you Juan for your commitment to all of us.

Owen Swart

Owen “The Admiral”, has been part of Cheetah Outreach since 2019 and works primarily as a cheetah handler, while also serving as Training Coordinator. Much of his time on site is spent handling ambassador cheetahs and supporting their care and welfare, alongside training and mentoring volunteers and developing clear, consistent standards for animal work. Known for his calm, methodical approach and strong understanding of both felids and canids, he focuses on ensuring safe, respectful interactions between people and animals. Owen sees stewardship of biodiversity and the planet as both a social and personal responsibility, with each individual accountable for the contribution they make.

Harry Hinds

Harry first volunteered at Cheetah Outreach from 2015 to 2017 before joining the staff in November 2018 as Assistant Curator. He brings with him a wealth of veterinary experience having worked for over a decade as a Veterinary Assistant in New Zealand, both with domestic and exotic companion animals. He received a BA in Applied Science in Animal Management and Welfare in 2015, became a Certified Natural Zoological Scientist in 2017 and an Animal Technician in 2018. He has also published research in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal. We are very lucky to have someone with Harry’s experience help us look after our animals.

Toni Smith

Toni joined Cheetah Outreach in August 2023, bringing her passion for wildlife and education to our team. A former biology teacher, she stepped back from the classroom to focus on raising her children but remains dedicated to sharing knowledge. She loves working with the animals and takes great joy in educating guests about our conservation efforts. Outside of Cheetah Outreach, Toni keeps chickens and generously provides fresh eggs to our ambassador animals and fellow volunteers. Her enthusiasm and dedication make her a valued member of our team.

“Mama” Yvette

Yvette joined Cheetah Outreach in January 2024. Her passion in life is being around animals which provide her with a sense of peace, purpose, and connection that comes from being around them. It’s a way of living with more honesty and heart.

Yvette as become an essential part of Cheetah Outreach and we are very happy to have her with us.

Tyle Swart

Tyle started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in September 2018. She has always been fascinated by wildlife, and is thrilled to be able to work closely with the animals at CO. She has since become a cheetah and small-predator handler and really enjoys building relationships with each animal. Tyle also works as a veterinary assistant and is always keen to be involved behind the scenes. We are lucky to have such a committed volunteer who loves being with the animals.

Leoné Steyn

Leoné has been part of the Cheetah Outreach family since 2019, bringing a depth of experience and professionalism shaped by years working with both small animals and cheetahs. Now advancing into full handler responsibilities, she is known for her calm competence, strong work ethic, and natural connection with the animals in her care. She values the unique personalities of every species she works with and is passionate about conservation through education, believing that helping even one person see the bigger picture makes a difference. When she’s not on the facility, Leoné enjoys recreational scuba diving and exploring the biodiversity she strives to protect. Her favourite ambassador is Zorro, whom she has known since he was a young cub.

Erasmus van Zyl

Erasmus joined Cheetah Outreach in the 2023 and has become a steady, reliable presence on the team, supporting back-handling, tours, and stepping in wherever help is needed. He is valued for his consistency, willingness to take on any task, and his enthusiasm for sharing knowledge with visitors. Driven by a deep concern for species disappearing unnoticed, Erasmus sees conservation as a vital responsibility and strives to help guests understand what is at stake. Known for his humility, he prefers to let his actions speak for him, contributing quietly but earnestly to the smooth running of the facility. His favourite ambassador is Tinashe, whose calm gaze and soft purrs make every encounter memorable.

Joshua John

Josh joined Cheetah Outreach in 2024 and has quickly become a valued part of the volunteer team, contributing to guest experience, safety, and the daily upkeep of the facility. Thoughtful and earnest in his approach, he is motivated by a lifelong respect for wildlife and a desire to turn that concern into meaningful action through conservation. Josh especially enjoys meeting visitors from around the world and working alongside a wide range of ambassador animals, each of which inspires him in different ways. Known for his calm manner, and for being inexplicably popular with dogs, he looks forward to growing his skills and continuing to support the animals he cares so deeply about.