Friends of Free Wildlife

Tucked away in the semi-rural greenbelt of Kyalami in Midrand, Friends of Free Wildlife is a dedicated NGO and non-profit wildlife rescue service that gives injured, orphaned, and displaced animals a second chance. Serving the wider Midrand and northern Johannesburg urban areas, the organisation provides a safe space where wild birds and small mammals can heal, recover, and ultimately be returned to their natural environment. Founded in 2016 by passionate and qualified wildlife rehabilitators, Friends of Free Wildlife was created to fill a growing need in Gauteng for an ethical, community-based wildlife rehabilitation centre focused on urban wildlife. As more people share space with wild animals, conflicts and injuries become more common. Friends of Free Wildlife works at this crucial intersection of city and nature, offering skilled care for wildlife, as well as guidance and support for the people who encounter them. Today, the organisation is powered by volunteers, public funding, and small business support. Residents bring in birds caught by cats, doves injured by dogs, or young guinea fowl separated from their parents, and they are met by a team that is knowledgeable, hands-on, and genuinely compassionate. Every animal admitted shapes the centre’s journey and helps build a more caring, informed community around local wildlife. ## Services & Specialties At its core, Friends of Free Wildlife in Kyalami, Midrand focuses on four key pillars: rescue, rehabilitate, release, and educate. The team responds to calls about injured or distressed wildlife, offers guidance on safe capture and transport, and receives animals at their centre for professional assessment. From there, each case is managed as an individual patient: stabilised, treated, and monitored until it is strong enough to return to the wild. The centre is equipped with a clinic and ICU-style facilities purpose-built for wildlife. Here, birds and small mammals receive expert care, including supportive housing, specialised diets, and gradual conditioning for release. Patients range from common garden birds and doves to other urban wildlife affected by vehicle collisions, predators, habitat loss, or seasonal threats like winter cold and veld fires. The focus is always on ethical rehabilitation with the ultimate goal of safe release back into suitable habitats. Beyond hands-on animal care, Friends of Free Wildlife is deeply committed to public education and community engagement. The organisation promotes peaceful co-existence between humans and urban wildlife, helping residents understand how to respond when they find injured animals, how to prevent unnecessary harm, and how to appreciate the biodiversity that exists around homes, schools, and businesses. Through outreach, partnerships, and volunteer programmes, Friends of Free Wildlife empowers the public to be active custodians of the local environment. ## Why Choose Friends of Free Wildlife - Trusted NGO & non-profit in Midrand: A well-regarded, community-based organisation focused solely on urban wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Kyalami and surrounding areas. - Clear rescue-to-release focus: Every effort is made to treat, rehabilitate, and release animals back into the wild, rather than keeping them in captivity longer than necessary. - Verified and transparent operations: Fully verified by iZinga Assist, which recognises strong governance, impact, and a high level of organisational transparency. - Volunteer-driven and donation-funded: Operates as a public-funded volunteer organisation, so support goes directly toward animal care, facilities, and essential rehabilitation materials. - Ethical, professional wildlife care: Guided by experienced wildlife rehabilitators and ethical standards that prioritise the welfare of animals and respect for natural ecosystems. - Accessible to the public: Welcomes members of the public who find injured or orphaned wildlife, offering clear guidance, friendly support, and a reliable place to bring animals in need. ## Location & Accessibility Friends of Free Wildlife is located in Kyalami AH, Midrand, in the heart of Gauteng’s equestrian and smallholding belt. The area is known for its blend of open spaces, residential properties, and natural habitat, making it an ideal location for an urban wildlife rehabilitation centre. Easily reachable from key parts of Midrand, northern Johannesburg, and surrounding suburbs, the centre offers a convenient drop-off point for residents who need to bring in injured or displaced wildlife. Its setting provides the calm, semi-rural environment that recovering animals need, while still being close enough to major routes for fast access in urgent situations. ## Get in Touch If you encounter injured, orphaned, or displaced wildlife in Midrand or nearby areas, Friends of Free Wildlife is there to help. Reach out to the team for advice on what to do, how to safely secure an animal, or how to bring it to the centre in Kyalami. Whether you want to report injured wildlife, volunteer your time, or support through donations or sponsorship of materials, Friends of Free Wildlife welcomes your involvement in giving local wildlife a genuine second chance.