Alan and Renée Friedland are in the panel-beating business, but three lions changed their story.
By day, Alan and Renée Friedland run a panel-beating business in Johannesburg, South Africa. But in their spare time, they’re rescuing lions, cheetahs and other animals, while creating one of South Africa’s most unique animal sanctuaries—driven purely by passion, not profit.
It all began eight years ago when they heard that three lions were being shipped off to a circus in China. “I’ve got a problem with circuses,” Alan says. “Animals shouldn’t live like that.” The husband-and-wife team stepped in and rescued the lions themselves.
“We didn’t even have a sanctuary when we took them in,” Alan admits. But they immediately rushed to build enclosures, and from that moment on, the Friedlands were fully committed.
They’ve since gone on to rescue animals from all kinds of situations—some abused, some abandoned, others saved just in time. One of the most dramatic rescues involved eight cheetahs on a bankrupt farm. The hyenas kept there weren’t so lucky. “They were killed before we could get there,” Alan says. “But we got the cheetahs out in time.”
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Today, the Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary, nestled in Dinokeng Game Reserve just outside Johannesburg, is home to 14 lions, several cheetahs, horses, hyenas, meerkats, giraffes, and more. Every animal has a name, a past, and now—a future.
There’s the heart-warming story of two lion brothers brought together after being separated for eight years and sold off. “They were meant for canned hunting,” Alan explains. “We managed to buy one, but it took us eight months to get the other one.” When they were finally reunited, the lions greeted each other by bumping heads—a natural lion gesture of affection and recognition. “That moment made all the effort worth it,” he smiles.
And it’s not just the animals that are healing. “People come with trauma,” Renée explains, “and the animals help them too.” Visitors have described the sanctuary as a peaceful escape—where nature, empathy and connection create something deeply human.
To keep the sanctuary running, the Friedlands have opened it to visitors. Guests can book overnight stays in canvas tents or luxury chalets. Twice-daily game drives take visitors up close to the animals—including the rare experience of gently stroking a cheetah.
“There’s nowhere else in Gauteng you can do that,” says Alan. “And the cheetahs love the attention—they begin to purr as soon as you start petting them.”
The income from tourists helps feed and care for the animals, and is reinvested into the sanctuary to support long-term wildlife care and conservation. It’s a model that blends heart and sustainability—something the Friedlands are proud of.
There’s also a strong educational drive behind everything they do. “Abuse of animals starts with ignorance,” Alan says. “There’s very little education around this in South Africa. We want to change that.” The sanctuary hosts school groups and works with communities to teach kindness, compassion, and respect for animals from a young age.
Alan believes the root of the issue lies in broader social challenges. “If children grow up in abusive homes, they’re less likely to show compassion to animals. Education is everything. If we invested in proper schooling, we’d change the future of this country—and our animals would benefit too.”
It’s not always easy. There are more animals in need than sanctuaries that can take them. But for Alan and Renée, the work is its own reward. “There’s this story about a little girl throwing starfish back into the sea,” Alan says. “Someone tells her it won’t make a difference because there are millions of starfish on the beach. She picks one up and says, ‘It made a difference to that one.’ That’s how we feel.”
For now, the couple continues to juggle full-time jobs, weekend rescue missions, and a growing sanctuary that somehow never stops needing more. But they don’t seem tired—just driven.
“You’ll always find time for what you love,” Alan says with a smile. And what they’ve built is more than a sanctuary. It’s a reminder that ordinary people with enough heart can do extraordinary things.
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