Step onto a working farm founded by animal trainer Luke Cornell, where wildlife is cared for with experience, structure, and genuine respect. Located near Botrivier in the Western Cape, Cornellskop offers guided, educational animal encounters shaped by the animals themselves.
Group animal Encounters
Private animal Experiences
Film & Production
VISIT THE FARM
What to expect
at Cornellskop
Cornellskop was established by animal trainer Luke Cornell and has grown into a 118-hectare working farm in the Van der Stel Pass Valley. Over the years, it has become home to rescued and professionally trained wildlife living in a structured environment designed around long-term care.
For visitors looking for ethical animal encounters in South Africa, Cornellskop offers something quieter and more considered than a typical attraction. Guests don’t arrive at a show. They arrive at a working farm where animals are prioritised and encounters unfold calmly under experienced guidance.
What You can see
The animals of Cornellskop
From meerkats and ostrich to lion, serval, zebra, cheetah, and more, Cornellskop houses a diverse range of wildlife. Each species is cared for according to its needs and managed within a structured farm environment.
Because encounters are shaped by the animals’ behaviour on the day, every visit unfolds a little differently - always with their wellbeing first.
Cheetah
Zebra
Lion
Hyena
Meerkat
...and more
Stay on the farm
Beautiful, rustic
country stays
Beyond the guided encounters, Cornellskop offers thoughtfully restored farm cottages set within the valley landscape.
Wake to birdsong, watch the light shift across the hills, and hear the distant call of lions carried on the wind. These are traditional farm homes — solid, character-filled spaces that reflect the land around them.
Choose from two smaller cottages or the main farmhouse, which sleeps up to 12 guests. Overnight visitors receive a discounted rate on animal encounters.
Guest Experience
Reviews from our
Happy Clients
Guided encounters, honest education, and unforgettable moments shaped some memorable experiences for our visitors.
Step onto a working farm founded by animal trainer Luke Cornell, where wildlife is cared for with experience, structure, and genuine respect. Every encounter is guided, educational, and shaped by the animals themselves.
Group Animal Encounters
Private Animal Experiences
Film & Production
Guided Encounters
Where Animals
Come First
Step onto a working farm founded by animal trainer Luke Cornell, where wildlife is cared for with experience, structure, and genuine respect. Every encounter is guided, educational, and shaped by the animals themselves.
Guided Encounters
Where Animals
Come First
Step onto a working farm founded by animal trainer Luke Cornell, where wildlife is cared for with experience, structure, and genuine respect. Every encounter is guided, educational, and shaped by the animals themselves.
Cheetah
Zebra
Lion
Hyena
Giraffe
...and more
Guided Encounters
Where Animals
Come First
Step onto a working farm founded by animal trainer Luke Cornell, where wildlife is cared for with experience, structure, and genuine respect. Every encounter is guided, educational, and shaped by the animals themselves.
Guest Experience
Reviews from our
Happy Clients
Guided encounters, honest education, and unforgettable moments shaped some memorable experiences for our visitors.