Gill has loved nature and wild spaces ever since she was a young adult, moving to Cape Town when she was 19.   She then travelled overland through Africa to Europe, studying while she explored and worked her way around for a few years.

Back in South Africa she completed her degree and did a postgraduate degree in Marketing whilst maintaining her passion for environmental conservation and wild animals.

She enjoyed being a Media Director, but was constantly involved in environmental issues.  Her breaks in her marketing career included a wonderful volunteer trip to Antarctica, and working as a lodge manageress in a private game reserve in Botswana.

Gill has been involved in animal rights issues for many years.  Progress was slow, but animals are now accepted as sentient beings. Much still needs to be done:  She advocates the right of animals to exist without human inflicted suffering; and for farming with allowance for, and tolerance towards, wildlife to minimize conflict.

Gill also completed her degree in teaching (PGCE) to become involved in environmental and sustainability education. 

She lectured at a tertiary education institution, and did consulting, which included work on CSR/CSI; sustainability; and the Global Reporting Initiative.

She joined the Jane Goodall Institute (Chimp Eden) in January 2013, restarting the paying volunteer programme, doing educational talks, arranging accommodation and other logistics, plus marketing.  Dr Jane Goodall continues to be a source of inspiration.

Gill came back to Cape Town knowing she had to make a positive difference. As there was no sanctuary for primates and most other wildlife species in the Western Cape, she made the decision to dedicate her life to the environment and wildlife.

She sold her beachfront apartment and started Wild Rescue NPC in 2015.   After an extensive search for a suitable property, she found this nature reserve, although never dreamt her offer would be accepted. She only fully realised the value of this natural gem of biodiversity after she had spent some time on it.

We are the wild.
The feathered, the feral, the free
The hunters, the hoppers, the hiders
The one, the many, the gone
The past, the present, the possible
We are the future, we are your future
We are one.

Opening up shares in the Wild Goukou (Pty) Ltd, enables capital to support both the founder and the very indispensable project to which she is dedicating her life and savings.

I trust that shareholders will share in the vision for this nature reserve:  compassion, rescue, rehabilitation, education and hope – for the future of our vulnerable and amazing Cape Floristic Kingdom, and our beautiful planet.

Gill Simpson