Entabeni began as CRANE Centre in 1992, in the Hlatikulu Valley of the Giant's Castle area of the central Drakensberg. Originally administered by the SA Crane Foundation, the little environmental education centre attached to the Hlatikulu Crane & Wetland Sanctuary was taken over by the Wildlife and Environment Society of Southern Africa (WESSA) as one of 4 education centres in KZN. In 2001, the centre was rebranded as Entabeni and was privatised to allow it to be more responsive to the changing needs of our clients.

Covid-19 and the resultant lockdowns caused the closure of the education centre and Sanctuary, and all the cranes were moved to Amazona Birds in Drummond, who continue the good work of breeding these endangered beauties. In 2020 Entabeni was incorporated in the Chrysalis Project, a registered NPO and PBO.