Growing up in Port Elizabeth, Andrew Hughes’ passion for nature grew strong while frequently hiking in the surrounding mountains - Baviaanskloof, Kouga, Groot Winterhoek and Tsitsikamma - from a young age. Andrew and his father were members of the Mountain Club of South Africa - Eastern Province Section, taking one or two hiking trips a month to remote locations and overnighting in caves.  

After school, Andrew studied nature conservation at the then Saasveld campus just outside of George - a 4-year degree including a practical training year, which Andrew completed on Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. 

Andrew started his career on Amakhala Game Reserve as rhino monitor and managed the land and game under Hillsnek on the Reserve. Thereafter he became wildlife monitor on Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Western Cape. He was soon promoted to assistant conservation manager, and over the next 10 years expanded his role to conservation manager. 

The next chapter of Andrew’s career started when he was recently appointed as general manager of Amakhala Game Reserve, where it all began, and which is now an exciting and unique 8,500ha conservation initiative that is the premier Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.  

We are thrilled to share that our female cheetah welcomed a litter of cubs on Amakhala Game Reserve in May this year. Alnich, who is part of our ecology unit, managed to capture the perfectly camouflaged den in a dense thicket on the Reserve using drone footage from high up in the air so not to disturb her and the cubs. 

Cheetah cubs are born weighing approximately 250g, so these cubs have a lot of growing to do! Mom will travel fair distances to catch prey, and may leave the cubs for long periods. Due to the dangers that other predators pose, she will regularly relocate the cubs to a new den site.

The cheetah - a unique and irreplaceable part of our African heritage - has long been on the endangered species list. Only an estimated 6000 - 7000 adult cheetah are still in the wild today, with fewer than 2000 cheetahs in South Africa.

Cheetahs are one of the key conservation priorities for Amakhala Game Reserve, and we are proud to be involved in the Cheetah Metapopulation Project spearheaded by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). We can't wait to get a closer look at our new cheetah and to watch them grow and thrive. Stay tuned for updates on their progress! 

Intrepid runners recently took on Amakhala Game Reserve on foot for a Run Safari themed “Run with the Rangers”, as three of the rangers joined in for the fun and excitement.  

The day started at a chilly 0 degrees on Carnarvon Dale, with Emma and Dakota from Amakhala Horse Safaris leading the runners out on the Sunrise Surprise: a beautiful single track through the Albany Thicket and down the Bushman’s River.  

While running, the reserve team monitored the active wildlife all around the Woodbury Tented camp – lion, elephant and buffalo. Guests took photos from the breakfast deck of buffalo - and even a male lion - just 20 metres away! The animals settled down and the runners had a thrilling 25km run, only having to get into the vehicles to drive around two female lions, which were sitting 50 metres off the route.

By the time they reached the ‘finish line’ on the Tented Camp deck, they had run past the male lion and buffalo they had seen during breakfast, elephant twice, a rhino and her calf and very relaxed rhino right at the end - not to forget kudu, Gemsbok, Eland, Zerba, Hartebeest, Giraffe and the ever-comical warthogs.  

Jack Black kindly provided celebration drinks and prizes for the top fundraisers. We have nearly raised the funds required for two pairs of night vision binoculars, and there are a few more days left to be part of this wonderful event by making a contribution. 

Please visit https://www.givengain.com/e/the-be-moved-safari-marathon-2023/ to lend a hand!

We enjoyed a proud celebration earlier this year when our own Senior Ecologist at Amakhala Game Reserve, Natalie Fowler, graduated with Master of Science Degree in Zoology from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa in March 2023. 

Passionate about wildlife conservation and making a difference, Natalie focussed on the influence of immuno-contraception on the ecology of African savanna elephants in a game reserve in the Eastern Cape. Elephants have a unique 22-month period of gestation – that’s almost two years! – after which the largest newborn land mammal on earth is born: a baby elephant that could weigh as much as a hefty 100kg! Protecting African elephants is a priority at Amakhala Game Reserve, as the current conservation status for elephants is listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. 

The whole of the Amakhala family congratulates Natalie Fowler on her exemplary achievement. We are proud to have her as part of the Amakhala ecology team.

World Book Day changes lives through cultivating a love of books and reading. This year, the Amakhala Foundation decided to celebrate World Book Day by creating a special event at the Sidbury Primary School. 

World Book Day is celebrated every year on 23 April in over 100 countries around the globe. It was first created by UNESCO on 23rd April 1995 as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. This is because reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income. World Book Day aims to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them.

Basil Mills, renowned local historian, environmentalist and raconteur, entertained the children with a storytelling session focused on animals, while his son, Steven Mills, got the children to create art around the stories. Steven is the new Environmental Education Officer at the Foundation.

The event was capped off with a donation of books, received from Book Dash, that enabled the Foundation to gift each of the 48 pupils a brand-new book of their own to take home. The book was entitled "Little Seeds" - a title that will hopefully further inspire the learners to be aware of plants and their environment.

Woodbury Lodge & Tented Camp

The water holes at Woodbury Lodge & Woodbury Tented Camp have been the hub of activity lately! From the comfort of their pool loungers, as well as the seats at our viewing and breakfast decks alike, our guests have seen it all.  Woodbury Lodge guests were spoiled by the lions lazing in the sun while the cubs played in and around the water hole.  While over at Woodbury Tented Camp a brand new buffalo calf made its appearance only hours after its birth. 

To end off our luck the three male cheetahs stopped for a drink at Woodbury Lodge just as the morning safari was departing; guide Donovan Hulett followed them as they made their way to Woodbury Tented Camp where they attempted to hunt juvenile waterbuck. All three cheetah males attempted their own kill where two were successful and one was promptly chased away by a very upset waterbuck mom. These and many more sightings were ticked off our guests list provided lasting memories and once in a lifetime experiences. 

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Safari Lodge

Oksana and Max, a Canadian couple behind the award-winning sustainable travel blog, Drink Tea & Travel, recently visited us at Safari Lodge. Known for their passion for sustainable travel, the couple embarked on an unforgettable journey, immersing themselves in the breath-taking wilderness while practicing eco-conscious habits, thereby showcasing the true essence of responsible tourism.  We were delighted that Oksana and Max not only posted a blog about their stay with us, but also gave us a wonderful mention in their blog called Best Safari Lodges in South Africa! Please click on the link to read the full blog: https://drinkteatravel.com/amakhala-safari-lodge-south-africa/.

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Quartermain's 1920's Safari Camp

All of us at Quatermain's 1920's Safari Camp are very excited about the addition of a powerful and luxurious Land Cruiser game viewer, providing our guests with an even better safari experience. Our guests can now look forward to more comfort and luxury on their game drives across the reserve. We have also completed upgrades to the pathways through our Camp. These have been resurfaced, and now – with the addition of beautiful solar lights – allow our guests to take magical moonlit strolls in the evenings as they meander back to their warm, comfortable tents returning from the lamp-lit boma.

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Leeuwenbosch
Country House

At Leeuwenbosch, it’s been a busy few months - the busiest since COVID! Our team and the wildlife have done a great job keeping our guests happy and returning!  We are grateful to receive some incredible donations from our guests and, in particular, we would like to thank Hannah Macleod from Chesterfield in the UK for the generous delivery of footballs and bibs, rugby balls, cricket kits, art supplies and board games, which our team took round to the Isipho orphanage in Paterson. The kids were delighted to receive all the goodies! Seeing their faces light up was heart-warming! 
We also released a beautiful rescued porcupine. He was found wounded and had lost most of his quills, but the Ikhala clinic nursed him back to health. He joins our lion cubs playing silly, the elephants bathing in the water holes, and giraffe joining in, whilst our guests enjoy sundowner drinks…

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Hlosi Game Lodge

For guests looking for an exciting way to spend their downtime, Hlosi Game Lodge offers archery as an optional extra activity. Under the guidance of a skilled staff member, guests of all ages can learn the fundamentals of this ancient sport, with plenty of time to practice their aim and accuracy. Set against a stunning backdrop, the archery lessons at the lodge provide a unique and memorable addition to the safari experience. Whether a beginner or a seasoned pro, guests of all experience levels are sure to enjoy the thrill of aiming for bullseye in the African bush. 

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Bush Lodge

Our team at Bush Lodge is delighted to share that we have made an investment in a generator to eliminate the hassles and challenges posed by load shedding, which is now a frequent reality in South Africa. This will enable our guests to enjoy an uninterrupted stay, unaffected by the regular and ongoing power outages! Here at Bush Lodge, we are committed to delivering excellent service to our guests and for this reason we are thrilled to offer yet another convenience to ensure every one of our guests enjoys an unforgettable experience – whether there is load shedding or not!

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Bukela Game Lodge

What a SPOT! A coalition of cheetah made their way to Bukela Game Lodge and quickly became the talk of the lodge. Guests were thrilled to see the sleek predators wandering around camp, their distinctive spots shining in the sun. The three brothers took their time, leisurely exploring the area and elegantly taking in the sights and sounds, while guests gathered from a safe distance to watch these magnificent cats in action up close. Their visit added an extra element of adventure to the already unforgettable safari experience that Bukela offers. 
 

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Lodge Closure Dates

The following lodges will be closed during the Winter months:

Hlosi Game Lodge: 22 June – 02 July
Bush Lodge: 11 June – 13 July
Hillsnek Safari Camp: 1 June – 4 July 
Quartermains - 15 June - 10 July
Woodbury Lodge: 26 June - 4 July
Woodbury Tented: 8 June - 7 July

In an exciting new initiative, we will be sharing some of the amazing wildlife images captured by both our Amakhala Rangers and guests who visit the Amakhala Game Reserve. To have your images considered for inclusion, please email your photograph taken on the Reserve, with your name and surname to robyn@amakhala.co.za. 

Image credit: Ben Gierig

Image credit: Cullen Gilfillan

Image credit: Zandra Conway