In 2021, Amakhala’s female cheetah gave birth to two cubs. The male was translocated to Ashia Cheetah Sanctuary to add to the cheetah metapopulation pool there and the female stayed on Amakhala soil, but not for long!

When she was almost a year old, she braved the 2,4m electric fence to claim an area free of other cheetah adjacent to Amakhala: the game reserve surrounding Founders Lodge. A maze of deep valleys with thick bush and few open planes, the area is not ideal by cheetah standards, but she still survived. Despite the very best efforts of the ecology team to bring her back to Amakhala, including making daily trips to Founders, she stayed there for the next four months. 

After several attempts, many of which were daily to get visual on her, the team eventually tried to cage trap her. This too did not work. It was not until the 11th of July 2023 that Alnich, our rhino monitor who had been doing the bulk of the monitoring of this cheetah, managed to get a visual in the right place at the right time. He promptly called our vet, Dr William Fowlds, who also needed to be present and who responded immediately.  

A dart was fired, and the cheetah soon fell asleep, allowing the ecology team to bring her back to Amakhala. Recently, she was also translocated to Ashia, as was originally planned, where she will contribute to the cheetah metapopulation program in her new home in the Northern Cape. 

World Environment Day is celebrated on 5 June each year and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. The theme for 2023 focussed on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution, because the world is being inundated by plastic! More than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10% is recycled.

At Amakhala, we celebrated World Environment Day with learners from two local schools, Sidbury Primary School and Alexandria Christian Academy. The activities included an informative talk at our Amakhala Conservation Centre by Steven Mills, the Amakhala Foundation’s Environmental Educator, who held the children’s rapt attention with a real live python - his family’s pet! 

There were also many fun art activities and the learners joyfully showed off the amazing dinosaurs they made as part of the day’s creative activities.

The Amakhala Foundation recently sponsored an U17 Amakhala Soccer Team to participate in a local tournament, and also provided the team with new boots and a kit bag.

Officially declared by the United Nations, Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela's birthday. It is a day about giving back to the community. Amakhala Foundation celebrated the day by treating the Grade 3 class from Sidbury Primary School to fun art activities and an exciting game drive, while the staff of Hillsnek Tented Camp did an activation with the children at our iJosi Preschool.

Amakhala Foundation’s building projects are progressing well! The extension to iJosi Preschool has been completed, while the new toilet block built for Sidbury Primary School, as well as the exciting new Amakhala Learning Centre is nearing completion. Watch this space for news!

The Amakhala Volunteers are doing the Budding Q school readiness programme with Grade R learners at Sidbury Primary. In addition, the Amakhala Foundation is also sponsoring an intern, a local young person, to assist in the Grade R class. The Grade 1 – 3 learners at Sidbury Primary also enjoy weekly story and book borrowing sessions at the Sidbury Library. To further boost their crucially important language skills, the Amakhala Foundation is also providing extra English lessons to these Grade 1 – 3 learners at Sidbury.

Bukela Game Lodge

Excitement is at an all-time high at Bukela Game Lodge as recent cheetah sightings are the talk of the town! As one of only two unfenced lodges on Amakhala, this 5-star lodge has always been renowned for its incredible animal encounters, with the waterhole at the heart of the action. However, the cheetahs have taken a keen interest in the lodge's warm hospitality, becoming frequent visitors to the delight of guests. The exhilarating encounters with these cats have left guests utterly captivated and wanting more, making Bukela an irresistible destination for wildlife enthusiasts seeking unforgettable adventures amidst the untamed beauty of the Amakhala region. 

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Bush Lodge

Bush Lodge is thrilled to share the completion of its long-awaited building extension and lodge revamp! The main building has been expanded, offering a more spacious dining area where our guests can indulge in leisurely and delicious meals. Additionally, the new tranquil lounge that overlooks the sparkling swimming pool now provides the perfect setting for relaxation and soaking up the African sun. This latest Bush Lodge revamp has enhanced our facilities and amenities, and the overall guest experience, and we are looking forward to welcoming guests to enjoy our big sky views overlooking our Lodge’s popular wildlife watering point.  

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Hillsnek Safari Camp

HillsNek Safari Camp is thrilled with the recent remodel of its tents and main lodge. The tents now feature oak and metal furniture, natural grass wallpaper, wall-mounted bedside reading lights and timber-clad indoor showers. The remodel also includes an extension to the dining area, a new bar crafted from reclaimed wood and pressed metal along with another fireplace, and reimagined living spaces. The famous swimming pool frequented by elephants has been expanded with an additional dedicated pool just for our guests and the main deck was extended, providing an unparalleled safari experience, where comfort and luxury meet the magnificent African wilderness.

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Hlosi Game Lodge

Recent renovations at family-friendly Hlosi Game Lodge have elevated the guest experience to new heights. The safari tents now boast charming new thatched roofs, not only adding an authentic touch but also serving to regulate the temperatures within, ensuring a comfortable stay regardless of the weather. Meanwhile, the family suites have been revamped with sleek aluminum doors, offering unobstructed views of the breathtaking surroundings. The main lodge received a well-deserved upgrade too, with a modernised kitchen and new flooring, providing a delightful dining experience and a refreshed atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. We are delighted that the recent renovations reflect our commitment to excellence.

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Leeuwenbosch Country House

Throughout the chilly winter, Leeuwenbosch have been hosting the Veterinarian Groups that visit each year for two weeks to learn about our unique environment and the amazing animals. They work with Dr William Fowlds on Amakhala Game Reserve and the surrounding reserves, capturing and moving wildlife between reserves to ensure fresh blood lines for reproduction purposes, collaring rhino for safety reasons, and scientifically managing the elephant herds through contraception.  

We have also been busy with Wild Earth filming on all the Amakhala properties and we are delighted to share with you a little taster before our video comes out: https://fb.watch/lMR_bjFXeP/

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Quartermain’s 1920’s Safari Campaign

Your stay at Quatermain's 1920's Safari Camp is now even more fun and romantic! Enjoy a glass of wine while relaxing in your own private wood-fired hot tub at your tent! Lie back beneath the stars above and let your cares soak away, or cool off on hot summer days in this delightful plunge pool. As part of our latest refurbishments, we have also extended our thatched lapa to give guests a more spacious dining and lounge area. These latest improvements greatly enhance the Quatermain's experience, and we can't wait to share it with our visitors, from near and far.

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Safari Lodge

We are thrilled to unveil an exciting new offering at Safari Lodge: a watering hole strategically situated right in front of our luxury suites! This feature promises not just a scenic view, but a genuine brush with nature’s most captivating moments. As the sun casts its golden hue, our guests can indulge in pure relaxation, watching as magnificent wildlife, from majestic giraffes to graceful antelopes, saunter by, pausing to quench their thirst. It’s an intimate, real-time nature documentary right outside your window. Let the serenity envelop you as you become a part of this living tapestry - experience it for yourself!

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Woodbury Lodge & Woodbury Tented Camp

The chilly winter weather has not dampened the excitement at Woodbury Lodge & Woodbury Tented Camp! A few of the bathrooms in the chalets at Woodbury Lodge have recently undergone upgrades and transformations, while over at Woodbury Tented Camp, we are delighted with the addition of a roof over the beautiful breakfast deck. The addition of the roof will ensure that some shade is provided from the African sun in the upcoming summer months, allowing guests to more comfortably enjoy the view of the plains while awaiting a visit from a few elephants at the nearby watering hole. 

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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: Bernie Catterall

Image credit: Bernie Catterall