Bolstering Rhino Protection To give our brave anti-poaching units (APU) the very best advantage in our fight against well-funded, equipped and armed rhino poachers, they must stay
up to date with various training and skills courses, and really useful tools. This has been possible thanks to Chipembere Rhino Foundation and the Amakhala Foundation’s generous donations and invaluable support. Our sponsors from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have also kindly donated an incredible, high spec thermal drone, giving us an edge at night. Our APU team recently welcomed a new member, Vuyo Mlalandle, an experienced field ranger with a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm.
He joined
the team in various upskilling courses, including drone pilot license courses, K9 handling courses, and a specialised first aid first responder course for APU field rangers. Each ranger was sponsored with their own individual first aid kit for emergencies.
With high spirits, our APU has also been attending various rhino procedures on the reserve, watching out for threats while the Ecology team and the Ikhala vet team fit tracking bracelets, giving us another
technological advantage.
In addition, a major CCTV system upgrade, installing many state-of-the-art cameras, enables our APU team to closely monitor and rapidly respond to any suspicious activity.
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International Cheetah Day Photo Credit: Lulu in Africa In celebration of Amakhala Game Reserve’s 25th anniversary, a historic wildlife corridor was opened in September 2024 beneath the N2 highway, where the Bushman’s River flows. It has created a continuous mega reserve spanning over 9,000 hectares!
Since then, the reserve has seen remarkable wildlife movement into the new areas of the reserve. For the first
time in 200 years, animals are freely roaming land that hasn’t been inhabited by wildlife, breathing life back into untouched landscapes.
Read more about this exciting milestone on our blog or watch our celebratory video and join us in looking forward to many more years of conservation success!
Photo Credit: Lulu in Africa Wildlife Corridor a huge success! The newly established wildlife corridor at Amakhala has proven
an extraordinary success, offering both small and large animals the opportunity to roam freely between areas of the reserve. Incredibly, within just five days, our elephant herd ventured through! All of the animals are moving back and forth, which is great for a sustainable reserve. Our Wildlife Protection Solutions (WPS) camera traps have captured amazing sightings of lions, hippos, cheetahs, brown hyenas, elands,
warthogs, genets, and aardvarks moving through the corridor. Notably, a young male lion has taken advantage of the added space, dispersing naturally as he reaches the age to leave the pride. Hippos are finding access to larger water bodies, while cheetah populations have expanded their range, allowing males to interact with new females, supporting cheetah population numbers. For our elephants, the corridor has meant more space
and resources. The new area is helping them combat alien invasive species such as prickly pear plants. We also celebrated the birth of an elephant calf on the new section — an event of historic significance, as elephants have not roamed this part of the reserve for centuries. Additionally, brown hyenas now have a vital link to connect previously separated populations, enriching genetic diversity across the reserve. Conservation in Action – A Lioness Undergoes A Procedure With only 850 African lions left in managed wild reserves in South Africa, maintaining a healthy lion population is vital. To prevent inbreeding and support genetic diversity within a lion
meta-population, contraceptives are administered to some lionesses, to slow down and manage the lion population sustainably. Recently at Amakhala, a lioness underwent the procedure, including an ultrasound, general health check, microchipping and a sedation reversal agent, thanks to
generous sponsorship from the Dean Rice Memorial Wildlife Expedition, a group of US vets; the skilled Ikhala Veterinary Clinic team; Amakhala’s dedicated Ecology team; and the vigilant support from our Anti-Poaching Unit. It’s been an exciting time! We recently hosted an Arbor Day celebration, as well as children from a Safe Home in Makhanda (Grahamstown), and built a new relationship with the Holy Cross school outside
Makhanda around the Nature Connect programme, hosting several groups of their learners at Amakhala Conservation Centre (ACC). On the Environmental Education front, we continued our Coaching for Conservation (C4C) programme for Grade 5s, and hosted Grade 10 learners from Graeme College for a game drive and hands-on practical work
at the ACC to support their Life Science curriculum. Our digital learning programme on tablets at Sidbury Primary School is complemented by creative arts activities facilitated by our capable, artistic intern, Xabisa Nkani. The children are busy
constructing a large paper elephant! The adults are also learning online, with 24 staff members currently participating in the Lobster Ink online hospitality courses at the Foundation’s new Computer Learning Centre. Exciting changes at our iJosi Preschool include the adoption of a more Montessori-based approach and the addition of a mentor teacher, Bev Brunette, who also provides the children with drumming sessions,
which are greatly enjoyed. A groundbreaking Vegetation Rehabilitation Project was launched in partnership with Amakhala’s Ecology Department, providing skills training and employment to 5 unemployed people from local communities while simultaneously clearing alien vegetation from the Reserve - a win-win situation! Amakhala Game Reserve Lodge News
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Bush Lodge was the perfect romantic African
destination for an unforgettable event filled with love and joy as the Weeks family celebrated Tatum's wedding! Guests were seated on game viewers, surrounded by the breathtaking African landscape, to witness the beautiful ceremony held in front of Bush Lodge. Family and friends shared in the special moment, creating lasting memories
together. // More Info We’re thrilled to announce the opening of Bukela Game Lodge’s brand-new curio shop and check-in lounge! This stunning transformation of an old office into an inviting space allows guests to immerse themselves in the local culture. The new lounge serves as a warm welcome as you check in, setting the perfect tone for your stay. Here you can also browse through a carefully curated selection of unique keepsakes, treasures and memorable souvenirs that capture the essence of your Bukela experience. Come visit us and take home a piece of Bukela to cherish long after your adventure ends! // More Info The vision of Woodbury Manor has become a
reality, with our first guests passing through the doors in October and November. Families and friends have swum in the pool with a view of the Bushman’s River Valley, enjoyed sundowners in the boma under African night sky, and cosied up to the fireplace in the lounge in the evenings. They have embarked on game drives down from the plateau to the Woodbury basin and the diverse landscapes of Amakhala Game Reserve beyond, with fantastic game viewing on offer, before returning for delicious meals prepared and served by Chef Thando and her team. Basically, the safari dream! HillsNek Safari CampAs we embrace the holiday season, HillsNek Safari Camp extends heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff and the wonderful guests we’ve welcomed throughout 2024. Your passion for wildlife and commitment to memorable experiences have made this year truly special. We cherish the connections we've built and are thankful for every adventure shared in our beautiful corner of the Eastern Cape. Together, we've
created unforgettable moments amidst breathtaking landscapes. As we look ahead to 2025, we remain excited to continue this journey with you. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season filled with peace, reflection, and love. // More Info Safari Lodge is delighted to announce a
stunning interior renovation, blending contemporary design with authentic African style. Owners Mike and Justine have brought a fresh, modern touch to the lodge, thoughtfully incorporating sleek finishes alongside traditional elements. The updates also include new furniture on the patio, inviting guests to relax by the private plunge pool. Every suite now also features a sophisticated, modern design that ensures the utmost comfort while maintaining the lodge's authentically African essence.
// More Info Join us for a fireside chat with our Chief Lion, Kevin Bailey, as he shares the story of Hlosi Game Lodge and the wildlife sanctuary it has become today. With a deep love for the landscapes and wildlife of the Eastern Cape, Kevin recounts the journey from Hlosi’s origins to its role in conservation today. His passion for the lodge and the land shines through in
every story, offering guests a unique perspective on what makes Hlosi so special. Discover Hlosi’s legacy and magic through Kevin’s eyes as he shares his inspiring
stories. // More Info In October, Induli Lodge welcomed its
inaugural guests, inviting them into an exclusive six-bed sanctuary nestled within Amakhala. Their experience was nothing short of enchanting. Each dawn brought a new adventure, but one morning stood out - a young elephant, full of life, played joyously among its herd under the warm African sun, offering a rare glimpse into the playful bonds of wildlife.
This initial stay, marked by luxurious accommodations and a profound connection to nature, set a high bar for what Induli Lodge promises to every guest. We eagerly anticipate welcoming more visitors to share in these extraordinary moments. // More Info Spring has sprung and the rains have turned the bushveld into a green paradise once again. The wildlife is thriving on Amakhala Game Reserve, with new babies of all shapes and sizes popping up across the landscape. Two new baby elephants have been entertaining guests with their adorable antics as they learn how to use this thing called a trunk. On the carnivore front, the brown hyaenas have been out in numbers, a rare and strange looking creature that has become quite at home on Amakhala and is now regularly encountered on night drives conducted by the Woodbury guides. // More Info Leeuwenbosch Country HouseWith all the rain, Amakhala is looking beautiful, and the
animals are thriving, showing off for our guests, creating amazing sightings. We’ve hosted some incredible visitors at Leeuwenbosch, including several groups from Medivet UK (with thanks to Lizzie Kwint for allowing us to use some of her photos) and a stream of guests enjoying our popular Day Safaris – a shout to Terra Nova
for your support! We also hosted a stunning wedding at our Bush venue, for our Amakhala neighbour Tatum Weeks. We look forward to exciting summer game viewing and more visitors who arrive as guests and leave as friends! // More Info The communal areas at Woodbury Tented
Camp have had a stylish makeover this past winter! New lounge furniture and décor have been carefully selected to blend comfort with that natural safari feel, while new prints of some of the iconic Big 5 wildlife on Amakhala serve as a reminder that the camp is very much in the heart of the bush, surrounded by nature and her multitudes. Woodbury Tented Camp remains a place for guests to share experiences with each other over meals and during “downtime”, in the spirit of a community enjoying the outdoors together. // More Info Quatermains 1920’s Safari Camp It’s been exciting at Quatermain's 1920's Safari Camp since the opening of Amakhala's new wildlife corridor! Located on a previously ‘soft’ game section of the reserve, Quatermain’s is
incredibly excited to witness first-hand the return of iconic wildlife species to our valley. So far, just a few weeks after the opening of the corridor, our guests have been blessed to find elephants visiting the camp, and even a male lion exploring his newly extended territory. As an unfenced camp, we are so excited to share this new wealth of wild neighbours with our guests, even perhaps as they relax in camp! // More Info |
Spotted on Amakhala Game Reserve 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 sandra@amakhala.co.za. Photographs supplied by
Margaret Koukos, a guest visiting Amakhala Game Reserve. Image credits: Margaret Koukos |
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