While the world was in lockdown, Amakhala Game Reserve was alive and thriving with new births all across the reserve. We are delighted to welcome a range of new wildlife babies to the reserve including buffalo, hippo, rhino, elephant, Cape Mountain zebra and, of course, our seasonal breeders - red hartebeest, blesbok, springbok, black wildebeest and impala. 

 

 

Three very special births – two rhino calves and a hippo calf - were celebrated with added joy. At Amakhala, we go to great lengths to protect the endangered rhino, and every birth counts towards the survival of this species. The hippo birth was also a special occasion, as it was the first hippo birth on Amakhala since hippo were reintroduced onto the reserve in 2018.

Amakhala is excited to have welcomed three new lions to our wildlife family over the last 12 months! Two magnificent males arrived in June 2020 from a nearby reserve. Their genetics originate from Etosha in Namibia, which has almost certainly contributed to their size and impressive manes! They have both settled in extremely well. We have also welcomed a new, young female lion who was introduced to the Reserve earlier this year. Her lineage can be traced back to the lions of the Kalahari. If all goes well, we can look forward to a healthy litter of lion cubs from our new lioness on Amakhala later in 2021!

Siseko Mayinje, anti-poaching pilot on Amakhala; and Zolani Witbooi, part-time assistant for the Amakhala Nature Club programme, are great examples of local community members being inspired by conservation and taking advantage of the opportunities it presents. Amakhala is taking this inspiration to the next level with the Inspire the Future campaign, the brainchild of Lance Wynne of the Be Moved Collective. It sets out to inspire the youth and reward the efforts of young people like Siseko and Zolani, with greater opportunities. It will assist Siseko with getting his Remote Pilots Licence to be certified to work with drones on the reserve and equip and train Zolani to host a new Drones and Coding Club, exposing local youngsters to key technologies used in conservation.

 

The first goal of the campaign is to raise funds for a much needed rhino collaring procedure, where four Nature Club students will assist. Further funds will provide ongoing support of the Amakhala Foundation’s programmes, including Inspire The Future, as part of a sustainable initiative linking conservation, technology and the youth.
To support the Inspire the Future campaign by donating, joining a conservation experience, partnering with us or even working at Be Moved, please click HERE.

Now a Safe Travels accommodation provider, Amakhala’s lodges are open again, following the lifting of the recent lockdown restrictions, and we are welcoming visitors to our magnificent Reserve, while encouraging all to stay safe. Our hearts go out to everyone across the globe who have already been affected by COVID-19 and we would like to thank our agents, partners, guests and staff members for their loyalty, patience and support during this time.

 

As we reopen our lodges, it is our priority to ensure our Amakhala family and guests are protected given the current concerns surrounding COVID-19.  
Guided by several leading tourism bodies, health organisations and other resources, we are following the strictest health and safety guidelines to ensure we meet all required preventative measures. We have strict COVID-19 protocols in place and take every precaution available to us for the safety of all our staff and guests.

 

In fact, Amakhala has been acknowledged as a Safe Travels accommodation provider by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).

For more information or if you have any questions about these measures, feel free to call us on +27 (0) 41 450 5658 or email: centralres@amakhala.co.za. You are also welcome to download our COVID-19 Precautionary Measures document HERE.