Amakhala Bush Lodge

Tucked away at the top end of the reserve’s open valley, the luxury safari tents have stunning views of the watering point below and the African sky above. All tents have thatched roofs, tented walls and wooden floors, with an open deck featuring an indulgent plunge pool and double outdoor shower. The en-suite has a large oval bath and the suites are climate controlled, with air-conditioning, heating and your own indoor fire place.

The room-service and tea and coffee making facilities allow for refreshments at any time. The comfortable double beds are framed with decadent net curtains and the room is decorated with rustic South African flair, for an elegant and unforgettable safari stay.

Guests alternatively have the choice of two luxury family tents, with all of the above and more; a king-size bed and with its own spacious bathroom, and a second bedroom with twin beds that has its own en-suite as well.

Your stay includes two daily game drives with experienced and informative rangers guiding you through the breath-taking wilderness of the malaria-free reserve in open Land Rovers. Along with the big 5, expect to see black wildebeest, cheetah, giraffes, zebra and numerous antelopes while traversing through the diverse vegetation and sensational landscapes of the Eastern Cape.

For a unique and elevated perspective of the bush, the horseback safari trails can take guests across terrain often inaccessible by vehicle. While quietly gliding through the 1700 of African landscape including open plains and river lines, riders can get as close to 10 or 15 metres from wildlife such as eland, wildebeest, zebra, hartebeest and giraffe.

Amakhala Horse Trails caters for small groups of up to 6 intermediate to experienced riders. Experienced younger riders between 10 and 15 years old may also join, if accompanied by a parent or guardian. The safaris typically last between two to three hours, and the speed of the trail ride is adjusted to the riders’ level of experience, so there’s enough time to stop and enjoy the wildlife and rest the horses while enjoying refreshments.

Amakhala’s conservation is based around the principle that they can only preserve what they understand, with effort being put into analysing both the current and projected status of the reserve. The carrying capacity of the reserve is determined by soil types, vegetation, climate, and the availability of water. With the megafauna and predators largely driving ecotourism demand and their presence being an indicator for the ecosystem’s health, the population of large mammal species is especially important and weighty in this determination.

The increase in animal population can be attributed to the reduction in poaching, through the creation of viable economic alternatives for the local community. There have been confirmed sightings of all the major predators as well as rarer species such as Bat Eared Foxes, Blue Duiker and Aardwolves.

The Amakhala Foundation was established in 2009 to coincide with the Reserve’s 10^th anniversary, and is home to the reserve’s community, conservation and education projects. It is funded by outside donor bodies and through the payment of bed levies from Amakhala’s commercial lodges.

The Foundation’s Environmental Education programme strives “to cultivate an understanding and love of nature in the children” who visit the Amakhala Conservation Centre. Each year close to 2000 people of all ages are able to connect with nature and learn about conservation through the multiple programmes on offer, including education days for primary and high school aged children and specialised research projects for university students.

Unemployed members of the community are given opportunity to learn skills and generate income through their Craft Centre, where beaded, sewn and printed items are sold. The beaded items are made by a group of local women working from their homes, while the sewing is done on site by a woman who operates her own small business within the Centre. There are also beaded bracelets made by the teenagers of the Isipho Project in nearby Paterson sold, with a quarter of the sale price going toward bursary funds to assist one or more of them with tertiary education after leaving school. Guests and members of the public can visit the Craft Centre during the week to buy items or meet the co-ordinator, Feziwe.

The Isipho Charity Trust supports over 300 children through 2 preschool classes, an after-care programme, feeding scheme, materials for schooling and psychosocial support. The independent charity that operates in the nearby Paterson town also provides much needed HIV/AIDS education in the local community. Amakhala has been partnered with Isipho from the get-go, assisting with food parcels, funding and giving time and expertise in the form of the two Amakhala members that serve on their board. Amakhala’s volunteer programme also makes valuable contributions by providing manpower to assist with maintenance, the after-care programme, computer classes and beading afternoons.

Staff members have a variety of in-house training programmes that enable them to take on new positions and responsibilities, such as Hospitality/Guiding Learnerships, leadership, parenting and financial skills training. A bursary for the local school ensures children of staff families can live at home and attend school until they are 10 years old. The foundation also provides funding for a small preschool named iJosi, with plans in motion to open another preschool.

Amakhala’s zero-poaching approach focuses on:

• Assessment; the regular training of field rangers;
• Technology: using the best available tools and technologies;
• Capacity: increase Field Ranger staff ability;
• Community: engage with local communities;
• Prosecution; improve prosecution;
• Cooperation: share information regularly.

Their K9 unit, horseback patrols and “eye in the sky” light sport aircraft are constantly scouting for potential threats. While believing there is no substitute for a team of well-trained, equipped and motivated anti-poaching scouts, detection equipment such as GSM-enabled camera traps and night vision equipment feed information through digital communication networks and web-based monitoring. This adds efficiency and increases the rate of poacher arrests and reducing wildlife losses while also acting as a deterrent for would-be illegal hunters.

Amakhala Game Reserve’s guiding principles for sustainable tourism and eco-tourism are to minimise impact on the environment, build environmental and cultural awareness and respect, provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts and provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.

They and their partners are committed to providing education to individuals and youth groups from schools and tertiary institutions on the importance of sustainable tourism. Through active participation in workshops and presentations, Amakhala aims to empower people with the knowledge of how they can contribute and ultimately make a difference in species and landscape preservation.

The Amakhala Volunteers program offers a hands-on experience in the field of conservation and wildlife ecology, where volunteers can get involved involved in animal monitoring, land rehabilitation, maintenance, and other field projects as the needs of the reserve require. The Amakhala’s Volunteer program is suitable for all ages and provides a unique opportunity to “contribute to conservation, make a difference and return to nature”.

The Amakhala Conservation Centre is also the home of the Amakhala Foundation, an initiative set up in 2009 to provide conservation education to visiting school children. The foundation also drives social empowerment projects on Amakhala Game Reserve and in the surrounding communities, including the provision of sport equipment, school bursaries and support for the Isipho Charity Trust in the nearby town of Paterson which cares for 300 orphans affected by HIV/AIDS.