Amakhala Game Reserve (AGR) had reason to celebrate recently after a resident female cheetah emerged from the thickets on the reserve with three healthy cheetah cubs in tow! The little ones were seen out and about this week for the first time after an extended period of being hidden away by their mother in a densely-vegetated den site.

 

AGR ecologist, Natalie Fowler, explains: “We were confident the female was denning as she kept going back to the same valley and only leaving it to hunt. We predicted she would bring cubs out roughly 6 weeks after the start of this. Just a few days ago, she has brought three healthy, adorable cubs out.”

 

Donated by Ashia Cheetah Conservation (ACC), this adult female was translocated to Amakhala in November 2020 and has settled in well, although she is still young and taking time to gain confidence. Her successful rearing of this litter so far is a major milestone in her own development and one that Amakhala is extremely proud of.

 

The sire of these cubs is a male cheetah that has lived on Amakhala since September 2019. Born in captivity, Ivory (as he was nicknamed) was part of Ashia’s Release & Reintroduction Program and has successfully completed his wilding on AGR, enjoying a free-roaming existence on the reserve today.

 

Not only that, but he is contributing important genetics towards growing the population of his species in the wild. This is a testament to the cooperation between Ashia and Amakhala Game Reserve in promoting a genetically-diverse, free-roaming cheetah population in the country. In turn, this has gone on to support the re-introduction of cheetah to other parts of their range in Africa where this species has previously gone extinct, a project spearheaded by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).

 

These cubs are the latest chapter in the ongoing efforts to conserve Africa’s cheetah. In collaboration with organizations like Ashia and the EWT, Amakhala strives to contribute to the protection of this species while affording visitors from around the world the opportunity to experience these magnificent animals in the wild.

 

Follow us on social media for more information on why this is an exciting development in the efforts to conserve this iconic yet vulnerable species in Africa.
 

A day after World Rhino Day, Robyn Dougans, our Sales and Marketing Manager, joined Sharon Jessop on a 42km marathon through Amakhala to raise funds and highlight local conservation initiatives. Last year, Sharon set a new Guinness World Record for the most consecutive half marathons completed by a woman, finishing 102 half marathons over 102 days! All the funds she raised were also donated to rhino conservation. We look forward to sharing more of Sharon’s inspiring journey with you. LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW EVENT! The Run Safari Challenge at Amakhala is scheduled for May 2022. Excited? Watch this space for more information!

This video captured an incredible sighting of two blood brothers displaying their physical power. Ranger Andrew Wostenholm explains: "Lion coalitions like this are formed when brothers from the same litter survive in their mother’s care until they become independent and seek their own territories. These males form incredibly strong, and even lifelong, bonds. Their brotherly love can however be challenged when a lioness comes into season. As her pheromones fill the air, their aggression towards each other is focused as they become serious about promoting their own genetics." Watch this space for updates on the brotherly bond between these two males.

Every year on 16 November, guides and guests at Amakhala meet at a special Rhino Remembrance Memorial bearing the names of three precious rhinos - Chippy, Isipho and Geza - tragically lost to poaching in 2010. It reminds us of what we have lost and what we continue to fight for: the protection and survival of our rhino. We pay tribute to and remember these magnificent rhinos, who are gone, but never forgotten, as well as the 9,100 other rhinos lost in South Africa, and we recommit ourselves to ensure the survival of this iconic species for generations to come.

At a wonderful celebratory event, Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) announced Amakhala Foundation as the WINNER of their “Community Partner of the Year” for 2021.

 

This award certifies that Amakhala Foundation has committed valuable time, skills and energy on a regular basis to contribute to sustainable human and community development in and around Makhanda. This contribution covers the three elements of community engagement: volunteering, service learning and engaged research.

 

In the volunteering space, Amakhala is involved in two programmes, BuddingQ, reaching learners beyond urban areas; and the Engaged Citizenship Programme, working with student volunteers to run environmental education programmes.

 

In the service-learning space, Amakhala has partnered with RUCE and with the Environmental Science Department at Rhodes to run a service-learning course for Honours students. In the engaged research space, Amakhala has opened its doors for university student research.

 

Amakhala engages the community at every stage and every level, and co-develops knowledge with partners, for mutual learning and benefit. Always open to new ideas and activities, Amakhala Foundation is a true community leader, leading the way in responsible, socially-just, embedded, reflective and adaptive game ranch management.

 

To find out more about the extensive work that the Amakhala Foundation has carried out alongside RUCE, visit https://www.amakhala.co.za/conservation/amakhala-foundation-and-the-ruce-partnership.

For 5 days in October, 34 Grade 7 boys and 5 teachers from St Andrew's Preparatory School in Grahamstown attended the 4th Amakhala Expedition, which aims to encourage intellectual, physical and social development through an all-round outdoor experience.

 

Mainly planned and organised by Amakhala Foundation, the implementation of the camp involves a collaboration with Ulovane Environmental Training, St Andrew’s and Amakhala staff members, friends and helpers.  

 

The boys were divided into 4 groups, rotating around 4 different locations on or near Amakhala. The locations - Ulovane Camp, Camp Gurney, Brentwood Bush Camp and Bush Braai - each had a different theme, with different camp leaders and activities.

 

The themes included animal behaviour; survival skills; engaging all your senses; ecology/ interconnectivity of living things; working with and giving back to communities; and leadership and communication.

 

These themes were conveyed through activities such as maintenance of a playground, tracking, birding, leadership and communication games, shelter making, navigation, astronomy, horse rides, game drives, night shifts (night watch) and scavenger hunts.

 

On the last day, everyone gathered for a braai and skits as the boys’ shared their interpretation of their experiences, having learnt lots of new things about “the bush” and also about themselves.

Amakhala has been acknowledged as a Safe Travels accommodation provider by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA). Amakhala’s lodges are open following the lifting of the lockdown restrictions, and we are ready to welcome both local and international visitors to our magnificent Reserve, while encouraging all to stay safe.

 

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.
Around 70% of our staff have already received their Covid-19 vaccinations and by the end of the year, all our staff should be vaccinated. We can also arrange PCR tests for our guests to be done at the Reserve, before they fly out.

 

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: [email protected]. You are also welcome to download our COVID-19 Precautionary Measures document HERE.