Image credit: That Bush Guy

Amakhala Game Reserve celebrated World Wildlife Day on 3 March with a very special arrival: the birth of a new elephant calf!

There was great excitement among staff and visitors when the new baby elephant was first spotted by Robert Smith, a passionate Amakhala field guide, after a 14-year-old elephant cow gave birth to her third calf, following 22 months of gestation!  

A baby elephant is the largest newborn land mammal, and Amakhala’s new baby weighs in at a hefty 100kg. Although the sex is still unconfirmed, the calf is in great health and is doing fine in general, suckling well and keeping up with the ever-moving herd.  

Amakhala Game Reserve's thriving herd of elephants is regularly mentioned as the highlight of many guests' game drives. They are incredible animals to watch, especially their interactions as a family. Well-known for their intelligence and caring, the elephant herd shows exemplary teamwork and co-operation in protecting and teaching new offspring.

Welcoming this elephant calf was a great way to mark this year’s World Wildlife Day, observed globally to celebrate all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and to the health of our planet. 

During this WildEarth interview, Cathy Gush, Director of the Amakhala Foundation, highlighted the Foundation’s purpose and its work. Amakhala Foundation is home to the community and conservation projects of the Amakhala Game Reserve, as well as the educational projects of the Amakhala Conservation Centre.

The Foundation’s Environmental Education programme aims to cultivate an understanding and love of nature, as well as awareness and concern, among children who visit the Conservation Centre. This includes the partnership with Coaching for Conservation®, which uses mentorship, wildlife learning and sport to teach children about wildlife as well as the skills and strategies that help animals to be resilient and to thrive in times of adversity, just as children need to be.

The Foundation also provides educational support and skills development for Amakhala staff members through various ongoing in-house training programmes, Hospitality/Guiding learnerships, as well as leadership, parenting and financial skills training. 

Find out more HERE.

Sixteen Grade R and Grade 1 children from Sidbury Primary School thoroughly enjoyed themselves at a special wildlife art session organised by the Amakhala Foundation on 7 March, in celebration of World Wildlife Day, which is observed globally in March. 
 

The Amakhala Foundation arranged the event with the aim to teach the next generation about art, since their school doesn’t have an art class, as well as to share information about the importance of our wildlife and its conservation.
 

The children learnt more about many amazing local animals, many of which are unique to our country and to the Eastern Cape, as well as their crucial roles in the ecosystem, which also highlighted the importance of conserving these animals and their habitat. The children also discovered how to draw animals they had never tried to draw before, and how to use art as a way to convey important messages. 

HillsNek Celebrates International Women’s Day

To celebrate International Women’s Day observed in March around the world, HillsNek Safari Camp are honouring the inspiring women in the HillsNek team. We celebrate their individual achievements as well as the invaluable contributions they make in ensuring our guests have the optimal experience while on safari. Some of the wonderful ladies in the HillsNek team have been with the business since day one, and our returning guests are always elated to reconnect with them on their return visits to our beautiful corner of Amakhala. Thank you to each woman at HillsNek Safari Camp for the difference you make!

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Exciting refurbishment at HillsNek

HillsNek Safari Camp is excited to announce a small refurbishment scheduled for this June, which will have a big impact on wildlife and guests’ experiences! The pool at HillsNek has become a regular highlight for guests - not for conventional reasons, but because it has become a drinking pool for the elephants. Our new plans are to incorporate the best of both guest and elephant enjoyment under the African skies. We will be closing the lodge for 4 – 6 weeks during our winter months, and can’t wait to share our new additions. Watch this space for more news!

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Bukela Lodge

Bukela Game Lodge is pleased to announce their newest offering: professional couples’ massages, featuring the finest organic products and provided in the privacy and comfort of the guests' own rooms. The lodge's friendly and experienced therapists use only the highest quality natural ingredients to promote the ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation. With Amakhala's stunning natural surroundings as a backdrop, this couple’s massage experience is the ideal way for guests to unwind and to connect with their partners on their romantic getaway.

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Hlosi Game Lodge

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of a new manager at our family-friendly safari lodge. With years of experience in the hospitality industry, a strong track record of managing safari lodges and a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences, Monique’s focus on providing personalised service and attention to detail aligns perfectly with our lodge's values. We are confident that she will bring fresh ideas and leadership to our team, and we cannot wait to see the positive impact Monique will have on our guests' experiences.

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Leeuwenbosch
Country House

Leeuwenbosch had a fantastic start to the year with guests from all over the world, many from countries we have never hosted before. We also welcomed some wonderful Day Safari groups from the cruise ships docking in Port Elizabeth. The Reserve and our Lodge are looking lovely and lush from recent rains and all the animals are also having babies - from the frisky lion cubs to a very cute baby hippo and our latest newborn elephant, sighted at just one day old - which have all provided our guests with the most incredible sightings and unforgettable memories!

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Bush Lodge

A game drive through the magnificent Amakhala Game Reserve is undoubtedly a highlight of any visit to this beautiful part of the world, and this amazing experience continues when you return to the lodge in the evenings. You are greeted with luxuriously warm, refreshing towels and decadent hot chocolate, and a luxurious bubble bath awaits you to enjoy before curling up in front of the fire that has been lit in your tent. It is the perfect way to relax, unwind and reflect on a wonderful game drive and the many unique sightings enjoyed. 

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Safari Lodge

Among the many amazing wildlife sightings our guests at Safari Lodge enjoy daily during their visits, a recent very rare sighting of this young Aardwolf living in an old snouted termite mound was an unusual highlight. The name Aardwolf means 'earth wolf' in Afrikaans. These animals are only rarely seen since they are shy and nocturnal, which means they are active during the night. However, once winter comes, they will conserve energy by sleeping at night and feeding during the day. Their diet consists almost exclusively of termites, and a single Aardwolf can eat up to 300,000 termites per night! 

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Lodge Closure Dates

The following lodges will be closed during the Winter months:

Hlosi Game Lodge: 21-27 May
Bush Lodge: 11 June - 16 June
Hillsnek Safari Camp: 1 - 25 June 
Quartermains - 15 June - 10 July
Woodbury Lodge: 26 June - 4 July
Woodbury Tented: 8 June - 7 July

Image credit: Ben Gierig

Image credit: Cullen Gilfillan

Image credit: Zandra Conway