During 2011 the original members of the Amakhala and the Lion Roars Group created a joint Marketing agreement and brand rejuvenation for the malaria free Amakhala Game Reserve.
The joint marketing agreement now includes 10 properties within the Reserve that fall under a unified marketing umbrella and brand of ‘Amakhala Game Reserve'. This exciting development has allowed the 8,500ha Amakhala to promote and showcase itself as the premier Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
Amakhala Game Reserve is a unique conservation initiative that allows animals to be re-introduced to the area where they once roamed freely and so making a contribution to the conservation of our natural heritage. The land was used to ranch sheep and cattle up to the turn of the century. The challenge has been to re-establish the original flora and fauna species to the area and to return the land to nature.
Conservation on Amakhala
A strong conservation ethic has been passed down by the forefathers of Amakhala Game Reserve (AGR) to the current generation. The farms that joined together to form Amakhala Game Reserve have been kept in the same farming families since the 1850s and the concept of sustainable stocking rates of domestic stock and clearing of invasive vegetation have been instilled into the reserve since the 1920s.
Family members of the current AGR generation have been recognised with ‘Conservation in Farming’ awards in the 1970s and the 1980s. Some members have even served in the local Soil Conservation Committee, a Department of Agriculture watchdog of farming practice, for many years.
Today, AGR strives to uphold this conservation ethic in new and exciting ways. The considerable pressure on the economics of agriculture worldwide and the serious drought in the late 1980s lead to the idea of using the land in the area differently. The desire was to use the land in a manner that did not require irrigation from the erratic Bushman’s River or artificially high stocking rates and that would counter the economic trends.
The development of the eco-tourism industry in the Eastern Cape provided the opportunity for the establishment of AGR. This was achieved in 1999 when four neighbouring farming families joined their farms together. Initially, small founder populations of indigenous wildlife were introduced to the land which had been cleared of all man-made farming infrastructure.
In time, the wildlife populations increased and other native species were reintroduced to the area. This led to the need for greater, centralised management of the reserve and its ecosystem. Currently, the central reserve teams consist of a Maintenance Department, a Security and Anti-poaching Department, and an Ecology Unit with staff dedicated to the monitoring and management of AGR’s wildlife, vegetation and the relationship between the two.
The reserve now employs 26 staff members who are involved in the running of the game reserve. These members range from a General Manager with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Zoology and Ecology, two ecologists with a Bachelor of Environmental Science and a Diploma in Nature Conservation respectively, a Security Manager with over a decade experience in the police force and trained and skilled field rangers who are involved in daily maintenance and security activities. The AGR members also form a large intellectual body that range from a respected wildlife veterinarian, a zoologist (PhD), a lawyer, an agriculturalist, an engineer and teachers that can all be called upon within the running of the reserve.
Situated in the Greater Addo and Frontier Country area of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is the malaria-free Amakhala Game Reserve - a mere 50 minute drive north-east of Port Elizabeth’s national airport.
From Port Elizabeth take the N2 towards Grahamstown/Makhanda. Approximately 50 km from Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha is an intersection, keep left on the N2 towards Grahamstown/Makhanda. From the intersection travel for a further 13km towards Amakhala Game Reserve (see road signs of various lodges along the way, there is no central entrance.).
The ethos behind Quatermain's is to offer guests the opportunity to experience the romance of those early safaris coupled with five star game viewing. Small and intimate, Quatermain's Camp offers the very best that an African safari can; authentic tented accommodation, candlelit dinners, warm fireside company and exciting safari drives.
Bukela Game Lodge - Amakhala Game Reserve's prime location makes it an ideal choice for a getaway. Nestled in the heart of Amakhala, away from the hustle and bustle of the world, this five-star lodge provides the perfect safari escape.
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