Gqeberha - Kariega Game Reserve (2 of 5)

(5 videos)
Kariega Game Reserve has over 30,000 acres of African bush with 2 rivers. This beautiful reserve is known for its family owned non-commercial attitude toward providing us with the best Big 5 experience. The family is very committed to conservation and community advancement and works to protect wildlife, and preserve natural ecosystems locally.

In the 19th (and early 20th) century most land in the Eastern Cape was used for farming and since they were concerned about livestock, they began hunting and exterminating the surrounding African wildlife, bringing much of the wildlife close to extinction. In the last few decades there has been a radical change in the attitude toward wildlife conservation leading to Private Game Reserves to preserve the trophy animals and to begin to appreciate and to protect life in general.

About 33 years ago, the existing Kariega Game Reserve was owned by 24 different farmers. In 1989 the Rushmere family began to purchase the first portion of pristine land bordering the upper reaches of the Kariega River and over the next 30 years have built important partnerships like Tony Fuller who joined his farm and incorporated the Kariega River within the reserve making it big enough to re-introduce species such as the white rhino. In 2003 an additional 9,000 acres was added to the reserve, making it large enough to introduce the Big 5. In May 2004 the first elephant herd and lion pride were introduced.

Habitat expansion and restoration is essential to the survival of many wild and endangered species and the current focus for many conservationists. In 2021, Kariega Game Reserve received the donation of a critical piece of habitat in the Bushmans River Valley ensuring the conservation of approximately 15 miles of the Bushman's River tidal estuary, range expansion and additional carrying capacity for elephant, white and black rhino, as well the opportunity for the reintroduction of additional apex predators such as the endangered cheetah. It also created the opportunity for the creation of "connected" wildlife corridors within the Eastern Cape over time.

HERE IS ONE GREAT STORY: The story of rhino poaching survivor, Thandi, and the birth of her 4 calves has captivated the world and has been an inspiration to many. In 2012, Thandi was found alive after a devastating poaching attack. Her horn had been brutally removed and she was left with severe injuries, against all odds, she survived. Her recovery was extraordinary, made possible from the dedication of veterinarians, conservation teams, and rangers who refused to give up on her. Thandi became one of the first widely documented rhinos to survive such a brutal attack, and her story spread across the world as a symbol of resilience and hope and inspired thousands of people across the globe. It has been told and retold through artists, conservationists, and supporters that have drawn from her journey to express both the tragedy of poaching and the power of survival. She represents not just what has been lost, but what can still be saved. Since her recovery, Thandi has built an entire bloodline. Her first calf, Thembi, was born in 2015 and marked a turning point for conservation at Kariega. Since then, she has given birth to Colin, Mthetho, Siya, and Zolani. Now, with the arrival of her sixth calf, her legacy continues to grow. Even more extraordinary, Thandi is now a grandmother to four calves. What began as a single life saved has become a thriving family that contributes directly to the future of the species. What is striking is Thandi herself, is calm, present, and visible. Rather than keeping hidden, she has been seen out in the open with her calf, quietly watchful.

Today Kariega Game Reserve is still family owned and operated by the Rushmere and Fuller families.Read more