Reintroducing the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve

Somkhanda Game Reserve is a community-owned Big 5 game reserve located in northern Zululand stretching across 12,000 hectares of rolling hills and natural bushland habitat. Somkhanda Community Game Reserve is owned by the Emvokweni Community Trust (ECT), who represent the local Gumbi community, and is co-managed by WILDLANDS – a programme of the WILDTRUST.

The Reserve focuses on improving ecosystem management and driving interventions that conserve endangered wildlife and species vulnerable to poaching and the illegal trade. The Reserve aims to promote growth for the local community through ecotourism and environmental education opportunities, currently these initiatives employ around 100 community members.

The focus over the past year has been the development of the Reserve as a viable tourism operation with WILDLANDS taking over the direct management of tourism at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve. “We are excited to relaunch the Somkhanda brand with fresh social media pages that will further promote Somkhanda as a much sort after Eco-tourism destination targeted at the avid bush lover, family oriented holidays, soul searching retreats as well as hands on wildlife conservation experiences with the team on the ground,” comments WILDLANDS Marketing Deputy Director, Buyi Makhoba-Dlamini.

The Somkhanda Bush Lodge is currently being revamped for the ultimate safari getaway at very affordable rates. Huge credit goes to Africa4Africa, a KZN based NPO, who have been instrumental in getting these upgrades funded through their network of supporters.

The current packages include a self-catering lodge with full access to a well-equipped communal kitchen and a pool, a tented camping experience with cottage style tents for big groups whether it be family or schools as well as the ultimate WILD experience at the unfenced Scotia campsite kitted with the necessary basics and ablutions making this a unique experience for those wanting a front row wildlife experience.

Somkhanda Community Game Reserve Manager, Meiring Prinsloo comments, “the future success of terrestrial biodiversity conservation will greatly rely on community owned protected areas. The Somkhanda Community Game Reserve, through the co-management of WILDLANDS and the Emvokweni Community Trust, are leaders in this sphere and we would like to invite you to visit us and to become part of this conservation success story.”

Follow all the developments and offerings of this community reserve by visiting https://wildtrust.co.za/somkhanda/ or our social media pages https://www.instagram.com/somkhanda_eco_tourism/ and https://www.facebook.com/SomkhandaCommunityGameReserve/ on Facebook and Instagram.

Come share life with nature with us and make your booking with us by emailing at Bookings@wildtrust.co.za