News

Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment Declared 268 428 hectares, 408 title deeds and 65 landowners

Earlier today, Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, declared the Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment. This is in accordance with Act No. 57 of 2003 of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003, under section 28(1). The Wilderness Foundation, in conjunction with South African National Parks, facilitated the establishment of the Protected Environment through the Mountain Zebra Camdeboo Corridor project, and South African National Parks will be responsible for the monitoring and annual auditing thereof in future.

Graduation Ceremony – Siyazenzela

J.K. Rowling notes that "it is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.” Refusing to let failure determine the course of their lives, the first Siyazenzela group for 2016, graduated from the wellness and skills development programme on 11 February 2016.

Siyazenzela – We are doing for ourselves

The 19th of January, 2016, marked yet another incredible journey and good story to tell for the Wilderness Foundation Africa. It was day one in class for many budding and eager to learn Siyazenzela students. But like everyone else on their first day of school, the emotions were a mixture of excitement and nervousness about the journey ahead. The students were meeting for the very first time inside the classroom after their wilderness selection trail.

Siyazenzela: Understanding Cultures and Respecting Diversity

The beautiful thing about South Africa is its diverse cultures and heritage. We are a nation that prides itself on the beauty of our land and its people. In an effort to emulate and teach students the importance of understanding cultural diversity and ensuring tolerance, Siyazenzela hosted a cultural event as part of their programme to create and develop a deeper awareness and understanding of the cultural dynamics.

Click here to read more.

South Africa bans leopard trophy hunting

It is almost impossible to know how leopards are faring in South Africa. They are secretive animals that are mainly nocturnal, solitary, and range over huge areas. Counting them requires intensive research using expensive technology such camera traps, which can only be deployed over small areas, far smaller than the areas in which hunting quotas are determined. Hunting them will speed up their extinction.

My Personal Trail Experience

Pakamani Nombila recently joined the WFA as a Junior Report Writer and joined our Umzi Wethu youth on a trail in the Tsitsikamma area as part of his induction. Below is a blog on Pakamani’s experience on trail.For me, one of the most amazing things about being on trail and camping has to be the mornings. Being a villager almost all my life, waking up to the chanting and singing sounds of the birds in the morning reminded me of a place very close to my heart. It reminded me of home, where in the morning roosters would alert you that it was time to get up and get on with your day.

Mining Threat to Key Game Reserve

The proposed establishment of a vast and hugely controversial 32-year-long, open-pit, anthracite coal mine right on the boundary (within 60m) of iMfolozi Game Reserve in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, has predictably unleashed howls of opposition – even from quarters one might not have anticipated.

Graham Beck Wines support Rhino Conservation

Dear Friend of the Wilderness Foundation Africa. We are bombarded on an almost daily basis by the alarming statistics regarding the rhino poaching crises. The Wilderness Foundation Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative has taken groundbreaking steps in the struggle to protect these majestic creatures and the wild places in which they roam. 

Prince Harry Joins Fight to Protect Rhino

Prince Harry visibly moved on Wednesday as he came face to face with the grim reality of poaching, visiting the body of a female white rhino and her young calf, shot dead for their horns.

Hope's Story

In May 2015, 3 rhino lost their lives in a poaching incident in the Eastern Cape. Through the efforts of many dedicated teams, Hpoe survived the attack and we share her story in this video.