Into the Wilderness: A Journey That Transformed Young Conservationists
In September, something extraordinary happened. Six young conservationists from our partner organisations – Timbavati Foundation and Global Conservation Corps – were invited by Koru Camp to pack everything they needed onto their backs, tighten their backpack straps, and step into the wilderness for a 4-day primitive trail.
Girls in the wild: Empowering the next generation
“OWN YOUR POWER!”
The warrior cry of 13 girls echoed through the night, from the top of the viewpoint down to the Olifants River below. The group immediately broke into giggles as they made their way back onto the game viewer, but I still had shivers down my spine from hearing the power in their voices. Koru’s very first girls’ empowerment camp had officially begun.
Unlocking the stories of the wild with the San Master Trackers
Walking in single file from camp in the cool early morning, the air carried a quiet sense of expectation. But before we had even left sight of the fence, the group came to a sudden halt. The three figures leading us – the long-awaited San Master Trackers §Oma Daqm, /Uce N§amce and translator Steve Kunta – were already huddled over something in the dust. This was the first in a series of special tracking camps hosted at Koru, and our guests from the Timbavati Foundation – educators, guides, and staff – were about to discover just how much could be hidden in plain sight.
The Elephant That Changed Everything
It was mid-afternoon, and the warm winter sun lay gently over the bush as we spotted elephants ahead on the road. Pausing first to judge their temperaments, our Guide Intern, Humphrey, slowly crept forward in the game viewer. Unbothered, the elephants continued feeding greedily on the few leaves still clinging to the branches. Buoyed by this, Humphrey inched forward again, eventually drawing alongside a large bull, his head buried deep in a bush just 15 metres away.
Koru Camp Grand Opening: A Day to Remember
As the convoy of vehicles wound their way through the bushveld, a trail of dust swept up in their wake, glistening in the sun as it bathed the bush in gold. The landscape brimmed with warmth and colour, like nature itself was rejoicing. Against the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky, rhythmic drumming echoed through the air, welcoming more than 100 guests to a long-awaited celebration. Supporters, partner NGOs, and conservation leaders had all gathered to mark a pivotal moment: the grand opening of the newly renovated Koru Camp.
Billions of years in a day: Learning the language of rocks with John Roff
With our mission rooted in educating and inspiring local communities about the joy – and importance – of nature, we were thrilled to welcome South African geology expert John Roff to Koru Camp earlier this month. The goal? To empower our team with the skills to deliver engaging geology lessons, while also supporting student guides from our partner organisations as they prepared for their FGASA exams.
Future Rangers, Real Impact: A Rhino Man Legacy Camp
There’s an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” When it comes to saving our wildlife from poaching, habitat loss and disconnection, it’s not a sprint—it’s a marathon. And it’s going to take all of us.
Empowering Future Guides: Ditoro Comes to Koru Camp
It was 5am and the sky was still cloaked in darkness as the aspiring field guides from Ditoro Outreach climbed into the vehicle for their morning game drive at Koru Camp. Still buzzing from the afternoon before—many having experienced their very first game drive—we wondered if anything could possibly top the previous day’s unforgettable elephant encounter.
Hearts in conservation: Inspiring the next generation with HAART
“Facts alone can’t save the world. Hearts can.” – Carl Safina
As our wildlife faces the growing threats of poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and habitat loss due to human encroachment and climate change, the need for action has never been more urgent. We know knowledge is powerful, but is it enough? Real, lasting change happens when people truly care—when they feel connected to a cause.
Cooking with Passion and Purpose – Nothando trains with top chef at Sashwa
A Swahili Proverb says “A boat doesn’t go forwards if everyone if rowing is their own way”.
Whether working in conservation, hospitality or with our local communities, at Koru Camp it is firmly rooted in our beliefs that collaboration is key to reaching our collective goals. By working together we can protect our wildlife, empower our communities and even help nature tourism in the area thrive, bringing further economic opportunities.