The Vision
The vision behind Kuzuko Lodge in the Eastern Cape was to create a ‘Big Five’ safari
game park combining conservation, job creation and social transformation in a
malaria-free area in South Africa. The area of the small Karoo was chosen for it’s
unique vegetation and beauty as well as being an area of over 70% unemployment
and endemic poverty.
The task was three fold: build a unique lodge, create jobs and allow the chosen area
to revert to its original habitat. Thus was Kuzuko, meaning ‘place of glory’ in Xhosa,
born. Kuzuko Lodge is the first private game reserve to be incorporated into the
Greater Addo Elephant Park, the third largest national park in South Africa, giving it
traversing rights over 1 million acres.
Land purchase and recovery
Twenty-two farms comprising an area of approximately 40000 acres were bought
over a 3.5 year period around 2000 and over 70km of fencing erected by a team of
70 men over a period of 10 months. Wildlife was then re-introduced in partnership
with the South Africa National Parks. Elephants, black rhinos and buffaloes were reintroduced into the small Karoo at Kuzuko after an absence of 150 years in that
region.
Construction phase
Building a luxury lodge in the wilderness was never going to be an easy task.
Building it on a hill with stunning views made it even harder.
First ground broken at lodge site
Completed chalets
Water, electricity and telecommunications had to be trunked in from over 12km.
Digging of trench for cabling
The building of the lodge, chalets and staff housing by over 100 workers took 20months and required a substantial investment. All the work was done by local
contractors or from nearby towns using local material where possible. The
establishment of the reserve has now created 80 permanent jobs – 30 in the reserve
and 50 at the lodge. Kuzuko has been one of the largest investments of its kind in
the district. As one of the largest contributor to the local economy on a monthly basis,
we expect to further stimulate economic activity.
Social transformation
Kuzuko believes in treating all its employees with dignity and respect. We are
committed to creating an environment where our employees can flourish and develop
to their fullest potential. We have set new standards in staff housing, wages, working
conditions, insurance and share ownership through a Workers Trust. We are
committed to the training, up skilling and personal development of our staff. Added to
this, Kuzuko has partnered with Umzi Wethu, a pioneering programme set up by the
Wilderness foundation, whereby young adults from broken backgrounds are selected
for an eighteen-month course for ecotourism jobs.
Staff housing being built
Completed houses
“Umzi Wethu is a holistic approach to conservation and job creation, enabling social,
economic and spiritual transformation for young South Africans who are currently
experiencing endemic poverty, orphan hood and high vulnerability often as a
consequence of the HIV AIDS pandemic affecting Southern Africa. It has been
pioneered in Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape.”
Andrew Muir, Wilderness Foundation
Kuzuko has employed some of these young people and it has been a pleasure to
watch them grow is confidence and experience as they develop their careers in the
hospitality industry.
Conservation in progress
As a reserve Kuzuko is in its infancy. A five-year environmental study has provided a
benchmark for a sustainable regrowth of the area to its natural habitat. Working in
conjunction with South African National Parks a programme was embarked upon to
re-stock the area with game that was indigenous to the area. Due to the negative
impact that years of goat farming have had on the vegetation, the current stocking
levels are low and on par with a sustainable utilization approach.
Alien plant removal from lodge site (Jointed cactus)
Wildebeest on the plain
Game had to be introduced in phases – antelopes, elephants and buffaloes were
introduced when the vegetation had begun to recover. Predators were only
introduced in 2007 when there was sufficient game to sustain their numbers. Kuzuko
is committed to the conservation of disease-free elephants, black rhino, mountain
zebra. In 2005, after an absence of 150 years, elephants and black rhinos were
released on to Kuzuko.
Herd of elephants from Kruger Park being released at Kuzuko
Black rhino capture for release at Kuzuko
Release of rhino
Kuzuko also has a historic value in the form of Koisan cave paintings. These
bushman paintings have been dated at around 400 years. The area of the paintings
falls outside the main reserve but is part of the 1500 acre Educational Trail, an area
stocked with non-dangerous game where guests can take guided walks. School
children from the neighbouring towns will also be invited to experience part of this
educational trail. Many have never seen game in the wild. For conservation to be
successful, Kuzuko believes that the local children need to learn to love and protect
their heritage.
Kuzuko Foundation
The Kuzuko Foundation was formed as a charity to continue with the work of
conservation, education and healthcare. It will fund projects such as the leopard
sanctuary, educational visits of school children, healthcare and educational activities
of the local communities. An educational area of 1,500 acres has been separately
fenced and stocked with non-dangerous game such as antelopes, giraffes and
wildebeests. School children from the township use this area on day-visits to walk
with game and learn about conservation. The foundation will provide guests who
have had a wonderful experience at Kuzuko to engage and further conservation,
educational and social transformation activities.
A lion seen on the trail
A place of glory
Kuzuko in local Xhosa means ‘place of glory’. It was a name chosen by the local staff
for this project. Kuzuko Lodge is a place where one can truly relax, away from the
trappings of civilization and unwind in a unique setting with incredible views. Not only
a safari with game but also a safari of the soul. To sum it up in one word, serenity.
www.kuzukolodge.co.za
[email protected]
Kuzuko Lodge, Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa
T: +27 79 521 7490 | Reservations T: +27 11 806 6888, F: +27 11 806 6899