In the Eastern Cape province of South Africa lies the 11,500-hectare private wildlife reserve, Kariega Game Reserve.

Here, you will find five lodges varying in size and price.

The story of Kariega began in 1989. A local family had the vision to establish a wildlife reserve in what was then a farming area. They purchased a piece of land close to the Kariega River and armed themselves with patience.

Over the following 30 years, the family, in collaboration with an equally visionary neighbour, gradually purchased land in the area while building lodges on the land they had acquired. Today, the wildlife reserve is one of the largest in the Eastern Cape.

TourCompass has been working with Kariega Game Reserve since 2015. Naturally, we do so because we believe the reserve offers a fantastic (and malaria-free) safari, but also because we believe Kariega’s approach to protecting nature and wildlife, along with their work with the local community, aligns well with our own values.

In 2009, the NGO Kariega Foundation was established. A portion of the profits from the safari business goes to the foundation. For example, all overnight guests pay a contribution to the foundation via a ‘conservation levy,’ which is charged per person per night at checkout from one of Kariega’s lodges. This levy can ONLY be paid locally, as the money is directly allocated to the foundation.

Kariega Foundation’s philosophy is ‘Conservation through Community’ – meaning it is essential to involve the local community living in and around the nature you aim to preserve.

This is why we have also included a village visit in our safari holiday to Kariega Game Reserve. We wish to help strengthen ‘ubuntu*.’ Do you want to join us?

You can further donate to the Kariega Foundation on-site, and it is also possible to bring donations to schools and other institutions in the nearby areas via Pack for a Purpose: https://www.packforapurpose.org/destinations/africa/south-africa/kariega-game-reserve/

* A South African expression that can be somewhat translated as ‘I am because you are.’