What we have to offer
The heart of
Zululand KZN
SOMKHANDA (Zululand KZN)
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 Game Reserve is owned by the Emvokweni Community Trust (ECT), who represent the 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. Somkhanda promotes growth for the Gumbi community through ecotourism and environmental education opportunities, currently these initiatives employ around 100 community members.
THE HISTORY OF SOMKHANDA
After being forcibly removed from the land in the late 1960s, the Gumbi people had the land restored to them under the Land Reform process in 2005. When the land was restored to the Gumbi people, they decided to keep most of their land under conservation and create a consolidated game reserve that could realize the potential of ecotourism as an economic engine to drive development in the community.
Somkhanda Bush Lodge
Somkhanda Bush Lodge offers six spacious units including two family suites. Recently renovated rooms are comfortable en-suite, with shower (bath in family room) and each room has a bar fridge. The thatched veranda has impressive views across the indigenous, well maintained gardens to the surrounding reserve.
- Self-catering lodge with access to kitchen/dining unit and pool.
- Fully equipped kitchen with Fridge, chest freezer and 5-plate stove provided
- 16 sleeper, rustic bush lodge
- NB. No wifi, Cell C only reliable network
WILD Experiences
Scotia Camp is one of KZN’s best kept secrets, a secluded, unfenced private campsite for the more adventurous traveller within the big five Somkhanda Reserve. Groups have exclusive use of the camp based on a minimum of 6 adults (max 16) The difference lies in what you do, rather than what you see
Read more - The LionHeart Experience
Somkhanda Tented Camp
The tented camp is found within in the fenced area of the tourism hub and is divided into two separate zones (1) tents along the terrace on private sites, under the shaded canopy of acacias (2) an open camp area under a group of Marula trees. The 50 bed camp is perfect for private groups, families or student groups.
More information:
- Adopt a Wild Animal: Adopt-A WILD Animal Factsheet (Downloadable link)
- Donations: Click here to read more:
Project Happy Feet
Community members walk miles through the bush and on gravel roads to get to school, to work and to rural clinics. Most do not have transport and shoes are an unnecessary luxury. Get involved by collecting good quality second hand shoes, we have shoe drops at the local schools every few months and love watching the delight on kid’s faces as they get to choose, sometimes their very first pair of shoes or soccer boots. We are usually rewarded with a dance and beautiful songs of thanks as we leave. Such a good reminder that it’s the small things in life that count.
Project Dignity
Click here to see moreIt is a widespread but unacknowledged problem that girls in Africa miss school and stay at home because of menstruation. According to UNICEF, one in ten schoolgirls in Africa miss classes or drop out completely due to their period, and substitute regular pads or tampons for less safe and less absorbent materials such as rags, newspaper or bark.
The difference lies in what you do,
rather than what you see
If you would like to partner with Wild Connection & Project Dignity in helping the community surrounding Somkhanda Game Reserve , please send us your details - Click here
If you would like to partner with Wild Connection & Project Dignity in helping the community surrounding Somkhanda Game Reserve , please send us your details below
- Drive North on the N2.
- About 10km past the Jozini turn off, turn left onto the R69 (Nongoma/Vryheid)
- Drive for 16 km on the dirt road and you will reach the main gate
- The reception and lodge are situated about 7km inside the reserve
From Durban (approx. 4 hours)
- Drive South on the N2 until you reach Pongola
- Turn right onto the R66
- After 19km turn left onto the R69 (Candover)
- After 14 km on the dirt road you will reach the main gate
- The reception and lodge are situated about 7km inside the reserve
From Johannesburg (approx. 6 hours)
