Shamwari Group Tops R5 Million for Rhino Conservation

14 February 2014- Continuing the journey to raise funds for rhino awareness and protection,  Shamwari Group is proud to announce that it has raised R5 MILLION for the Wilderness Foundation’s ‘Forever Wild Campaign’, an initiative to help save our endangered African rhinos.

Three of the Shamwari Group properties- Shamwari Game Reserve, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and Jock Safari Lodge have, over the last two years, taken part in the Forever Wild campaign by offering guests a discounted rate if guests donated a minimum of R150 per person per night when making their booking. Shamwari Group then donated R100 for every bed night sold on this offer.

Comments Shamwari Group General Manager Joe Cloete: “Naturally we are very proud to have raised, together with our guests, a staggering R5 million and we strive to raise even more during 2014 to keep and continue to grow the awareness whilst supporting the Wilderness Foundation. The rhino battle is not over and we believe we must do everything we can to help them survive.”

The funds to date have gone to many areas such as providing four vehicles to North West Parks and Tourism reserves to the anti-poaching and canine units, Nkomazi Game Reserve received a bakkie for anti-poaching purposes, funds and operating costs towards a dedicated helicopter and microlight in the E.Cape, Aerial support in Niassa National Reserve, Mozambique, equipment and funds (including forensic equipment) to the Hawks and special police investigating units, four-wheelers and equipment to Western and Eastern Cape reserves as well as Stanley and Livingstone Private Game Reserve (Zimbabwe), educational material and fact sheets on the history of rhino in South Africa and poaching facts - these are used in education and awareness initiatives.

A rhino hot-line has been set up offering an anonymous facility for tip-offs, Rhino Survivor Fund established to respond to, and assist in cases where rhinos have been poached but are still alive and can be rescued and rehabilitated. Anti-poaching Level 1 training for reserves in the Eastern Cape, Anti-poaching Intelligence training and Wildlife trade trading for airport staff. Intelligence gathering and specialist support to the Hawks and special police investigating units. Two sniffer dogs sponsored by the Wilderness Foundation to service the Eastern and Western Cape, DNA and tracking device project, research project in the Kruger National Park tracking, monitoring and studying rhino survivors after poaching incidents, Wildlife Operations Group a multi-agency partnership whose overarching objective is the reduction in the incidence of and the successful prosecution of wildlife related crime and game cameras for leopard monitoring on reserves in the Western and Eastern Cape.

The initiative started in March 2012 and will continue throughout 2014. For more information visit the Protect & Save 2014 on Shamwari Group’s website. The funds raised will help in many ways to educate and provide valuable resources needed by the Wilderness Foundation.”

If you still wish to book your safari that makes a difference please contact the Central Reservations team at reservations@shamwarigroup.com or (041) 509 3000.