Conservation
at Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve
Breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife and a story of passion and conservation have created a game reserve that offers so much more than the usual safari experiences.
Having been involved in some of the most groundbreaking rewilding and wildlife conservation projects in Africa, as outlined below, we offer guests the opportunity to witness the effects of these efforts at Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve and to become a part of our story.
The Aspinall Foundation cheetah rewilding programme
Nairo, our resident cheetah immigrant, arrived in South Africa in early 2020, from the UK, where he was born in captivity. In a world-first for cheetah conservation, Nairo was transported to his forever home to be rewilded on the plains of Mount Camdeboo.
After a successful rewilding programme, Nairo bred with another rewilded cheetah, Ava, from Ashia Cheetah Sanctuary near Cape Town, and became father to four cubs in November 2021. This genetic diversity is crucial for the health of the greater cheetah population in South Africa.
Mount Camdeboo continues to work closely with The Aspinall Foundation – an internationally renowned animal conservation charity who are world leaders in the breeding and protection of endangered animals.
Join the experienced guides at Mount Camdeboo on a cheetah tracking game drive or on foot to watch the cheetah as they go about their business in the expansive landscape that is now his home.
Learn all about their journey from captivity, how Nairo and Ava learnt to hunt and more about their journey to becoming truly wild.
In 2019, Karoo history was rewritten with the arrival of Harry, our resident bull elephant. Rescued from the clutches of death, a hunting permit was overturned at the last minute and Harry found his new forever home roaming the vast expanses of Mount Camdeboo.
Before coming to Mount Camdeboo, Harry was based at Blaauwbosch Private Game Reserve near Port Elizabeth, from which he had escaped twice. Blaauwbosch had insufficient food and water to sustain elephants and inadequate fences to contain them. Harry was then set to be killed, but a number of organisations stepped in to save Harry.
Harry was captured on Mon Desir farm, close to Blaauwbosch, on 15 October 2019 and transported to Mount Camdeboo, where he was released. Harry was fitted with a radio collar so that his movements could be monitored.
On 10 November 2019, Harry and Mount Camdeboo’s resident herd met for the first time. While Harry is currently still quite independent, he is regularly spotted with the herd.
As of January 2022, the elephant herd at Mount Camdeboo was nine elephants strong, thanks to the birth of two thriving calves.
Lion tracking
In 2019, we reached another milestone with the introduction of three young lions: one male, Kuvuka, and two lionesses. When they arrived, they were put into a boma together on our property so that they could bond and settle into their new environment.
They were released from the boma in June 2019 and have done very well on the reserve ever since. The older lioness, Kusasa, gave birth to two cubs in October 2019 and to another four cubs in February 2021.
The lions are collared and can thus be tracked (to a point) with our knowledgeable ranges, who will share a wealth of wisdom and intriguing stories about the lions’ rewilding into the landscape at Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve.
