Mount Camdeboo in the Eastern Cape has recently introduced elephant to its reserve, with plans to add lion later in the year - thereby expanding its long-term conservation vision.
The 14 000ha reserve will now become home to the famed ‘Big Five’ as rhino, Cape buffalo and leopard are already present on the property.
These species all historically occurred in the Great Karoo region and forms part of the reserve’s long-term plan to reintroduce historically occurring species in the area.
“We are thrilled to welcome back these majestic creatures to Mount Camdeboo, which will undoubtedly add great value to our safari experience” says owner Iain Buchanan.
The reserve says records show that elephant have always been indigenous to the area, being an animal that can live in habitats ranging from deserts to forests, as long as there is clean fresh drinking water and shade.
"We are delighted that Mount Camdeboo meets all their habitat requirements and are confident that they will thrive on the reserve.”
The reserve was first created in 1995, when the late Logie Buchanan purchased several properties making up the current 14 000 ha Mount Camdeboo private game reserve.
As a result it has been the Buchanan family’s long-term conservation vision to develop its offering through eco-tourism, thereby adding to its overall conservation efforts of fauna and flora across the Karoo region.
Mount Camdeboo is introducing elephant and lion onto the reserve in 2018. This means that they will soon be home to the ‘Big Five’ as rhino, Cape buffalo and leopard are already present on the property.
UPDATE: Conservation through collaboration: Karoo Corridor Project given the green light
The recent approval by the Department of Environmental Affairs of the region’s Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment’s proposed management plan - which will see approximately 286 343 hectares of both private and public land in the Great Karoo protected and preserved for generations to come – has been a stamp of approval for the region’s land conservation cap.
Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve has played a pivotal role in this initiative, being the first property to sign into the Protected Environment in 2012.
“We are proud to continuously be working towards achieving our long-term conservation vision of ensuring sensible and sustainable utilisation of natural resources as a foundation for eco-tourism and wildlife conservation. With the introduction of elephant and lion, we are one step closer to realising our vision” says son Iain Buchanan.
Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve lies just to the east of the town of Graaff-Reinet, in the heart of the malaria free Eastern Cape's Great Karoo area. As an exclusive boutique accommodation offering - it allows for only 28 guests in 3 luxurious homesteads and 2 sumptuous safari tents across its 14 000 hectares.
Mount Camdeboo continues to ensure sensitive and sustainable utilisation of natural resources as a foundation for eco-tourism and wildlife conservation in this region.
Mount Camdeboo is introducing elephant and lion onto the reserve in 2018. This means that they will soon be home to the ‘Big Five’ as rhino, Cape buffalo and leopard are already present on the property.
(Photo: Mount Camdeboo)
