Anti-Poaching & Conservation In South Africa

Since our last report the team have been very busy with lots of exciting fundraising activities and events. 

Thanks to our generous donors and supporters we have been able to raise funds which will go towards purchasing new wildlife monitoring equipment as well as assisting our Anti Poaching Unit with essential supplies and equipment. 

In December 2021 we hosted a fundraising Pub Quiz night, with the help of nearby owners and operators of Mahlahla Game Lodge. The night was a huge success, raising R20,874 ( roughly USD$1,346) on the night, with our online GlobalGiving campaign contributing a further R17,700 (roughly USD$1,142) towards our Anti Poaching and Wildlife Conservation in South Africa GCP Fund. In total this event raised R35,350 (USD$2,280) which will allow us to obtain additional cellular camera traps and the equipment required for their implementation on the reserve. 

In May 2022 we held a ‘Sokkie 4 Rhinos’ fundraiser at Maroela Bar, one of the local restaurants in town. The event was organised by one of our interns as part of the leadership program and was yet another successful night! In total this event raised USD$2,773 (roughly ZAR44,300)which includes the cash made on the night as well as our online GlobalGiving campaign. The event was held to raise funds primarily for our Anti-Poaching Unit who recently put together an equipment ‘wish list’ which includes everything from boots for walking patrols, more cellular camera trap packs for real-time monitoring (which will cost ZAR9,000 to run for one year), as well as essential vehicle repairs for the reserve warden.  

Now comes the best part! After two successful fundraisers both online and in-field, we will be sitting down with our partners of Karongwe over the next couple of weeks to start purchasing this crucial equipment and hike up our monitoring and security systems in place. This comes at a crucial time, as the number of reported cases of break-ins by poachers on nearby properties has significantly increased in the last few months.

None of this could be possible without the support of both our participants and partners in the field, as well as our alumni, friends, family, and partners all around the world. Despite ongoing global challenges, our work and impact in the area has continued to increase, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for our program! 

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for your continued support and engagement in our projects. 

Love, 

The GVI Limpopo Team