1999

A man too important not to mention in the story of Zuka Private Game Reserve and Wild Impact (formerly know as Africa Foundation) is Robin James.

1999 was an important year for Wild Impact and its early history; the first significant endowment was negotiated by Robin James. Rob undertook Wild Impact from inception, as the steadfast Chairman of the UK Board of Trustees of Wild Impact UK until his death in 2016. Similarly, Rob’s wife Judy James has served Wild Impact unswervingly throughout this time, donating and engaging with annual trips to Africa and numerous communities as well as dedicating time to her role as a Trustee of Wild Impact UK.

In recognition of Rob’s contribution and character, the Robin James Award was created. His role in the life of Wild Impact is described in this excerpt from Dave Varty’s speech, delivered in May 2017, at the celebration of 25 years of Wild Impact, and the inaugural Robin James Awards.

« Its first donor, and lifelong trustee, was a wonderful gentleman called Robin James, whom we are here today to honour. It was Robin’s vision and influence which brought us the Rural Investment Fund which ultimately became the Wild Africa.

Robin was a gentleman to his core – soft spoken, ethical and deeply committed to conservation and the possibilities of social upliftment of rural communities.

It was my great fortune to have had a chance to work with him during the early days of establishing Phinda and it was through Robin’s connection to an anonymous donor that set in motion the establishment of the Wild Africa. For 25 years, under Robin’s watchful eye, a multitude of community based conservation and social services projects were started. »

1992

Dave Varty recounts his pitch to the family in his book Full Circle:

“Yes, we are aware that Nelson Mandela is calling for sanctions. And yes, we have bought derelict farms in the middle of northern KwaZulu Natal where the Zulu leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi is trying to go to war with the ANC. And yes, we plan to turn these farms into a pristine wilderness. Well, almost pristine. We would remove fifty years of rusted debris, string a fence around, reintroduce the wildlife and build luxury lodges which would attract people from all over the world. Some of the foreign currency we earned would be used to help the surrounding communities, some to improve the badly damaged habitat. There would even be a little left for shareholders… an investment better than gold!”

Sounding more like a pitch for a movie concept at this point, a team of script writers could have run wild! Only, this was no writing room offering safety and neatly wrapped up endings. This was a board room assimilating a dizzying proposal that contained real risks and hopeful outcomes. It was however, a pitch that resonated with Mark and Tara’s sense and sensibilities. They agreed, it might be a costly venture, but they were prepared to take theses risks, get on this long bumpy ride, invite the family to invest in Conservation Corporation Africa* and hang on damn tight as eco-pioneers.

They recognised it would be a slow process, not just restoring Phinda, but expanding the company, its lodges, and positive ecological and social impact beyond South Africa; the process rewarding and the returns beyond anything financial. In so doing, they shared their own vision, that the natural world and its infinite importance is the most worthwhile investment that can, and should, be made.

Further reading:
“Phinda The Return” The Story of Phinda Game Reserve by Molly Buchanan (published by Londolozi Publishers)
“Full Circle” by Dave Varty (with Molly Buchanan and published by Penguin, 2008)

*CCAFrica was rebranded andBeyond in 2008

1992

The core values of andBeyond (or CCAfrica as it was named then) Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife and Care of the People have been the DNA of the company from day one. The Care of the People ethos has always been a heartbeat strong in the company’s body. It was ahead of its time, in this regard, not simply “engaging in social responsibily” but working in authentic partnership.

Game reserves’ surrounding communities are geographically rural and more remote from the listening ear of the public sector. Game reserves recruiting from neighbouring communities are able to offer jobs, training, positions of responsibility and personal growth in all areas of hospitality as well as conservation, guiding, tracking, in anti-poaching and habitat management. This in turn strengthens the cogent relationship between people and their environment.

Beyond the walls of the lodges and boundaries of the reserves, andBeyond’s relationships extended into the communities too and hence the birth of the independent non-profit organisation, Wild Impact (formerly known as Africa Foundation, initially called The Rural Investment Fund). From the start, Phinda became the role model for the entire company, with lodge managers actively supporting community projects.

Les Carlisle, Isaac Thembe, Walter Zulu and Nicole Young were the indefatigable energies on the ground in the early days of Wild Impact as they established relationships with local leaders and members of the immediate communities. Tara Getty joined the team, and by identifying through consultative processes the priorities of these communities, they brought proposed projects to reality, as well as ensuring their sustainability.

Wild Impact established four different focus areas for their project development, funding and management through to fruition: Education, Healthcare, Rural Business Development and Conservation.

These remain today, as Wild Impact’s key areas of work in 68 communities across South Africa to Botswana, Tanazania, Kenya, Namibia and Mozambique, where we currently operate, more than 30 years later.

1991

Phinda, meaning “return” in isiZulu was brought in to its first phase of reality in 1991 as it pioneered the groundbreaking model: Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife and Care of The People.

Dave Varty wrote in his book “Full Circle” of the enormity of this undertaking. The extraordinary logistics and brave hearted endeavour is distilled in to the simplicity of a single paragraph as if the whole thing was just a regular instagram post! However these few words paint the picture of an important chapter in the story.

“By 1991 the construction of 120 kilometers of game fence construction began. Les Carlisle, the moving spirit in creating a wilderness wonderland at Phinda, was appointed land manager. The major restocking exercise he led turned out to be the largest relocation of wildlife ever undertaken in South Africa at that time. Then we started to repair the massive erosion and encroachment caused by cattle ranching activities and we removed the rusted farm debris. Very soon we had elephants, lions, cheetah and white rhino (21 were moved to the reserve in the largest translocation at one time) Les even packed a python into his lunch box and carried it back to Phinda for release. It was quite a story on its own.”

Shan Varty published “Phinda The Return” a chronicle of observations, details, characters and events through this important time with beautiful photographic visuals. This paragraph from Shan’s book sums up the powerful energy that brought Phinda and the vision to life. Again, the simplicity of words on paper offer only a hint of the true grit, determination, financial risk, complexity and courage through that time.

“Phinda, developed without the aid of the public sector, was a hard learning curve. But in less than a decade it has shown what is possible, never wavering from three bottom-line priorities: environmental sustainability, social opportunity and dignity, and economic prosperity. The latter has been a long time coming.”

Further Reading:
“Phinda The Return” The Story of Phinda Game Reserve by Molly Buchanan (published by Londolozi Publishers)
“Full Circle” by Dave Varty (with Molly Buchanan and published by Penguin, 2008)

1990

Coming from his successful almost 40 year old Londolozi where he had already invested decades of hard work, money and belief nurturing the reserve and building a leading eco-tourism destination, Dave Varty’s first visit to the farms that were to become Phinda conjured up for him, the word “hellhole”. A legacy of inappropriate land practices prevailed; alien vegetation invading as a result of cattle overgrazing, sisal and pineapple farming remnants, and rusty fences with the debris of failed agriculture strewn throughout this series of farms. Still, he held a vision, to replicate the Londolozi model, to restore this wilderness to its necessary pristine state, reintroduce wildlife and form the foundation of an industry – safari tourism – as an alternative; furthering his vision that land under wildlife has the potential to strengthen rural communities.

Through the devastation, the importance and beauty of this incredible piece of Maputaland was to reveal itself, sitting between the coastal sand dunes to the east and the Lebombo Mountains to the west, Mozambique to the north and Lake St Lucia to the south. Between the Mkuze and Mzinene rivers this area, initially 13,000 hectares of seven different ecosystems, supported an incredible biodiversity; 456 species of birds, myriad insects, frogs, a variety of endemic species amidst natural pan systems, sand forest, acacia bush and palm veld. All this and the proximity to the Indian Ocean compelled Dave to take on the challenge. The challenge being to rewild and return it to its former natural perfection and in so doing make it economically viable and simultaneously, benefit the impoverished surrounding rural communities. Could it be possible, to restore the balance of humanity and nature living respectfully and harmoniously?

In Dave’s words, “Despite the enormity of the task, we were undaunted and we poured our energies into making Phinda happen. Failure was not on our agenda.”

Further reading:
Full Circle by Dave Varty (with Molly Buchanan and published by Penguin Books, 2008)