2025

Zuka Private Game Reserve is a member of the Munywana Conservancy (along with andBeyond Phinda and Makhasa Community Trust) and we are thrilled to share the news of our recent successful translocation of 17 white rhino from the Munywana Conservancy to Tanzania.

On 27th February 2025, 18 of our white rhino were carefully crated, transported to Durban and flown to Tanzania. For accuracy, one animal was returned to the conservancy with the remaining 17 in a perfect state to continue.

On landing in Tanzania, the convoy journeyed to the soft boma release, and later, a wider release in the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, followed by the official handover ceremony taking place on 3rd March. Zuka Media’s Jamie Lucas was the official photographer to document everything from their touchdown in Tanzania onwards.

Conservation translocations are a proven strategy to support the survival of a threatened species and this project goal is to successfully establish a number of viable, genetically diverse breeding populations of Southern white rhino in Tanzania, helping to secure the future of this species.

As Zuka Private Game Reserve, we have supported numerous wildlife translocations since our inception in 2001; as part of the Munywana Conservancy, and talking rhino in particular, this amounts to 220 white rhino and 15 black rhino since 2004.

Instrumental in the negotiating and detailing of this extraordinary feat is andBeyond and without doubt, the power of the collective Munywana Conservancy, the collaboration between all the key partners (see below) with the logistical and veterinary teams, this donation and translocation has defined unity, while offering something important for the greater good of the African continent and this planet.

Ngorongoro Crater in Tanazania, the world’s largest volcanic caldera, is a dominant feature in the 809,440 hectare Ngorongoro conservation area – a UNESCO world heritage site and part of the UNESCO Serengeti – Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve.

Feasibility studies and assessments by both the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute and independent assessors indicated that the habitat in the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation NCCA is an ideal implementation area, and that Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area Authority has the capacity, effective monitoring protocols and resources to manage and protect this Ngorongoro Crater founder population.

This project is an important step towards the Tanzanian government’s long-term goal of establishing viable, genetically diverse breeding populations of the species.

It is wonderful that Zuka Private Game Reserve is a part of this collective vision and legacy; that our shared efforts as Munywana Conservancy have not only safeguarded the numbers of this endangered and iconic species, but we have enabled them to flourish, thus catalysing the possibility of this gift to Tanzania.

This is testament to the members of the Munywana Conservancy, our shared endeavours to restore balance, our commitment to a future where the wild has a place, where rhino thrive and where our collaboration stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when we unite for a cause greater than ourselves.

KEY PARTNERSHIPS:

• Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania (MNRT)
• Ministry of Finance and Planning, Tanzania, (MoFP)
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, Tanzania (NCAA)
• Regional District Governance Structure, Tanzania
• Munywana Conservancy, South Africa (andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, Zuka Private Game Reserve, Makhasa Community Trust)
• andbeyond
• A truly generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous and who’s support made this possible.

TO SEE MORE

• KarryOn – ANDBEYOND TRANSLOCATE WHITE RHINOS IN HISTORIC CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
• Travel Daily – ANDBEYOND RESCUE
• Global Travel Media – WHITE RHINO RELOCATED TO TANZANIA IN HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP
• Travel Weekly –  ANDBEYOND LEADS GROUNDBREAKING WHITE RHINO TRANSLOCATION TO TANZANIA – WHITE RHINO RELOCATED TO TANZANIA IN HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP
• Journal Des Palaces – ANDBEYOND: COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP TRANSLOCATES WHITE RHINO FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO TANZANIA
• @zukaprivategamereserve
• @munywanaconservancy

2024

When African Parks, the non-profit organisation that takes on responsibility for the management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities throughout Africa became the official custodian of 2,000 southern white rhino (from the breeding programme Platinum Rhino) they were clear with their intention to re-wild them over a ten year period. In May 2024, the ambitious rewilding phase – named Rhino Rewild – was officially launched and this is where we came in to collaborate as part of the first move of this continent-wide effort.

As a member of Munywana Conservancy, Zuka Private Game Reserve played a pivotal role in this large-scale rhino conservation effort when African Parks called on our optimal habitat, our secure and well managed protected area, to relocate 40 of these animals here. Not only providing a safe haven for this intake, but bolstering our current population and genetic diversity enhances future rhino translocation opportunities too as a successful strategy in helping to mitigate risk to the future of this species.

This is an effective collaboration in the huge effort to address the critical decline of southern white rhino and by incorporating these rhinos into the conservancy, Munywana contributes to the re-establishment of stable populations in wild ecosystems, furthering our conservation mission and supporting biodiversity in the region .

2023

Inspired by Kiss The Ground, the non profit organisation, and Carole Bamford, the founder of Daylesford Farm both leading voices in their advocacy for regenerative agriculture as a viable solution for healthy soil and its powerful influence on our climate, water and healthy organic food production, we decided to get to work!

We acquired 25 hectares on the boundary of Zuka Private Game Reserve and in 2023 created our regenerative agriculture farm, which we named Khula Farm – meaning “grow” in isiZulu.

Regenerative food production can regenerate natural systems and takes us towards actually benefitting our planet and the human population. This integrates naturally with Getty Asterism and our goals, as we adopt a variety of sustainable agriculture techniques and practices to minimise plowing, rotate crops, protect our top soils, and enhance soil health.

Khula Farm is the source of great learning, discovery and nourishment for us and our soil as we grow nutritious organic food for our guests, staff and the wider Zuka Private Game Reserve community.

We are excited to grow, harvest and create – bon appétit!

2022

In 2022, Zuka Private Game Reserve embraced its inaugural participation in Tusk’s Wildlife Ranger Challenge, marking the start of this annual event that unites the reserve’s staff, partners and neighbours!

The challenge, a fun-filled, competitive series of push-up and sit-up challenges leading up to the main event: walking or running a choice of 5km or 10km and for the courageous, the full 21km run through the reserve, has become a highlight of Zuka’s calendar. Event day culminates with well earned medals, trophies and a celebration at the wonderful Bayala Private Safari Lodge.

Meanwhile there is some serious business of fundraising!

Reaching out to friends and guests around the world as we participate in this challenge, our funds raised go to Oceans Without Borders Marine Rangers. Tusk have the immense support of The Scheinberg Relief Fund who generously committed $1million in matched funds to support of rangers most in need, and, if that wasn’t brilliant enough, Tusk give further catalyst grants, which again enhances the impact of our participation for Oceans Without Borders.

Zuka’s partnership with Tusk is deepening, effective and fun, as we grow our Wildlife Ranger Challenge year by year! We are aligned in our endeavours and work in creating lasting impact in the conservation sector. Our combined efforts not only provide crucial financial support to ranger teams but also highlights to a global audience the importance of wildlife protection and community engagement in preserving our planet’s diverse ecosystems.

2021

While celebrating 20 years of restoring, protecting and preserving the wild that is Zuka Private Game Reserve, Tara and Jessica created Getty Asterism.

At this stage, our first 20 years of rewilding, conservation and preservation had shown us the possibilities of wilderness restoration. Throughout this time, we attracted some passionate individuals and by formalising this growing team, with their extraordinary discoveries across the reserve, we created Getty Asterism as a multifaceted ecology venture.

Getty Asterism, as an alchemy of Zuka Private Game Reserve, research, scientists, opportunities, solutions and a platform is dedicated to research opportunities for students, to craft formal scientific projects, for ecological innovations and partnerships and to be the heart of the interrelated areas of land, wildlife and humanity on Zuka Private Game Reserve.

This fully funded vehicle and unique department gives the opportunity to individuals to settle into the reserve, work on ideas, make discoveries, innovate and sensitively apply solutions, and for us to expand the integrated conservation model that is Zuka Private Game Reserve. This freedom and innovation could mean that our impact evolves and ripples outwards to be significant in the future.

2001 – 2021

Words by Jessica Getty

Nature.

Thriving and beauteous in her perfection, she needs nothing from us.

We are called to be with her and to watch, witness, observe and learn. Nature is our axis that inspires an instinct to revolve around her and respond.

Zuka is our response.

Under our auspices since 2001, Zuka has an infinitely wide matrix of history before it and around it; angles, truths, humans and circumstances that account for and construct a different beginning before our own. For Tara and me, to put Zuka and our personal commitment in to context, 1990 is the rightful starting point to our story and the germination of what would birth 10 years later: Zuka Private Game Reserve.

Zuka is one of myriad examples around the world of the common point where humanity meets the natural world in order to protect her.

Every minute since 2001 has been filled with nature playing her role, there for us to coexist, to immerse in wonder. Simultaneously, every minute since 2001, has been filled with the best intentions from a vast human collective connected to Zuka. All those minutes have turned in to days and years threaded together bringing us to this place in time, 2021, where we allow ourselves a pause, to notice and celebrate.

We honour 20 years of this collective of human hearts, attributes and actions. These humans have been on board and held on tight over 20 years with tenacity, expertise, passion, kindness, willingness, loyalty and mercifully, a sense of humour!

2021 is our vantage point to look back, be here, notice Zuka quietly thriving and with gratitude and vigour, go onwards.