Zoom in to watch the very unusual interaction between zebras and a water monitor. Although not a threat to the animals, they are trying to stomp on the monitor with their front hooves. The zebras are probably acting on a genetic response to reptiles (particularly snakes) that could be a threat. Thanks to guide David for the great footage. #zebras #reptiles #watermonitor #wildlife #safari #kariegagamereserve

Did you know that nyala bark? The noise sounds very much like a dog. Similar to nyala, bushbuck and kudu also bark. This nyala seems to be barking gently to locate her fawn. Thanks to Ben for the video. #nyala #africanwildlife #animalnoises #africanantelope #wildlife #kariegagamereserve

Kariega is not only a conservation area it is a also a home and a family to the people who live and work on the reserve. Last week we lost one of our family - senior guide Zolani tragically passed away in a vehicle accident. Zoltan as he affectionately known had worked on the reserve for over 10 years as a guide. Vastly experienced, intelligent and sharp witted he was instantly a big hit amongst his fellow guides and the other staff he interacted with. ` Small in stature but big in personality he filled the hours at the lodge, room or staff canteen with laughter and thought provoking questions. His cheeky sense of humour and naughty smile will be missed by all. Guests who were fortunate to be guided by him will have an insight into the man he was. It brings comfort to us that they share in our sense of loss. "I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone." - Shawshank Redemption Hamba kahle mfondini #kariegagamereserve

Today is World Food Day and the 2022 theme is ‘safe food for a healthy future.’ The production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long-term benefits for people, the planet, and the economy. The Kariega Foundation is very proud of our SOIL (Sustainable, Organic, Innovation, Living) programme which teaches permaculture to the children in our youth development programme. The kids have established five community gardens that they actively tend and implement what they learn at the Kariega Conservation Centre training garden. Thank you to our project donors who’s support has been integral to what has been achieved to date: @hipporoller @inspowercommunity @santashoebox #WorldFoodDay2022 #WorldFoodDay #sustainabletourism #KariegaFoundation #permaculture #kariegagamereserve

Many other African wild animals also eat poo. This is known as coprophagia. Faeces contains high levels of minerals and salt needed by the animal. Hyena scat is very high in calcium as hyena consume bones as part of their diet. Leopard tortoises will eat the hyena scat to get the calcium to strengthen their eggs and also harden their own shells. Rabbits and hares also eat their own faeces, sometimes directly from their own rectum, as their digestive systems are so fast that they doesn’t allow the animals to obtain enough nutrients from the food the first time. They have adapted to eating there faeces in order to get the required nutrients that they weren’t able to absorb the first time. #elephant #baby #cute #unusual #throwbacksaturday #behaviour #wildlife #nature #natural #organic #kariegagamereserve

For the past few years we have been monitoring the use of dogs to help combat rhino poaching. Dogs have a great sense of smell, are fast and can be natural hunters. Trained dogs have been known to alert anti-poaching units to the presence of a poacher up to one kilometer away. The dogs used to help combat rhino poaching are bred, raised and trained to be a working part of an APU team. The dogs used for APUs are mostly German, Sable and Belgian Shepherds, Malinois, Bloodhounds and Beagles. These dogs go through many years of training. Shepherds and Malinois are most often used as sniffer dogs and trackers. They are trained to find a track or the smell of a poacher and will run until they find the culprit. This tracking exercise can go on for minutes or hours and sometimes even days. Bloodhounds and Beagles can also be trained to find and follow a scent trail. They are able to follow the trail of items such as rhino horn, ammunition and blood. Thanks to our APU K9 handlers, and our generous sponsors, guests and donors for all the invaluable help in shaping our ever growing K9 unit! @helpingrhinos @globalconservationforce @rhinotears @chipembere_rhino_foundation @kilo9academy @secprorisk #dogs #K9 #APU #workingdogs #conservation #rhino #rhinoconservation #kariegafoundation #kariegagamereserve

A special moment as a male lion walks across the open plains at sunset, and a wary dazzle of zebra watch him pass. He was trying to locate the rest of the pride and realised that hunting the zebra by himself would be futile to attempt. #zebra #lion #travel #safari #nature #gardenroute #big5 #kariegagamereserve #sunset

Freedom To Roam Adventures (FTRA) is a platform created by Trish and Phil Liggett to share their love of nature and play an active role in its protection and preservation. The philosophy of FTRA is to give in order to get. The FTRA team worked with us to curate a bespoke experience for 16 guests to enjoy 6 nights at the reserve. This included stays at Ukhozi Lodge, River Lodge and Settlers Drift Lodge to enjoy each of the beautiful environments. Their visit included outstanding cycling, game viewing, river cruises and walking safaris, information evenings with conservation experts, and fun afternoons playing sport with the kids in the Kariega Foundation Youth Development programme. Read more about this amazing adventure on our blog. Link in bio. #KariegaGameReserve #FreedomToRoamAdventures #cycling #voiceofcycling #gardenroute #SouthAfrica #big5 #wildlifeconservation #kariegafoundation

Lion roaring at sunset. Iconic Africa! Thanks for the video @Craig_b21 #lion #roar #iconic #specialmoments #KariegaGameReserve #nature #travel #gardenroute #malariafree

Tortoise need love too..... The somewhat humorous reproductive behaviour of leopard tortoises. The female will dig a 25cm deep hole with her rear legs. Urine is used to soften hard soil. Up to 24 eggs are laid. Incubation will be between 8-15 months temperature dependent. Females will develop at higher temperatures and males at lower temperatures. Hatchlings may need rain to dig to the surface and are 4-5cm in size. #leopard #tortoise #honeymoon #reptile #herpetology #nature #kariegagamereserve

Thandi's incredible story as told by Wildearth's very talented presenter Ralph who is currently at Kariega - thank you very much for sharing it with your audience! "When a human being dies, there is a bridge they must cross to enter into Heaven. At the head of the bridge waits every animal that human encountered during their lifetime. The animals, based on how that person treated them, decide which humans may cross the bridge… and which are turned away" #Thandi #rhino #conservation #preserve #Wildearth #wildearthtv #highlight #special #icon #iconic #special #inspire #KariegaGameReserve #whiterhino #nature #africa

Last month Kariega Game Reserve dropped a major internal fence to incorporate pristine habitat in the Bushmans River Valley into the greater Kariega protected area, which is now 11,500 hectares in size. This was a moment in time and the culmination of years of work for the Rushmere and Fuller families, who have knitted Kariega Game Reserve together from 21 different, re-wilded farms over the past 33 years. An on-going conservation story we are proud of. There are many people to thank. Mark and Fiona Ferguson who purchased the land and donated it into the protected area. Phil and Trish Ligget and the inaugural guests of Freedom to Roam Adventures as well as Simon Jones and the Helping Rhinos team who raised the funds needed to complete phase one of this habitat expansion project. Mike Veale, the Global Conservation Force team, Coyote Petersen and the Brave Wilderness crew who have raised the funds for us to complete the project over the next year. The Kariega ecology and estate management departments who have worked tirelessly on this project. Conservation is a team sport. Thank you for being on our team and making this incredible contribution to conservation in the Eastern Cape. The incorporation of this new land ensures the protection of 18 kilometres of Bushmans River tidal estuary and provides critical range expansion for rhino, elephant and apex predators like lion and cheetah. All of which are under threat from loss of habitat. @p_liggett1977 @fiferg @rhino_simon @helpingrhinos @mikeveale @globalconservationforce @coyotepeterson @bravewilderness #Freedomtoroamadventures #conservation #expansion #nature #wilderness #KariegaGameReserve