News & Community Voices

In 1998, the world watched as the Makuleke people achieved what many thought impossible: the return of their ancestral lands in the Pafuri Triangle. Today, we look back at the nearly three decades of stewardship that followed that historic victory.

Unlike many land claims that led to the fragmentation of conservation areas, the Makuleke CPA made a visionary choice to keep the land within the Greater Kruger National Park. By prioritizing conservation over subsistence farming, we created a global model for community-owned protected areas. This decision has allowed the biodiversity of the region—from the ancient fever tree forests to the massive baobabs—to flourish while providing sustainable income for our people.

Our elders often remind us that the land is not just an asset; it is our heartbeat. As we move into the future, we continue to balance modern eco-tourism requirements with the sacred preservation of our heritage sites, ensuring the Makuleke spirit remains etched into the landscape.

The Makuleke CPA does not just own the land; we manage a complex network of world-class eco-tourism concessions. Our partnerships with high-end lodge operators are built on a foundation of mutual respect and shared ecological goals.

These concessions serve a dual purpose. First, they minimize the human footprint on the fragile Pafuri ecosystem by adhering to strict "low impact" guidelines. Second, they provide the necessary capital to fund our community development projects, including school upgrades and water infrastructure in the Makuleke villages.

We are proud to report that our current occupancy rates across our partner lodges have reached record highs this year. This success directly translates to increased social dividends and employment opportunities for our youth, who are now leading as professional guides, hospitality managers, and environmental monitors.

Conservation is often seen as a government responsibility, but the Makuleke CPA proves that community-led initiatives are the most effective shield against poaching. Our localized ecological control measures have made the Pafuri region one of the safest havens for wildlife in Southern Africa.

By integrating local knowledge with modern technology, our monitoring teams track biodiversity health and mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Because the community directly benefits from the presence of wildlife through tourism revenue, every member of the Makuleke village becomes a stakeholder in the protection of our biodiversity.

In late 2023, we expanded our research partnerships with international universities to study the unique birdlife of our RAMSAR-protected wetlands. Protecting this land isn't just about today; it's about ensuring the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers flow through a vibrant, living landscape for generations to come.