KAINGO’S CONSERVATION GOALS

1. To restore the natural environment;
2. To re-establish and protect biodiversity; and
3. To maintain the Waterberg’s characteristic ecological processes.

We have adopted a holistic approach, laying the groundwork for long-term ecological and economic viability, and creating a model of conservation supported by ecotourism.

Kaingo represents an opportunity to explore not just a landscape, but a new model of conservation. Kaingo’ s solid conservation ethic coupled with a very limited lodge footprint sets it apart from high traffic reserves where there is an ever-increasing conflict between conservation and economic objectives.

The high capital and operational costs associated with setting up and running a game reserve in most cases hampers the private sector to deliver on the opportunity of being real custodians of nature. This due to the dependence upon securing an acceptable financial return in the immediate to short-term. Similarly, a budget and capacity constrained public sector is playing an ever-smaller nature custodian role.

The most frequent approach to achieve a private sector return is through the development of a high-margin, low-volume recreational tourism product, the success of which is generally dependant on the quality of game viewing on offer. Similarly, in government owned reserves the need for increased concession income results in a high density of luxury lodge operators on the same reserve. Consequently, biodiversity objectives are frequently compromised in order to satisfy short-term game viewing demands, especially as it relates to the Big Five. Inappropriate management practices to support the unnaturally high game viewing demands have resulted in severe habitat deterioration in numerous reserves, across the country. This trend has been greatly exacerbated by the increasingly competitive nature of the game lodge industry, and the apparent conflict between the economy and ecology of ecotourism threatens to undermine its promise as a sustainable land-use practice for private conservation areas.

This conflict almost certainly represents the single biggest challenge facing conservation in South Africa. Additionally, the challenges faced in managing the ever-growing number of elephants have resulted in severe habitat deterioration in numerous reserves, across the country.

Kaingo is a labour of love for the family, who took responsibility for this remarkable reserve in 2010. As a benefactor of its owner’s conservation objective Kaingo does not rely directly on tourism income for its financial security, and this means that the reserve’s strategic planning is not vulnerable to the volatile market conditions that characterize this industry. This fortuitous position provides Kaingo with an opportunity to take a longer-term approach to ensure the ecological integrity of the reserve going forward and to ensure that the associated tourism product retains its vitality and competitiveness well into the future. Delivery on this opportunity, however, requires a clear conservation centric management approach for the reserve.

Kaingo is proudly a ‘conservation first’ reserve where we employ ethical management practices and sound conservation principles. To balance the ecological integrity of the large natural landscape that encompasses all eco types that the Waterberg offer, the wellbeing of the animals throughout the year, and still to be able to offer a well-balanced and natural eco-experience for our visitors, the reserves’ wildlife stocking rate is carefully monitored and sustained in a natural way.