Community, conservation, and connection – how the Londolozi Ripple Fund is transforming lives beyond the reserve boundaries.
Growing Impact
What happens when passionate conservationists extend their care beyond wildlife? Magic! The first quarter of 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary for our community projects.
From flourishing farms to educational breakthroughs, your support has helped us create meaningful change in the communities surrounding Londolozi. We’re excited to share how by just staying at Londolozi, and through your continued support, the ripples continue to spread. Let’s dive into some of the highlights the Ripple Fund has seen so far in 2025…
Bridging Communities
The Londolozi team recently rolled up their sleeves for some incredible hands-on projects, and had such fun doing so!
- Brightened up Nhlalala Preschool with fresh paint
- Got our hands dirty planting thousands thousands of seedlings with local farmers David and Nkhensani
- Shared stories and smiles with elders at Hlayisekani Nursing Home
- Visited the Good Work Foundation campuses to connect with students and staff
- Supported Charles Mdluli’s indigenous plant nursery
These connections aren’t just about giving back—they’re about creating a shared ecosystem where conservation includes uplifting the communities that protect our natural heritage.
As Margaret Mead wisely said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Foundations of Change – Our NGO Partners
Lessons in Conservation
Our partnership with Lessons in Consrvation (LiC) is back and better than ever! Now focusing on grade 7 students, we’ve already reached 60 students from Nembe Mhlaba School and plan to reach another 200 this year.
Improvements to the program include:
- Reliable transportation for students
- Londolozi trackers integrated into the lessons to enhance language support for better comprehension
- Inspiring role models showing different conservation career paths.
Digital Futures with the Good Work Foundation
The Good Work Foundation (GWF) continues nurturing future leaders across rural South Africa and in the communities surrounding Londolozi. Their 2025 goals include:
- Leadership development programs championed by CEO Kate Groch
- New campus recycling initiative in partnership with Fibre Circle
- GWF staff like Ally Hlatshwayo driving sustainability efforts
- Digital literacy, coding & robotics programs for rural learners
- Hospitality and conservation training employment pathways
In 2025 so far, Londolozi has hosted two days of game drives for Good Work Foundation school safari teams, supporting the broader conservation education efforts in our community.
Tracker Academy & Rhino Guardians
Tracker Academy continues to make incredible strides in training the next generation of keepers of the ancient art form of tracking and guardians of the wilderness. Recently honoured with the prestigious SANParks Kudu Award for Environmental Education, Tracker Academy trained 54 trackers across three specialised programs in 2024 alone.
After the trailblasing success of Tsundzukani Whati, the industry and Londolozi’s first female tracker, we are delighted to share that Tracker Academy, together with Londolozi, are pioneering the first-ever class of female tracklers training at the Trackers Academy campus at Londolozi! This groundbreaking initiative opens new doors for women in conservation, and we look forward to updating you all in the future.
Farm Fresh Success
David’s Green Revolution
David’s square-foot gardening approach is yielding impressive results! With 7,000+ new seedlings and 6 tonnes of organic compost, his farm is thriving. The best part? He’s now teaching agricultural skills to Madlala High School students – talk about paying it forward!
Nkhensani’s Growing Empire
After three years of infrastructure investment from the Ripple Fund, Nkhensani’s detailed production planning has positioned her farm for major growth in 2025. New irrigation improvements are on the way that will take her farm to the next level.
Egg-citing Developments
Both the Mathebula Family and Frank’s Farms are rebuilding after the challenging double whammy of the bird flu crisis and severe weather storms in 2024. With our strategic phased approach to chicken installations throughout 2025, each farm is projected to house 600-800 hens and produce between 3,570-4,760 eggs weekly by year-end!
Charles’ Nursery
Charles’ indigenous plant nursery continues to flourish—approximately 60 of his cultivated plants were recently purchased for a local preschool during our staff immersion program, creating a beautiful full circle of community support.
The Ripple Effect in Numbers
Since 2022, Londolozi has purchased R730,470.79 worth of produce from Ripple Fund farmers! That’s direct economic impact supporting local livelihoods.
Community Cornerstones
Hlayisekani Nursing Home
Honouring our elders has always been a very important piece of Londolozi’s history. Hlayisekani Nursing Home now cares for 80 elderly residents with 28 dedicated staff members. We’re focusing on completing their second building in 2025 – a project that needs just R180,000 ($9,500) to finish. Your donations could make all the difference in providing quality care for our community’s treasured elders.
Nhlalala Preschool
Nhlalala Preschool got a complete refresh! Our immersion team repainted the jungle gym, planted gardens, repaired classroom plaster, and implemented a gas bottle replacement system for their kitchen. These improvements create a more vibrant, functional learning space for the youngest members of our community.
Tshemba Hosi School
Tshemba Hosi School for the differently abled is celebrating their new jungle gym and sand pit! We’ve also provided education materials, toys, sports equipment, and more to enhance their learning environment. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and play in a supportive, enriching space.
What’s Next in 2025?
As we move into the second quater of the year, we’re focused on:
- Supporting farm sustainability through mentorship and infrastructure
- Reaching 220+ students through conservation education with Lessons in Conservation
- Completing the second building at Hlayisekani Nursing Home
- Continued support of our NGO partners
Your continued support makes all of this possible. Thank you for being part of our journey!
How to Contribute
- If you would like some more detailed, one-on-one information, or if you would like to make a donation to the Londolozi Ripple Fund and start your own ripple effect, please reach out to us at ripple@londolozi.co.za
Stay in the Ripple
To stay connected, we have established a Londolozi Ripple Fund Impact site where you can follow regular updates on projects and donations as they unfold and follow work that has already been successfully completed. If you would like to receive the Londolozi Ripple Fundb newsletter, please let us know on ripple@londolozi.co.za and follow us @ripple_fund
Every contribution creates waves of positive change. Whether you donate, or simply spread the word, you become part of this beautiful ripple effect.
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” – Howard Zinn
