An anti-poaching K9 Camp was officially opened at the Mdluli Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park (KNP) on Tuesday, April 23.The camp, whose opening coincided with International Earth Day 2025, will be a base of operations for rangers and their well-trained dogs, working together in the fight against poaching in the KNP.
The executive manager of Mdluli Safari Lodge, Chris Schalkwyk, said the establishment of the special K9 Camp proves that with good relationships and local and international co-operation, a huge difference can be made in conservation.
Chris Schalkwyk, the executive manager of Mdluli Safari Lodge; Davide Bomben, the director of il Diamante Diamond Collection; Tinyiko Golele, the regional ranger of the Maroela South Region and Malcolm Segal, the director of Mdluli Safari Lodge.
The camp will operate under the Mdluli Conservation and Anti-poaching Reserve, which is inside the fenced area of the park, near Pretoriuskop.
“It is responsible for patrolling 24km of the western boundary fence of the KNP. This is done with the support of Genesis K9, SANParks and the SANParks Honorary Rangers, who are doing excellent work in assisting with the removal of snares and alien plants in the park,” said Schalkwyk.
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“Donations from our Italian partner and tour operator company, il Diamante, facilitated by Davide Bomben, and other gracious donors from Italy have made our dream of a K9 anti-poaching camp become a reality,” added Schalkwyk.
During the opening, certificates of appreciation for support and donations were handed over to SANParks, SANParks Honorary Rangers Lowveld Region, il Diamante, Bomben, Café Rider, SoSimple Solar, Ges’in, Fondazione LAC, Beauval Nature and Mdluli Safari Lodge.
A special demonstration by the Genesis K9 Rangers, featuring the incredible Axel, also took place during the event. Axel is a five-year-old Belgian malinois tracking dog, capable of scenting humans, explosives, firearms and rhino horns.
In attendance were the Mdluli Safari Lodge Partnerships’ board chairperson, Nelly Mdhluli, Mdluli Safari Lodge Group CEO Malcom Segal, Genesis K9 Group CEO Thys Klein, SANParks Regional Ranger in Maroela South, Tinyiko Golele and others.
In thanking the initiative’s supporters, Schalkwyk said that contributions to the 24/7 unit have already resulted in several successes, including the arrest of four suspects, the training of more than 40 rangers, and the removal of almost 3 000 snares and around 150 alien plants.
