Lodges band together in conservation
MULDERSDRIFT – Many well-known game lodges have started their own conservancy.
Eight game lodges and their surrounding properties have agreed to break down their boundary walls and conserve the area.
This project, which is estimated to take 10 years to complete, is called Cradle Moon Conservancy and is headed by Andy Dott, owner of Heia Safari Ranch, newly named Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge.
Dott explained a conservancy is a group of like-minded landowners settling on an idea to protect and undo the harm done to the area. The conservancy is centered around Lake Heritage, a 30-hectare dam that was built by the first person who founded game lodges in the area, and is the largest man-made rock structure in South Africa.
Even though the privately owned game lodges, such as Aloe Ridge, Bellgables and Ekudeni are still commercial, they support conservancy ethics.
The animals that now roam freely in the conservancy include giraffes, zebra, a variety of buck, hippos, ostrich and five dehorned rhinos. There is also a fish eagle breeding programme in place.
Long time resident of Lammermoor, Dott has always been passionate about nature, having been a game ranger in his youth and creating the Balule Game Reserve and now owns the Greenfire chain of game lodges.
“This is such a lekker little place that has so much potential. It needs to be protected,” Dott added. Future plans for the conservancy include stocking the conservancy with more animals and introducing activities such as a booze cruise.
Details: Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge, info@cradlemoon.co.za, 011 919 5000.
