Our Sustainable Sanctuary Awaits

"There are no great things, only small things with great love!" Mother Theresa

These encouraging words echo in our hearts and minds. They come to us as a salve, easing troubled minds during a time tainted with uncertainty. We are living through one of the most unsettling world events of the modern age, and while we are all in the same storm, we are not all in the same boat. Each of us must find the courage -whether we are in a dingy, a yacht or a cruise ship- to overcome the storm and do so together. For those of us in custodianship of livelihoods, this crisis demands of us agile, creative problem-solving and stand out leadership. Right now, the world needs hope and reliable information. In this edition, we bring you both.

The Last Word Kitara, our safari property in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, is so much more than meets the eye. The undisputed home of safari chic in the Klaserie Private Nature reserve, it also supports essential impact initiatives inspired by our communities and conservation; we are committed to both and want to share these stories with you. Preservation of our people and wildlife during the lockdown is a key focus for us. During this time of vulnerability, it is critical that we band together to protect the dignity of our people and ensure our beloved wildlife remains safe. In this newsletter, Lee-Anne and Donovan Detert, our General Management couple are currently in lockdown on the reserve.  They bring you (good) news from the boots on the ground. We thought you’d like to stay in the inside-track of what is happening at this important time.

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Home Is Where The Heart Is

Lee-Anne says, "The Last Word Kitara supports Children's Education Training (CET), the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve's NGO serving surrounding communities. We asked Corné Havenga, CEO of Eco-Children who heads this organisation, what we could do to alleviate the pain many families are suffering following the worldwide travel bans and lockdown challenges. She advised that currently there are forty-nine children's' families in need of food parcels. As a measure of solidarity, The Last Word is committed to providing food parcels for these families in need, for the foreseeable future. We will continue to work with CET in the next stages of lockdown to ensure our most vulnerable community members are taken care of. It's humbling to be a part of this project.”

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A Bird's Eye View

The Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR) conducts proactive helicopter patrol flights on the reserve, a critical conservation effort made possible by Jana Meyer, Director and pilot of Hope For Wildlife Helicopter Services.  Jana is based at the KPNR headquarters and together with the KPNR security team employs a Robinson 44 Raven II helicopter for low-level proactive flights. It is an essential tool in the combatting of rhino poaching and its widely regarded as being the game changer due to its minimal disruption technology. These flights, carefully planned by the reserve's security manager, are expertly executed by Jana. Each flight aims to disrupt the movement of poachers coming into the reserve through known corridors. This action results in poachers abandoning their illicit would-be mission, helping to stop additional rhino slaughter, and the harvesting of horns for sale on the black market.
These specialised operations are only possible by the generous donations made by passionate people. Hope For Wildlife Helicopter Services are grateful for every one of them.
Donovan says, "As a commercial lodge operating within the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, The Last Word Kitara and guests contribute to specific impact initiatives through the collection of various levies. These levies support the management of the reserve's wildlife, habitats, security and children's education to name but a few. The Last Word Kitara remains committed in its support of these conservation programs and will always endeavour to explore new ways to assist, such as wildlife security or anti-poaching. It seems COVID-19, the unseen enemy, is responsible for the return of the urgent threat against or rhino. We need to remain vigilant and dedicated in our task taking the fight to an enemy we can see; the survival of our rhino depends on it!"

If you wish to get involved or learn more about The Last Word's impact initiatives, please reach out to us today. We would be delighted to continue this meaningful conversation with you. To see Jana and the KPNR team in action on the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, watch the video clip below.

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Ubuntu - I am Because We Are

Our impact initiatives on the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve make sure that we leave this beautiful part of our world in a better state than when we first arrived. We'd like to give our sincere thanks to our guests who have contributed to these important causes simply by choosing to stay at The Last Word Kitara. Your visit makes a difference and is appreciated by us all.
We have a heart for our people and for our wildlife. It is our purpose to fill sanctuaries with lovely people, and every day we are working on this dream, together. If you follow South Africa in the news you will likely become aware of many examples of generosity and solidarity within our beautiful borders. It is called the spirit of Ubuntu. It is what defines us as a people. It belongs to our land and her people. And when you visit, it abides in you too. It’s why you dream of returning time and time again. It’s why you’re dreaming your way to our shores right now, eyes smiling at the thought.

In tourism, we are proud to stand together to ensure that your bright flame for Africa does not waver. We look forward to the day when you can come over to our home and know the fruits of our labour. Remember to follow us on our social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. Here, we share many exciting moments directly from The Last Word, some of our most breath taking belong to The Last Word Kitara. Life in the bush is not on pause. It's as wild and prolific as ever. We can’t wait for you to come and see.

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