The two organisations recently hosted ten teenage girls from the Ubuntu Girls Club, an initiative of a local non-profit organisation, Nourish. Emily Whiting of Koru Camp says the experience of the girls’ encounter with wildlife on their first game drive was inspirational. The game drive was led by Joel Sithole, a ranger who developed his passion for conservation through the various programmes at Koru Camp. “With his vast experience, and perhaps a touch of luck, a pride of ten lions, made up of lionesses and their cubs, came into view shortly after departing.

“Craning their necks to see, the girls looked on in wide-eyed astonishment, their very first encounter with these iconic predators.” She says for three days the girls were enthralled with each safari. “From elephants drinking in the river and a shy kudu with her newborn calf to the best luck of all, a leopard cub waiting patiently for mum to return.” In between drives, Sithole and a team from The Timbavati Foundation delivered an inspirational education programme.

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The Timbavati Foundation sponsored the Ubuntu Girls Club’s experience at Koru Camp. “Alongside environmental lessons in topics such as tree identification and their various uses, the girls were set tasks aimed at empowering them as well as getting them to think creatively and to work together,” she says. “The memories and lessons learned will hopefully travel back home with the girls from Ubuntu Girls Club.

“Perhaps some are already championing the ideas to bring about positive change in their communities. “But even if these impressionable teenagers, at the cusp of discovering who they want to be, simply take away a newfound appreciation for nature, it will be three days well spent here at Koru Camp.” She thanked The Timbavati Foundation for their support and collaboration towards empowering communities in their efforts to teach conservation.