Restoring the balance of nature

What started as a small family project has become an established game reserve and getaway for locals and tourists alike.
Rain Farm Lodge, located just 15 minutes inland from Ballito, is a wildlife sanctuary which has progressively changed over the past 15 years from sugar cane fields to indigenous bush and grassland.
Owned by the Nidd family, who started Impact Engineering in Shakaskraal, Rain Farm is managed by Cara and Hylton Nidd who oversee all operations at the farm.
“It all started as a dream of my dad’s and the reserve was initially just 16 hectares of rehabilitated cane land and a few zebra and impala,” said Cara.
Cara and her father, Douglas, took a step away from Impact in 2007 and started planning to open up this game farm to the public.
“Our initial idea was to open a small lodge but the response from the public has been so great that we continue to grow and better ourselves with the demand” she said.
“My dad took care of the infrastructure and rehabilitation of the farm and I dealt with the business administration, marketing and setting up of the lodge and accommodation.”
The reserve had to be rehabilitated from sugar cane to natural grassland which took many years to get right. Now covering 300 hectares, Rain Farm has an estimated 350 animals on the property including a variety of antelope, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, ostrich, warthog, as well as many species of bird life.
The Umhlali River runs through the valley which adds a vast amount of natural bush land.
The farm also works closely with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to home rescued and rehabilitated animals. As Cara pointed out, there is more to it than just bringing the animals in. You need to first apply for permits and there is a procedure to be followed to ensure that the animals will have a healthy lifestyle.
“Purchasing and relocating game can be quite tricky and most importantly you need to keep stress levels down, as too much stress could kill them.”
Bringing in new game helps keep the gene pool healthy and stops inbreeding, which can lead to game being born with deformities.
“We have 300 hectares of land adjacent to Rain Farm which is currently being rehabilitated and soon we will drop fences and the farm will double in size to accommodate the growth of the animals and the introduction of new species.
When the expansion is complete, the reserve will be big enough to home rhino, which need a minimum of 450 hectares.
Rain Farm can host 60 guests in total and has a range of activities including game drives, horse trails, walking trails, fishing, archery and a kiddies play area. The lodge has also become a very popular wedding venue, the restaurant is open seven days a week from 8am to 4pm and prior booking is essential for dinner guests. The introduction of day visits has also been a welcomed addition to the lodge.