Community and Conservation: Giving Back, Every Day

For us, giving back isn’t just something we do once a year. It’s something we strive to weave into the fabric of how we operate, every day. We believe in thoughtful, purposeful contributions - the kind that uplift our local communities and help protect the natural world we’re privileged to call home.

Supporting Children with Seeds of Light

We are over the moon to share that, from March to July, our guests helped raise a staggering R48,000 for Seeds of Light, a local nonprofit close to our hearts! Their incredible team supports vulnerable children in Acornhoek with after-school care, educational support, and - perhaps most importantly - a daily nutritious meal for over 250 children every day. For many of these children, it’s the only food they receive outside of their government school lunch. With the amount raised funding more than 7,800 of these life-giving meals, that support has a very real and immediate impact  - filling hungry bellies, fuelling young minds, and offering hope where it’s needed most.

Lynn Watson, Director of Seeds of Light, commented “We are immensely grateful for the love and support of Klaserie Drift - Talitha and her family and her wonderful team - and their generous guests. The After School Meal Program provides much-needed food for 250 children each day and it is only successful with partners like Klaserie Drift.”

We’re incredibly proud to stand behind Seeds of Light’s work and to know that, thanks to the amazing kindness of our guests, we’re helping to provide both nourishment and opportunity to the next generation. Your support is making a real difference!

From Lodge to Local Impact

So, what really happens with our retired linen and blankets? Instead of throwing them away, we’ve found ways to give them a second life. The linen has been donated to our friends at SAME (South African Medical Expeditions), who provide essential healthcare and support to orphans and vulnerable children in Acornhoek - just down the road from us. More of it has gone to Nourish for their women’s empowerment sewing project, where it’s being transformed into beautiful handmade items (and we’re even hoping to buy some of them back as table runners for our lodge!). And, lastly, a few more have gone to Siguagela where they have a school-leaver sewing project and plan to re-cover some old mattresses for the centre.

Old towels and game drive blankets, meanwhile, were sent to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre back in May - where they found a new purpose helping care for hundreds of injured vultures. Sadly, on 6th May this year, a devastating poisoning incident in the Kruger National Park killed 123 vultures, including 116 critically endangered white-backed vultures. Thanks to the tireless work of the team at Moholoholo (and many other emergency responders and volunteers), 81 survivors have now been released back into the wild - a small but powerful victory for conservation.

It’s a Team Effort

These are just a few of the ways we’re trying to give back - and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of our passionate staff, generous guests, and dedicated partners on the ground. So, to everyone who's been a part of this journey: thank you. Mandela Day might remind us to do good - but here at Klaserie Drift, it’s a reminder of what’s possible when we do good together.