Kariega Foundation

Support the Kariega Foundation: Protecting Wildlife, Empowering Communities

The Kariega Foundation is a non-profit trust devoted to wildlife conservation, community development, and the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s Eastern Cape ecosystems. In partnership with Kariega Game Reserve, the Foundation leads impactful initiatives that protect endangered species, restore natural habitats, and empower neighboring communities through education, youth development, skills development and job creation opportunities. 

Your donation directly supports these crucial efforts—helping to protect rhinos and other vulnerable wildlife, expand and rehabilitate critical habitat, and bridge the gap between conservation and community through meaningful projects and programs.

Since 2017, the Kariega Foundation has proudly partnered with Global Conservation Force (GCF) to significantly expand anti-poaching operations and deepen community engagement. 

This enduring collaboration has:

• Formalized and structured the Kariega Anti-Poaching Unit (APU)

• Expanded the APU’s base housing for rangers

• Sponsored K9 Dog Handler Certifications

• Sponsored and operated a Mounted Anti-Poaching Unit from 2021 to
  2024

• Provided years of layered, specialist training for the Anti-Poaching
  Unit

• Covered ranger salaries and operational needs

• Trained annually selected community-based ranger recruits

• Sponsored the construction of the cheetah boma used for the
  successful reintroduction of cheetahs to the reserve

In addition to field operations, GCF has been instrumental in sharing Kariega’s story with the world through six major wildlife documentaries and film projects, each amplifying the voices of rangers and raising awareness about the rhino poaching crisis:

• “The Extinction Crisis” – Aired nationally on NBC during Super Bowl Sunday 2018, spotlighting the global urgency of rhino conservation.

• “Making a Ranger” – Documenting the launch of Kariega’s formalized APU and GCF’s foundational role in training and capacity building (2019).

• “Holding The Frontline” – An award-winning film following the rise of Kariega’s community-selected modern anti-poaching unit (2023).

• “The Last Ranger” – An Oscar-nominated drama inspired by the true survival story of Thandi the rhino. GCF served as a key partner—training actors, providing field gear, consulting for accuracy in poaching-related scenes, and leading fundraising efforts for the film’s launch. (Filmed in 2021, released in 2024).

• “I Cut Off a Rhino’s Horn” (also known as the “Save The Horns” documentary) by Coyote Peterson and Brave Wilderness – GCF acted as the onsite conservation experts, fixers, location film managers, and factual accuracy consultants throughout the production. GCF also sponsored the rhino procedures and collars featured in the documentary, ensuring a balanced, educational, and emotionally compelling final release that reached millions of viewers globally, filmed 2022, released 2023.

• “Guardians of Conservation” (in production) – GCF covered the production team’s costs to be onsite, and connected the filmmakers with our partners at the Kariega Foundation to help capture the full scope of conservation, community, and collaborative efforts on the ground. This upcoming series highlights the intersection of GCF and the Kariega Foundation’s missions, showcasing the real-world impact of united efforts in wildlife protection and community empowerment.

GCF has also played a pivotal role in habitat expansion efforts at Kariega, helping to link and restore vital conservation land as part of the Save The Horns campaign—securing a long-term safe haven for rhinos, cheetahs, and countless other species.

This deep, multi-year partnership between the Kariega Foundation and Global Conservation Force is a shining example of integrated, impact-driven conservation—where frontline protection, documentary storytelling, wildlife reintroduction, and community upliftment all come together to shape a resilient, sustainable future.

Your support makes this work possible. Donate today to protect wildlife, empower people, and be part of something bigger.

Donations for Kariega Foundation processed through Global ConservationForce will be sent directly to our partners. 

Designate you gift

- Habitat Expansion
- Habitat and Wildlife Management
- Save The Rhino
- Education
- Youth Development
- Skills Development

- Welfare
- Legacy Projects