In the remote Luangwa Valley of eastern Zambia, the Luangwa River curves through a landscape of towering ebony trees, open grasslands and seasonal lagoons alive with birds and teeming with wildlife. It’s a place known for its remarkable sightings and for pioneering the walking safari. This is South Luangwa National Park, where people and nature live side by side, and where tourism has become a powerful force for both community and conservation.

Beyond the visitor experience lies a conservation framework that genuinely works. The same environment that draws safari-seekers from around the world is home to rural communities whose livelihoods and future prospects are closely tied to the health of the land and its wildlife.

At Conservation South Luangwa (CSL), conservation and community development are inseparable. Responsible tourism plays a central role in sustaining both, and the Luangwa Conservation & Community Fund (LCCF) demonstrates how this relationship can work in practice.

LCCF member lodges create jobs and deliver high-quality tourism experiences while contributing to conservation and community initiatives through a per-person bed night levy. Launched in 2011 thanks to Andy Hogg and other community-focused leaders, the LCCF raises hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for four core non-profits: Conservation South Luangwa, Zambian Carnivore Programme, Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust and Project Luangwa.

In 2025 alone, CSL received more than USD 160,000 in vital unrestricted funding through its ten LCCF member lodges.

Through the LCCF, funds contributed by safari operators and lodges help equip wildlife rangers, support rapid responses to human-wildlife conflict and strengthen local capacity for coexistence.

For communities living alongside wildlife, these benefits are practical and visible. Wildlife becomes a source of opportunity rather than a distant conservation ideal. At the same time, healthy ecosystems and secure wildlife populations make South Luangwa an even stronger safari destination.

Initiatives such as Project Luangwa demonstrate how tourism demand for cultural experiences and crafts can generate sustainable income streams. These programmes support skills development and employment, particularly for women and young people, helping to build resilient local economies.

This kind of sustained collaboration reflects a growing understanding across the region that tourism delivers its greatest value when conservation and community benefits are built into the core business model.

Conservation South Luangwa and Project Luangwa are among the first vetted Community and Conservation Partners in Africa’s Eden Tourism’s Community and Conservation Network, an open-source platform linking tourism businesses with credible grassroots organisations.

Organisations listed must be formally registered, financially transparent and able to demonstrate measurable impact, giving tourism partners confidence that their support reaches the destinations.

As travellers increasingly seek meaningful experiences, South Luangwa is a shining example of how tourism can benefit all. Partnerships between locally led NGOs, conservation organisations, tourism operators and networks such as Africa’s Eden help ensure that destinations like South Luangwa remain wild while communities can be secure and benefit.

In South Luangwa, responsible tourism is not an abstract idea. It is a tried and tested, long-standing system that continues to evolve through collaboration and shared commitment.

The post South Luangwa: Where Tourism, Conservation and Community Meet appeared first on Travel Southern Africa.

It is one of the most biologically rich and culturally layered landscapes in southern Africa. But beyond its wild beauty, this is a place defined by a deeper story – one of loss, resilience, and ultimately, return. It is a story best told by those who have lived it. And few embody it quite like Godfrey Baloyi, General Manager of Pafuri, whose journey mirrors that of the Makuleke community itself. For Godfrey, this is not just a landscape. “This is home,” he says. But it is a home that was once taken away.

A Land Lost

The Makuleke people lived in this region from the 1820s, long before the formal proclamation of the Kruger National Park. It was a land of abundance – fertile soil, flowing rivers, and deep cultural connection. A place where communities thrived.

That changed in 1969.

Under apartheid rule, the Makuleke community was forcibly removed from their ancestral land. Armed officials arrived, and families were given no choice but to leave – many at gunpoint, some forced to burn their own homes before they went. “They were left with nothing,” Godfrey says. “Their dignity was gone. Everything was gone.”

They were relocated to barren land far from the rivers they had known, a place without water, infrastructure, or opportunity. The contrast was stark, the loss profound. Even those, like Godfrey, who came later, inherited that absence – the knowledge of a home that existed, but was out of reach.

Stories in the Landscape

Later, standing above the floodplain at Thulamela, it is walking and birding guide Hlahla who brings the deeper timeline into focus. From the stone-walled ruins, the view stretches endlessly – a reminder that this landscape has long been a place of movement and exchange.

“This area was a hub,” he explains. “There was trade, there were people moving through here long before the park.” It adds another layer – that Pafuri’s significance long predates its modern history. Later still, at a quiet sundowner along the Luvuvhu, guide Akani traces the story forward, speaking of early settlements, survival, and the pull of the land itself. “This place had everything,” he says, gesturing towards the river. “Water, fertile soil, animals. That’s why people stayed.”

Between them, their stories sketch the outline. But it is Godfrey who fills in the detail – the lived experience that shaped what came next.

The Long Road Back

For decades, the Makuleke people remained displaced. But change came with the dawn of democracy in South Africa. Following the end of apartheid in 1994, new land restitution laws allowed communities to reclaim land taken from them – provided they could prove historical occupation. The Makuleke community did just that. Their claim was groundbreaking.

Not only were they successful, but they became the first community to win a land claim within the Kruger National Park – a process that took years of legal effort and determination.

Crucially, they were not alone. Among those who stood alongside them was conservationist PJ Massyn, RETURN Africa Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, who had first visited the community in the early 1990s, before the land claim process had even begun. At a time when trust was fragile – particularly across racial lines – his support, along with a group known as the ‘Friends of Makuleke,’ helped guide and advise the community through the legal process.

In 1998, the Makuleke people officially regained ownership of their ancestral land.

A Different Kind of Return

The return of land brought with it a difficult question: what next?

“There were many ideas,” Godfrey recalls. “Some people wanted farming. Some wanted mining.” Both were viable. The land was fertile, and mineral deposits were known. But both came with trade-offs – short-term gain at the potential cost of long-term sustainability.

Instead, guided by careful advice and a broader vision, the community chose conservation. It was not the obvious choice, but it would prove to be the most transformative. It was a decision that would shape the future of Pafuri. Tourism became the bridge between land and livelihood.

The Birth of Pafuri

Early tourism developments were led by Wilderness Safaris, creating jobs and opening pathways into the industry. For Godfrey, it was the beginning. Originally trained as a teacher, he joined one of the first groups selected for guide training. “We were camping under the trees,” he says. “I saw everything from the beginning.”

He was there as Pafuri took shape – and again when it was almost lost.

In 2013, floods swept through the region, destroying much of the infrastructure. Jobs were lost. For two years, there was no income. And then, once again, came a turning point.

Return Africa: A Vision Realised

Out of that uncertainty came Return Africa – a new chapter, placing the Makuleke community firmly at its centre. Godfrey was there from the start. “I was part of the discussions,” he says.

The name itself was deliberate. Return – to the land, to opportunity, to identity. And for guests, a return to Africa as a place of origin.

Today, the Pafuri Collection operates under a model that is both rare and powerful: locally driven, community-led, and deeply invested in long-term impact. The majority of staff come from the Makuleke villages, and 100% of management is black – something Godfrey speaks about with quiet pride. “We believe in our people,” he says. “We train them.”

Opportunity, Earned

That belief in people is evident across the lodge. Many staff members have grown into their roles from within – a reflection not only of opportunity, but of clear intention. Development here unfolds as a journey. As Hlahla explains, it often begins in the most unexpected places.

“I started in housekeeping,” he says. “Then they moved me – to scullery, to service, to the bar.” At the time, the shifts didn’t always make sense. Only later did the pattern emerge – a deliberate process of building skills, testing adaptability, and recognising potential.

“The more flexible you are, the more they trust you,” he says. “Then they invest in you.” That investment can be significant – including fully funded guiding qualifications, opening doors that might otherwise have remained firmly closed. “I am the testimony,” he adds.

Across the lodge, similar stories unfold. Ellen rose from housekeeping to assistant manager. Punkie moved from the kitchen into front-of-house leadership. Bongani began as a camp hand and is now a qualified trails guide.

For Ellen, it is deeply personal: “This place is more than just a workplace because it holds history, memories, and a strong sense of belonging. Being part of Pafuri and seeing the progress over the years has made me proud. I feel that I am contributing to something meaningful, something that connects nature, community, and culture.”

Employment sits at the core – more than 60 staff, almost all from the Makuleke community. But as Godfrey explains, it is not just about jobs. It is about opportunities. Beyond employment, benefits extend through profit-sharing and ongoing support for community initiatives – from drop-in centres for vulnerable children to school uniforms and infrastructure projects.

The impact of Pafuri extends well beyond tourism. “The lodge is playing a very important role,” Hlahla says. “It’s helping the community in many ways.”

A Living Landscape

Today, Pafuri stands as a model of community-led conservation and tourism – a place where ecological preservation and human development exist in balance. It is also a place layered with far older history than the Makuleke story alone. Thulamela speaks to a time when this region was a thriving trade hub, connecting inland Africa with coastal networks long before colonial borders were drawn.

In many ways, the idea of “return” resonates far beyond recent history.

Coming Home

For Godfrey, the story is not just one of success – it is one of return.

From a community that was forcibly removed, to one that now owns and manages its land. From loss to opportunity. From uncertainty to pride. When he walks through Pafuri today, it is with a deep sense of connection – not only to the land, but to what it represents.

“We are happy,” he says simply. “We are proud.”

For PJ Massyn, too, it is a return: “As a boy, I gazed across the Luvuvhu to what was, in those apartheid years, forbidden country to the north. I did not then understand the things happening there. But even as a child, I knew I would one day return. When I did, many years later, I met the Makulekes whose land it once was and would be again. I am deeply grateful to them for granting me their trust.”

And in this far northern corner of the Kruger – where rivers meet, histories converge, and stories are carried in the landscape – that sense of return feels complete – for Godfrey, for PJ and even for us.

Flood, Renewal, Resilience

In January and March 2026, the Luvuvhu River flooded once again, forcing the precautionary evacuation of guests and staff and echoing the devastation of 2013. This time, however, the response was swift and coordinated, with Return Africa prioritising safety and already beginning the process of rebuilding.

Flooding is part of the natural rhythm of Pafuri’s floodplain – enriching the soil, renewing the forest, and reshaping the landscape. Rather than defeat, the 2026 floods stand as a testament to resilience, with the camp and community united in restoring Pafuri stronger than before.

In PJ’s words: “We are resilient. We will rebuild. RETURN Africa has faced floods before, and each time we return stronger.”

The post The Return – The Makuleke Story appeared first on Travel Southern Africa.

Words – Claire Roadley

Pics – The Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

If you ever doubted the positive impact of tourism on local communities, The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa is proof otherwise. Established in 1941 by Ruth and Bill Carte, this family-run retreat in KwaZulu-Natal’s Northern Drakensberg has flourished for generations, staying true to Bill’s vision: “Our work is to create beauty, to make the land more fertile, to make our living and to leave the world better than when we first came into it.”

After Bill’s passing in 1954, Ruth, with four young children, built The Cavern into a thriving resort. By the 1980s, her sons Peter and Anthony took over, expanding the family legacy. In 2000, Anthony, Jean, and their daughters established Montusi Mountain Lodge nearby. With Peter and Rhona now retired, sister property Sungubala Eco Camp has been added as a self-catering option. From humble beginnings, The Cavern has grown into a renowned award-winning retreat, still guided by the Carte family’s vision and commitment to hospitality.

But the true impact of this hotel is measured by far more than just its many happy guest returns.  The family is absolutely passionate about making a difference in their local community… with an unwavering belief in the power of possibility, especially when it comes to education!

The Cavern family founded and is heavily involved in The Royal Drakensberg Education Trust which is a non-profit set up to help support and transform the local rural communities living in the region through quality education initiatives. 

Each year the Trust aims to achieve these minimum outcomes:

Baby Boost – This project supports around 30 mothers and carers (often Gogos/grandmothers) annually to ensure the first 1000 days of a child’s life support development, through coaching sessions, toy libraries, books and interactive play groups. 576 carers and baby interactions through playgroups this year, with 72 home visits and 36 carers trained.

Royal Drakensberg Primary School – this facility was built and is financially supported by The Cavern family, corporates and friends to support 130 local children, including salaries for 7 teachers and 2 interns. They have a 99% progress and pass rate for grades RRR to Grade 4! Over 750 extra mural activities are provided annually.  

Khanyisela Project – 18 pre-schools serving 850 little ones in the AmaZizi community, under the care of 50 practitioners trained in early childhood development, health and nutrition.  With friends and supporters, they’ve helped build classrooms, repaired playgrounds, upgraded classrooms, installed toilets, painted and supplied learning resources.

Teacher Development – supported 55 practitioners across 21 schools, including 15 courses and 6 workshops. Six teachers were formally educated in 2024 as well as 4 interns with 120 mentor visits clocked up over the year.

Wellness Programme – provided 191 400 meals (porridge) for 1000 children across 21 schools as well as run 2280 yoga sessions and 4 nature outings

Community reading –   The Royal Drakensberg Trust has gifted over 1,200 books across 4 local communities, reaching over 600 children.

The Trust focuses its energy around their “Theory of Change”, believing that if the local children, especially those from birth up to the age of 8, get the support they need at the start of their lives, that they will be better prepared for their next phase of education.  Part of this is ensuring that standards in rural education continually improve so that these incredible young minds can realise their own power of possibility!

“This change”, Megan says, “begins in the first 1000 days where we stimulate neurological pathways through our BabyBoost programme. We grow and develop young children in our ECD, Khanyisela Project which supports 850 children and 50 practitioners and this all happens out of Royal Drakensberg, our hub and our heart… which incidentally has 130 little people enrolled in 2023. And our mission at Royal Drakensberg is that children learn2read so that they can read2learn”.

Thanks to the support of the greater Cavern family, (which includes many guests and Rotary societies around the globe, swirls and ripples of positive change are created – with the children being the cheerful beneficiaries! 

Just one success story of this programme is that if Nkabini Phola.  Phola grew up in the local village of amaZizi, raised primarily by his Gogo in very challenging circumstances. Not even the treacherous five kilometres walk to school, or any of the other obstacles that he faced on his path would deter him from his determination to gain an education.  When he was in grade 9, following the untimely death of both his parents, he was forced to step up into the role of father figure and breadwinner for his younger siblings at just 14 years old, selling clay mouldings on the road to eke out a living.

Despite everything, he completed his schooling, and a year later secured a job as a waiter at The Cavern, quickly working his way up to bartender.  He then managed to secure a place at UNISA university, working during his holidays back at The Cavern to earn money.  Somehow, he still managed to find spare time to volunteer at a local primary school in his amaZizi village.  Seeing his passion for education, Megan encouraged him to apply for their internship at Royal Drakensberg Primary School (RDPS) and today Phola is a qualified Teacher, fulfilling his childhood dream of shaping the lives of others through the power of education. He also now sponsors his nephews so that they do not have to pay for transport and school uniform, paying it forward.  If you can dream it, you can do it!

The Cavern is a unique home-from-home hotel with real heart, where strangers become friends, couples reconnect and families truly bond. With every year, and every repeat visitor, the Cavern family grows.  Many guests become regular donors to the various projects supported.  The African spirit of Ubuntu continues to make an impact wherever communities work together to create the possible.

Essentials:

Getting there:

A 4hr drive from King Shaka International Airport, Durban

Where to stay:

The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa – https://www.cavern.co.za/

Montusi Mountain Lodge – https://montusi.co.za/

Sungubala Eco Camp –  https://www.sungubala.co.za/

How to support: https://www.royal-drakensberg.org.za/

The post Making a Difference in Education appeared first on Travel Southern Africa.

Words – Melissa Foley

Pics – African Monarch Lodges / Sijwa Project

Tucked between the waterways and wilderness of Namibia’s Zambezi Region, the Sijwa Project isn’t just a community development initiative — it’s a living, breathing blueprint for how tourism can regenerate, not just sustain.

Conceived and championed by African Monarch Lodges, Sijwa is more than an afterthought on the guest itinerary. It’s a proudly local social enterprise and circular economy project with the power to transform how lodges across Africa procure, decorate, and give, all while investing directly in the communities and ecosystems that make this region so extraordinary.

“The vision is bigger than us – we occupy a tiny space on this planet – but we know that The Sijwa Project will make a fundamental difference and will demonstrate how people and wildlife can live together in a sustainable manner” – Dusty and Tinola Rodgers

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