Thanda Private Game Reserve in Hluhluwe has been selected as a finalist in the 2007 Imvelo Awards for Responsible Tourism for its social commitment to uplifting its surrounding communities. Imvelo, which means ‘nature’ in the Nguni languages, supports the guidelines framing the concept of responsible tourism and encourages establishments within the tourism industry to adopt social and environmental awareness campaigns. Since its inception in 2002, Thanda Private Game Reserve has committed to the ethos, ‘for the love of nature, wildlife and dear ones’ to ensure that the creation and running of the five-star lodge has had minimal impact on the surrounding communities and ecosystems.

In true celebration of nature and its impeccable timing, someone must have switched the switch for Spring “on”, as Thanda welcomed an elephant calf and three lion cubs to its ever-increasing stock of game this September.

"On the morning of September 26th our guides saw the Lioness with the 3 cubs for the first time. They didn’t stay on the road for very long, but the guests did manage to get a picture of one of the cubs. I can’t wait to see them myself. I was only able to go out in the afternoon and saw the big elephant bull close to Base Camp. He didn’t even look at the vehicle when he walked passed. It’s the same Bull that was up at the Lodge the other night. I got a message a little later that the male lion was at the bomas again with the
cheetahs".
(Mariana Venter, Wildlife Researcher)