Khumba Ncila

Savanna Private Game Reserve lies in the Western Sector of the Sabi Sand game Reserve. It is one of the top game viewing destinations in South Africa and the lodge itself is just fantastic There is always a friendly face, and the people and family element involved ensure the camp operates and run the lodge in a very pleasant manner. The team is very involved in the adjacent communities and the Savanna Trust supports numerous projects. One of the most recent was started by the General Manager, Natasha Whyte. Spending most of her life on the lowveld and in the safari and wildlife world, Natasha has the struggles the communities face with regards to livestock and domestic animals. Both are crucial to their welfare and means of survival and income, and such their care is of vital importance. There has been very little veterinary care available for these animals and there was need for a change. This is how Khumba Ncila was born. Meaning “Touching Tales” in Shangaan, the project focuses on helping the neighbouring community and their animals by giving support, education and care for all their livestock and pets, as well as aiding homeless animals in need.

Their work is focused on three core areas:

• Running the newly built veterinary clinic and providing daily care for all animals in the community.
• Dipping dogs for ticks and fleas to prevent tick-bite fever, which is prevalent in the community, as well as doing home visits to check on patients that have been ill or are in need of help.
• Veterinary care and sterilisation days.
• Puppy classes with the focus on education.

Natasha Whyte from the Savanna Community Trust along with head vet Dr Wim Basson are the key drivers of this awesome project and their passion for domestic livestock and animals is incredibly inspiring to witness. Natasha wrote the below note for Conserv Earth:

“We are deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our sponsor, Conserv Earth, whose contributions have significantly impacted several of our key projects at Savanna Trust. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Conserv Earth for their steadfast dedication to supporting our community-driven initiatives. Their generosity continues to make a profound impact, touching countless lives and driving positive change. Together, we are creating a stronger, more sustainable future for everyone.” 

In the last few years since we started supporting the project, there have been some amazing results and success stories.