Environmental Rehabilitation

Janet and Rob Cuthbertson purchased a rundown pineapple farm in 1991 and have lovingly rehabilitated it into a beautiful, flourishing wildlife sanctuary called Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park, which is based in Maputaland (KZN) in South Africa.

Young Environmental Ambassador’s Leadership Course

This environmental ambassador course reaches out to young Zulu leaders and educates them about biodiversity, conservation, protecting wildlife, and includes subjects like identifying and removing alien vegetation.

The long “potato creeper” (alien plant) in this photo was removed from the forest and the Zulu children wrapped it around themselves to demonstrate how it strangles the indigenous vegetation.

Water Management

The proper management of the water catchment area for False Bay Lake is paramount to the survival of people, wildlife and the environment. Rob Cutherbertson is chairman of the Lake St. Lucia Water Catchment Forum.

At Suni-Ridge we have dedicated our lives to preserving our natural and cultural heritage. Your help is very much needed and appreciated!

“Although we are both ardent conservationists, Rob is also a civil engineer and as we needed to add a component that would make our environmental efforts sustainable, we decided to build a lodge in the reserve.” ~ Janet Cuthbertson

Together with the kind donations from caring people, and our own personal resources, our work is partly funded by a percentage of our Guest’s stay at our lodge.

Leopard Walk Lodge is a 10-bed lodge which also includes a honeymoon suite with an outdoor Jacuzzi. The hub of the lodge is the beautiful lounge, dining and bar facility that overlooks a waterhole.

After a day in the bush, guests relax over a meal at Leopard
Walk Restaurant, while enjoying a view of the animals that come
down to drink.

With our love for nature, we obviously do not have any hunting
on the reserve. Visitors are thrilled to see animals that are quite
relaxed and unafraid”. 

“Our years of effort have at times been exciting, rewarding and often the challenge has been daunting, but the knowledge that we are giving something back to nature is our most worthwhile reward”. ~ Janet & Rob Cuthbertson

Our Bed & Breakfast accommodation is private and cosy, with two cottages to choose from. Guests are welcome to dine at Leopard Walk Lodge’s restaurant.

Our guests can normally enjoy a relatively close encounter with the wildlife. Trips to nearby “Big-Five” wildlife reserves can also be arranged.

We look forward to welcoming you! 
 
Thanks to our policy of protecting our wildlife (and not using them as a resource), the wild animals are relaxed for game viewing.

Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park Environmental Rehabilitation Centrehas been certified by CACH to be non-hunting and ethical in its treatment of its animals.

Visitors to Suni-Ridge can enjoy viewing nyala (previously endangered), grey duiker, warthog, reedbuck, genet cat, serval, African wildcat, monkeys (the previous land owner used to shoot them on sight) and bush babies. Leopards are even spotted from time to time.

Other species that have been reintroduced to the area (on recommendation of the Kwa Zulu Natal Parks Board authority) are impala, wildebeest and zebra.

Watch this video of Marcel and Victoria Koning enjoying breakfast at Leopard Walk Lodge, and a brief glimpse of the activities available in and around our Lodge.

Before we bought and protected the land, an informal illegal market was operating at Suni-Ridge for the sale of animals poached by the cruel method of snaring. Hunting is now taboo and strictly prohibitied! The animals seem to know that they are safe and are relaxed for game viewing.

Accommodation at Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park

Guests are welcome to extend their game viewing and enjoy delicious South African cuisine, served during meals at the lounge and dining facility overlooking the waterhole, where animals can be observed when they come to drink.

Dine overlooking a waterhole at Leopard Walk Lodge

Leopard Walk Lodge has two cottages to choose from:

Buffalo Thorn Cottage: this well appointed “Out of Africa” cottage, has 4 separate rooms each with a bathroom ensuite. It is shaded by a giant, 100 years old Buffalo Thorn tree with a setting that has an outlook across the plains of the wildlife reserve.

Secrets of the Forest: enjoy being at one with nature with views of the secrets of the forest, in a glass walled honeymoon suite which brings the outdoors in. Is there a more wonderful way to start (renew) your marriage, than by relaxing in an outdoor jacuzzi while interacting with the wildlife of a forest canopy?

Apart from enjoying the wildlife that we have to offer, guests can also enjoy a variety of game drives in the area, which of course can be arranged, to nearby reserves like Hluwluwe, Umfolozi, False Bay Park, Mkuzi Game Reserve or Phinda Reserve.

Cultural Activities

We work closely with our local communities and have established a local primary school. From time to time, some guests are invited to spend time with these people in an informal, authentic manner. It is normally considered to be a very inspiring experience.

Visitors to Ilala Weavers can experience the soul of Africa and its people through their handcraft. Exquisitely crafted beadwork, hand-woven baskets and clothing are an expression of the Zulu communities. Purchasing these goods provides direct support to the communities.

A zebra mare and her foal at Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park

By supporting our ECO-AMBASSADOR Campaign, you are encouraging the leaders of tomorrow to protect their natural and cultural heritage.

The 5-day course is based at Suni-Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary, and strives to achieve the following:

• The children are led to an all-encompassing understanding of Humanitarianism (Ubuntu)
• They are inspired to be proud of their inner capabilities and to know that they can excel in their ambitions and dreams
• They learn that human life is intricately bound with the environment, and that all life forms are to be respected and managed wisely
• These young leaders are encouraged to conserve their culture

The following topics and activities are included in the five day course:

Our duty to manage the environment – discussions, assessments of the main concerns. Animals have feelings! The learner gains a better understanding of the interconnectedness of all life forms. This awareness encourages a love for all life forms. Compassionate decision making is encouraged regarding the wise management of the environment by focusing on:

• Leadership qualities and humanatariasm
• Sustainable land use
• Wise management of resources
• Prevention of air pollution/acid rain
• Water shortages and droughts – wetlands (focus on False Bay World Heritage Site)
• Protection of water quality and use of correct sanitation
• Species fauna and flora – interpretation/protection of biodiversity
• The galaxy
• Environment and culture
• Home food gardens to provide food security
• The effect of all of this ultimately on man’s quality of life on earth.

A broad variety of subjects is investigated with the learners that include:

Humanitarianism – the introduction to Humanatariasm investigates the differences that historical and present day leaders have made to the world, such as Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Jane Goodall, Florence Nightingale, St. Francis. It also investigates findings by modern day scientists who are discovering more about how the world was created.

Music and dance – building self confidence and relaxation

Art in the environment – group work, sketches/drawings, literary essay: “What becoming a young environment ambassador means to us!”

Excursion to False Bay and hike at the lake – the learner experiences the World Natural Heritage Site and interprets the concepts of wetlands and forests identified during the field lecture

Excursion to “Big Five” Hluhluwe Game Reserve – in an open wildlife drive vehicle, learners view elephant, rhino, giraffe and other large mammals (often for the first time)

Excursion to croc center – interpretation of crocodiles

Field work – tracking animals; understanding more about their interrelationships. The learner gains a better understanding of the interconnectedness of all life forms, by focusing on the animals encountered

Water & the World Natural Heritage Site, False Bay, Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park – where and what it is of importance to our region (environmentally and financially); eco-tourism; basic ecology of the wetlands – learners gain an understanding of the international, national, regional and local value of wetlands, with a focus on our own World Natural Heritage Site

Forests and trees – Sand Forest; unique endangered habitat; red data species – learners gain an understanding of the value of international, national and local forests, False Bay’ sand forest and gain a general knowledge of red data species and at least 4 locally occurring species

Live snake demonstration, interpretation, the importance of snakes – basic first aid for snake bites, learners gain an understanding of identifying snakes and why they are important for the environment

Campfire activities – leadership, self confidence, singing (create a Course song), observing the stars/galaxy, quiet moments to hear nature sounds, cultural ecology

Basic First Aid – the role of a leader in an emergency, and basic first aid procedures

Healthy living – health and healthy living, soil, water, sanitation

Food security – 80% of South Africa’s children are hungry; organic home gardens; poisons in the environment; working with nature permaculture leading your family towards food security and what can be done; field demonstration of home gardening/food security principles; fertile soil (field demonstration) and the role of the earthworm

Handling pets and other animals – prevention of cruelty to animals

Alien plants – field identification and methods of eradication

Birds in the environment

Bats in the environment – more than 22 species at Suni-Ridge

Environmental school club -identifying options for environmental action at school, such as:

• Improve environment – prevent litter; beautify the area with fruit trees, medicinal plants, shrubs and indigenous trees;
• Outreach into community opportunities; Junior Town council
• Communication – name of club, international communication and local communication with other eco-schools and environmental center; school and community conservation magazine; computerised conservation communication and contacts; school website to be developed
• Eco – school project – steps to be taken to obtain internationally recognized eco-school green flag. Actions defined.
• Eco-Tourism & career opportunities – the economical importance and career opportunities; learners gain an understanding of the international, national, regional and local value of Eco-Tourism; learn about career opportunities
• Eco-tourism – identifying school and community projects; identifying opportunities for the school and community; define projects and actions to be taken

Summation of Course – definition of and commitment to actions that need to be taken

We need your assistance to educate and inspire these young leaders to encourage sustainable living practices in their communities.

The lake has experienced droughts before, but this time the factor that tipped the scales against the lake sustaining it’s water, was that no water reached the lake from the rivers as the small amount available was all used upstream.

Although required by the South African National Water Act No. 36 of 1998, no water reserve has been allocated to the catchment. This Act makes provision for water quality and quantity to be set aside to protect the ecological functioning of aquatic ecosystems before water users such as industry or agriculture can be authorized.

The key to balancing equity (some for all) with sustainability (for ever) lies in the new legal provisions in the Water Act of 1008 for the so-called “Reserve”. If all the water in the country could be put into a bucket, the “Reserve” is the water that must always be left in the bucket for basic human and ecological needs.

In the St. Lucia Catchment however, the extraction permit quotas have been based on an annual rainfall average and in dry times the same amount of water – if available – may be abstracted as in average rainfall times. Therefore during dry times, no water flows beyond extraction points such as dams and areas where commercial monoculture tree plantations have been established.

The life blood of the lake is all used upstream in it’s catchment and when there is low rainfall, no water at all reaches the lake! There is often a discrepancy between agricultural abstraction quotas and availability of water for the rural areas too. The historical redirection of rivers feeding Lake St. Lucia such as the Mkuze River and the Mfolozi River for agricultural purposes has also added to the problem.

Suni-Ridge Environmental Centre’s numerous letters concerning the water catchment management of our area, sent to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and copied to all sectors that are involved in catchment management such as KZN wildlife, led us to initiating the St. Lucia Water Catchment management forum that has been established together with DWAF.

This forum has participants from all sectors including conservation, agriculture, business, Urban and Rural representatives. Rob Cuthbertson is currently the Chairman.

False Bay Lake in 2007 – the lake is full again, but with sea water as the mouth opened. It’s not an ideal situation, but better than no water. Water management is one of the topics covered in the 5-day Young Environmental Ambassador’s Leadership Course.

Our years of effort have at times been exciting, rewarding and often the challenge has been daunting, but the knowledge that we are giving something back to nature is our most worthwhile reward”. ~ Janet and Rob Cuthbertson

© Aloe tree at Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park

Environmental Rehabilitation

Read about the rehabilitation of Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park, from an old pineapple farm.

Maputaland, KwaZulu Natal (South Africa)

See the map of Maputaland and where Suni-Ridge is situated.

Stay at Leopard Walk Lodge

Leopard Walk Lodge is our means of earning a living.

By staying at our lodge, you enable us to continue doing our charity work, as well as donating to Suni-Ridge (013-525 NPO) because we use a percentage of the proceeds to help fund these projects.

You can find out more about the wild animals, accommodation and cultural activities available during your stay at our lodge.

Suni & Red Data Wildlife

Our rare namesake, the Suni antelope, is found on our reserve, as well as other red data species (read more).

What can visitors expect?

Guests are able to overnight in one of the exclusive, cosy cottages of Leopard Walk Lodge, situated in the Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park.