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

And this is in a part of Africa where the majestic wild elephants, rhino, leopard, cheetah, etc. once roamed freely. These animals can now only be seen in limited numbers in protected reserves.

Our goal is to give the orphans the survival skills needed, which they would have learned from their parents, so that they can return to the wild when the time comes.

Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park isn’t big enough to establish a full orphanage, but in the mean time, a section of the reserve could be used to set up a provisional Wildlife Orphanage, in order to start rescuing young orphaned animals. The idea would be to join forces with our neighbours and local communities to create the space needed that is big enough to create the final version of the Wildlife Orphanage.

please click on the picture to see an enlarged copy

Not only could we care for orphaned wildlife babies, the orphanage would also be a great source of work, and therefore income, for the local communities, because we wildlife keepers, guards, instructors, cooks, etc. would be needed.

Increasing the awareness within local communities of the necessity of conservation will addressed by giving instruction at schools, teaching courses, and training youngsters to become animal caretakers.

Naturally, sponsors would have (limited) access to the grounds, so that they could see what we’re doing and how we’re taking care of the young orphans.

The idea is to start with minimal provisions, which could be relocated to the definite site when it’s available. To give you an idea what is needed, below is a list of the minimal requirements for starting an orphanage:

• 5 large stables
• 5 medium sized stables
• 5 small stables
• Wirecages / transport crates
• Living accomodation, office space, storage spaces for the food, milk powder, medicines and a kitchen to prepare the food and meds in
• living accomodation for 2/3 keepers
• 1 truck
• 1 4×4 vehicle
• wages for 2/3 keepers incl. meals and workclothes
• building a stockade around the compound to keep the animals safe and prevent them from wandering of. This way they can move around freely under the supervision of the keepers.
  We would need 2 – 3 bomas where they could be quiet and undisturbed
• Administration and general running costs e.g. computer with an internet connection, veterinary costs, medicines, rental costs of a rescue plane (where necessary), cost of a rescue team, maintenance cars/ buildings /diesel / etc.

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.