Sustainability has, and always will be, deeply rooted within the foundations of Morukuru Family. The inauguration of Morukuru Family in the Madikwe Game Reserve began with immediate support for nature conservation, building relationships with the nearby Molatedi community and a deep care for the environment in which they operate in. Thus started the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation, established in 2007 with the prime objective of supporting the local community and funding conservation efforts in the Madikwe Game Reserve through the Parks Board. Today, Morukuru Family boast three exclusive use properties in the Madikwe Game Reserve, Owner’s House, River House & Farm House, each operating 100% off the national grid.

The Morukuru Goodwill Foundation would later launch Safaris with a Purpose, a uniquely crafted safari experience offering guests the opportunity to support the local community and conservation efforts of the Madikwe Game Reserve. The programme’s primary focus is on supporting Rhino protection, but they also assist with various other (costly) conservation efforts such as collaring Elephant Lion & Cheetah, Lion contraception and Rhino notching/chipping which includes the use of a helicopter and a large team of experts. All guests (even the smaller ones) are able to have hands-on experience and gain a deeper connection with these conservation efforts providing a positive influence for future generations.

In 2010, the concept of the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation extended to the De Hoop Nature Reserve where Morukuru Family have two idyllic ocean front properties, Beach Lodge & Ocean House which followed their responsible, eco-tourism model. A World Heritage Site and part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of six Floral Kingdoms of the World, occupying just 0.04% of the planet’s landmass, the De Hoop Nature Reserve is a hidden gem on the southern tip of Africa. Morukuru Family work closely with Cape Nature to ensure its survival for future generations.

Following very strict building regulations as set out by Cape Nature, the 4-bedroom exclusive-use Morukuru Ocean House was opened in 2014, followed by the 5-suite Morukuru Beach Lodge in 2018. Both properties are fully off-grid, relying on solar power and borehole water. Local materials were used for the construction and Fynbos was removed and re-planted on the roof of Morukuru Ocean House. When designing Morukuru Beach Lodge to fit the exact footprint of an old farmstead at Koppie Alleen, the architect had to work around a protected Milkwood tree that could not be cut or harmed in any way.

The Morukuru Goodwill Foundation also assist Cape Nature in eradicating Rooikrans, an invasive non-endemic tree which threatens vulnerable and protected Fynbos. The start of the initiative provided jobs for the local communities, particularly during the darkest days of covid and continues to do so to this day.

More recently the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation is sponsoring the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Project, to protect the vulnerable sea turtles that occur along the coast of South Africa.  Sparked by the events of September 2022, when a juvenile green turtle was found stranded on the beach in De Hoop Nature Reserve. The turtle was rescued by one of the Morukru Family staff members, who immediately drove the animal to the Two Oceans Aquarium Turtle Conservation Centre in Cape Town.

Much like the Safaris with a Purpose experience in the Madikwe Game Reserve, the Coastal Conservation with a Purpose introduced in September of this year, is offered exclusively for the guests at Beach Lodge or Ocean House. This involves: a  behind the scenes visit of the Two Oceans Aquarium Turtle Conservation Centre in Cape Town, pre/post the stay at Morukuru Family De Hoop (limited to maximum 8 guests); an informative talk about the challenges faced when building our light on earth properties; a behind the scenes visit of the solar plant explaining the details of operating off grid, on solar power; a Rooikrans removal tour, observing the team at work, as they assist Cape Nature.

Morukuru Family are also actively involved in beach clean-ups in conjunction with Cape Nature and guests are frequently reminded to have bags with them to collect rubbish that the seas have washed out. To encourage this further, the Plastic 4 Coffee project at Bites Beach Café was established in September of this year. In return for a bag full of collected rubbish/plastics guests can receive a free drink at Bites Beach Café.

This year alone has been significant for Morukuru Family, cementing their position as a pro-active and responsible safari operator in South Africa. In January, Morukuru Family began working with Weeva, the holistic digital sustainability management platform, followed by the introduction of Shane Kloeck as the dedicated Conservation & Sustainability Manager of Morukuru Family Madikwe. In June, the completion of the dedicated solar plant for Morukuru Farm House concludes that all three properties in the Madikwe Game Reserve operate fully off-grid.

“Morukuru Family have always recognised that sustainability, conservation and tourism go hand in hand,” said Morukuru Family Marketing Manager,  Rinse Wassenaar.  “We do not shy away from the fact there will always be room for improvement. As things are constantly evolving, by always operating in harmony with our environment we believe in preserving these delicate environments for generations to come”.