support

Pledge Your Support

The reserve has annual running costs of R1000 per hectare. Being a Non-Profit Organisation, it relies on an income generated from guided nature walks on the reserve, as well as public support and donations to cover annual running costs and ongoing conservation efforts. In the upcoming annual donation drive (May 2025 to May 2026), there are six key conservation areas that you can support: protecting aardvark burrow-dependent wildlife, safeguarding vulnerable plants, monitoring wild bee populations, maintaining waterholes, tracking wildlife with cameras, and relocation and release of reptiles from potential urban threats to a safe habitat on the reserve. By supporting vital conservation areas, you can help ensure the long-term survival of species and their habitats. Your contribution will directly fund habitat protection, species monitoring, anti-poaching and conservation efforts, general reserve operations, trail maintenance, and educational projects.

How Can You Support Biodiversity in The Succulent Karoo?

Aardvark Burrows

Aardvark burrows are essential to the Succulent Karoo ecosystem. They provide shelter for many species that would not survive the extreme Karoo temperatures otherwise… such as Bat-eared Foxes, Porcupines, Meerkats, Mongooses, Egyptian Slit-faced Bats, South African Shelducks, Pearl-breasted Swallows, Cape Cobra’s, and wild Honeybees!

By adopting an Aardvark burrow at Wolwekraal, you’re directly supporting:

Burrow ecosystem and habitat conservation.
Research and monitoring of burrow-dependent wildlife.
Protection of burrow-dependant species.
General reserve operations.
Funding of educational programs.

Wild Bees

Wild bees play an essential role as pollinators on Wolwekraal Nature Reserve, helping sustain Karoo ecosystems. Within the reserve, there are a few existing wild honeybee colonies nesting in abandoned Aardvark and Mongoose burrows. There are also many solitary bees that nest in bare soil, dead wood and natural cavities on Wolwekraal. A species count of solitary bees conducted at Wolwekraal in the dry summer months has already identified over 20 different species of solitary bees. A study has also highlighted the significance of certain areas of bare ground as vital nesting habitats for solitary bees; bare ground is therefore an integral part of biodiversity. Despite the harsh, arid climate prevalent in the Karoo landscapes, Wolwekraal boasts a rich bee diversity, fundamental to a diversity of flowers, as well as numerous ecological adaptations that enable bees to thrive in challenging conditions. By supporting wild bee populations, you will:

Fall in love with the wild again, starting with the bees under our feet.
Safeguard a magnificent wild bee reserve with all of its associated fauna and flora. It’s the tiny things that matter!
Knowledge is power! Understanding where bee species are found and the conditions they thrive in, allows us to protect these vital natural habitats.

Vulnerable Plants

There are many vulnerable plant species on Wolwekraal Nature Reserve. Habitat degradation, illegal plant harvesting, and climate change are threats to their survival, but you can help! By supporting vulnerable plants on Wolwekraal Nature Reserve, you are funding vital conservation work while supporting the day-to-day running of the reserve.

Protect and monitor vulnerable Succulent Karoo plant species and populations.
Maintain and restore the reserve’s habitats.
Support conservation education and outreach.
Improve methods for restoring damaged Karoo habitats.

Cameras

Help us monitor and protect Wolwekraal’s wildlife by sponsoring or donating a camera! Cameras play a crucial role in conservation:

Wildlife monitoring – track species activity, behaviour, and seasonal changes.
Security and anti-poaching – detect unauthorised access and protect vulnerable species.
Scientific research – collect data for conservation planning.

You can contribute to this by sponsoring or donating a camera, or by donating to support camera maintenance (help cover battery replacements, SD cards and upkeep).

Waterhole

Wolwekraal Nature Reserve is in the arid Karoo, an area that is prone to extreme dry periods and unpredictable rainfall. In these harsh conditions, natural water sources are scarce, and the survival of wildlife depends on small, reliable water sources. Waterholes are important for sustaining wildlife (many animals, from small insects to larger mammals rely on these water sources, especially during droughts), preserving biodiversity (waterholes support a diverse ecosystem, attracting birds, reptiles, and mammals), reduce damage caused by porcupines and other rodents to succulents when they are desperate for water, and providing conservation information (a well-maintained waterhole allows for better observation of wildlife behaviour and population health). By supporting a waterhole, you contribute to:

Maintaining and monitoring water availability in key areas of the reserve.
Installing wildlife-friendly drinking stations that reduce water loss.
Supporting research on how animals use these vital resources.

Reptile Release

Reptile relocation and release helps address human-reptile conflicts, such as when a snake is found in a residential area or poses a potential threat to people or pets, or to protect a reptile from harm or potential persecution. Capturing and relocating reptiles must be done with a licence, and with the goal of peacefully mitigating immediate human-wildlife conflict while providing long-term sustainable alternatives. In the Prince Albert area, resident Athol Loppnow is registered to relocate reptiles, which he releases into a safe environment on Wolwekraal Nature Reserve. By supporting a reptile release, you are directly supporting:

Safe releases of relocated and rehabilitated reptiles into a protected area.
Habitat conservation for reptiles at Wolwekraal.
Educating the public about local reptile species and their ecological roles.

What You’ll Receive

A digital certificate of support for your chosen conservation area
Updates and feedback on your support, and the impact of your support
A social media thank-you post on Wolwekraal’s Instagram
Exclusive invites to conservation events
Donors of R2,000 or more will get a free guided nature walk on the reserve

Your gift goes straight to on‑the‑ground conservation at Wolwekraal—helping Karoo wildlife and habitats flourish for generations to come. Thank you for making a difference!

Pledge Your Support

1. Get in Touch
Email us at WklConsResOrg@gmail.com with your name, contact details, and which conservation area(s) you’d like to back.

2. Make Your Donation
Donate via EFT, our banking details are:
Bank: ABSA
Account Name: Wolwekraal Conservation Fund
Account Number: 9279086496
Account Type: Savings Account
Branch Code: 632005

3. Specify Your Cause
In the payment reference, please include the name of the conservation area you’re supporting (eg aardvark or waterhole).

1. Get in Touch
Email us at WklConsResOrg@gmail.com with your name, contact details, and which conservation area(s) you’d like to back.

2. Make Your Donation
Donate via EFT, our banking details are:
Bank: ABSA
Account Name: Wolwekraal Conservation Fund
Account Number: 9279086496
Account Type: Savings Account
Branch Code: 632005

3. Specify Your Cause
In the payment reference, please include the name of the conservation area you’re supporting (eg aardvark or waterhole).

Your gift goes straight to on‑the‑ground conservation at Wolwekraal—helping Karoo wildlife and habitats flourish for generations to come. Thank you for making a difference!