A family bought 11 farms and turned them into a big five wildlife haven

Beginning in 1997, a South African couple initiated a large-scale ecological restoration project in the Great Karoo region. The project involved the consolidation of 11 former livestock farms into a single 67,000-acre wildlife reserve. The land management process focused on removing internal fencing and clearing invasive plant species to allow the natural ecosystem to recover.

Following the habitat restoration, the couple began reintroducing native wildlife to the area. This effort has resulted in the return of species such as cheetahs, which had been absent from the region for approximately 130 years. The reserve now functions as a habitat for 'big five' wildlife, marking a significant transition from agricultural land use to conservation.