In February 2023, Spirit Foundation Chairman, Ian Kilbride, visited Mountainlands for the release of two leopards. That moment proved pivotal.
“The mountains wrapped themselves around his heart,” recalls Nico Oosthuizen, head of the Mountainlands Nature Reserve. “Ian saw the beauty and the possibility, and that’s when the partnership was born.”
Since then, the Spirit Foundation Wildlife programme (SFWP) has invested in infrastructure, equipment, and support systems that have vastly expanded the reserve’s conservation potential. SFWP funded the construction of large game bomas, which are safe and secure holding spaces for animals being relocated, reintroduced, or recovering from injury. These bomas ensure that animals can be monitored and settled before being released into the wild.
The Spirit Foundation has also supported wildlife reintroduction efforts, including those of giraffes and buffalo, provided funding for animal feed, and supplied tracking systems to monitor key species. Their impact is visible, measurable, and authentic.
“The bomas have changed the way we manage rewilding,” says Oosthuizen. “They’re not just enclosures—they’re gateways to freedom.”
Rewilding as a philosophy
For Mountainlands, rewilding is not a campaign, but a philosophy. It means restoring ecosystems to a self-sustaining balance, governed by natural processes with minimal human interference. The process began in 2000 with the return of impalas, wildebeest, zebras, and giraffes. In 2024, with support from SFWP, buffalo were successfully reintroduced, megaherbivores that alter their landscapes, open up vegetation corridors, and support wider biodiversity.
“Timeframes for rewilding vary,” Oosthuizen explains. “But the commitment is long-term. Our goal is not just to bring species back, but to restore ecological relationships and resilience.”
Community as co-steward
The reserve’s partnership with the Lomshiyo tribal community is fundamental. This community has committed large tracts of land to conservation and plays a vital role in stewardship, stability, and outreach. Together, Mountainlands and its partners are pursuing investor mobilisation projects to unlock community-driven ecotourism, job creation, and sustainable enterprise.
This integrated model has created ripple effects, empowering local voices, protecting shared resources, and generating long-term economic opportunities.
A place that stays with you
Oosthuizen believes that some of the moments that matter most are not always dramatic. Sometimes, it is a kudu bull standing in golden light, the bray of zebra in the distance, or warthog piglets darting into the grass. But nothing compares to witnessing the arrival of a new animal.
“When the trucks arrive, both animals and people are exhausted,” he says. “But once the doors open, and you see them take their first steps into the bomas—it feels like a blessing. You know Mountainlands will be a haven for them.”
How can you activate being part of this legacy?
The success of Mountainlands depends on people—donors, investors, volunteers, and conscious travellers.
Opportunities include:
Supporting infrastructure projects or conservation operations
Sponsoring animal care, rewilding efforts, or security systems
Contributing to community development projects
Investing in exclusive private stands or future eco-tourism ventures
“A conservation legacy is only possible when it’s shared,” says Oosthuizen. “SWF is proof of how much impact a single, committed partner can have.”