Operating a bush camp in a rural area comes with challenges that are not always visible to visitors. From managing electricity and maintaining facilities to working with local schools and securing funding, keeping DAKTARI running requires constant planning, teamwork and support.

Keeping the Camp Running

DAKTARI relies on its solar farm for much of its electricity. While solar power is a sustainable solution, it depends on the weather. On cloudy or rainy days, less energy can be produced, so electricity must be carefully managed to keep essential operations running.

The camp and its equipment also require regular maintenance. Animal enclosures, buildings, vehicles and other facilities all need attention throughout the year. Even everyday tasks such as collecting firewood require suitable equipment.

Support from partners can make a real difference. Husqvarna recently donated an electric chainsaw, helping our team collect firewood more safely and efficiently while supporting maintenance work around the sanctuary.

Working with Local Schools

Our Environmental Education Program welcomes Grade 8 learners from nearby schools every week. And also our ECO Club aims at extending our impact to a wider population and actively engage with the surrounding local communities. Making these programs and visits possible requires strong and lasting relationships with teachers and schools.

DAKTARI needs to coordinate schedules and transport while ensuring that the program continues to meet the needs of participating learners. Building this trust takes time, but it allows us to give more young people the opportunity to experience nature and understand why protecting it matters.

 

Caring for Animals and Young People

DAKTARI combines a bush school with an animal sanctuary, so animal care continues every day. Feeding, enclosure maintenance and monitoring all require time and resources, alongside our education and youth-development programs.

With youth unemployment remaining a major challenge in South Africa, initiatives such as our Job Hunting Programme also help young people develop practical skills for their future.

Why Everyday Support Matters

For a small non-profit organisation, funding is one of the biggest ongoing challenges. Animal care, electricity, vehicles, educational materials, maintenance and staff costs all need to be covered.

Support does not always have to come through a large donation. Lasher Tools recently donated essential equipment to our Housekeeping team, helping make their daily work smoother and more efficient and contributing to a safe, clean environment at DAKTARI.

These examples show how practical partnerships support the everyday work behind our mission.

The Work Behind Every Visit

Operating DAKTARI is rarely about one major challenge. More often, it means managing many smaller challenges every day: maintaining the camp, managing electricity, caring for animals, keeping school partnerships strong and finding the resources to continue our programmes.

These challenges may not always be visible to the children or volunteers who visit us, but overcoming them is what makes their experiences possible.

Every child and foreign volunteer is supported by a team working behind the scenes — and by the people who support DAKTARI along the way.