24/08/2026
On the evening of 17 July, the Karkloof community gathered for the Annual Game Count, a vital monitoring tool that helps us understand the health of our ecosystem.
Residents across the area spent the evening documenting every sighting, from the smallest duiker to our majestic reedbuck. The data collected shapes our conservation decisions and guides our management of Karkloof.
Rockwood participated proudly, recording sightings of our resident wildlife.
But our wildlife faces a growing threat.
Illegal hunting with packs of dogs is a “huge, monstrous issue” that’s becoming increasingly difficult to contain. Hunters target species like reedbuck and the endangered oribi, moving across multiple properties and reserves.
What makes it worse? Some poaching operations are now coordinated and financially driven, linked to organised betting networks.
Without intervention, these pressures threaten the delicate balance that the Karkloof Game Count is designed to monitor.
The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Honorary Officers, local volunteers who give their time and expertise to protect conservation land across KwaZulu-Natal.
Led by passionate leaders like Ant Stratford (Chairperson of Lions River Honorary Officers), these officers work alongside private security and community networks to prevent poaching before it happens.
They monitor camera networks, patrol reserves, and gather evidence, often without the dramatic moments you see in documentaries. Their work is patient, persistent, and absolutely essential.
From the Annual Game Count to the Honorary Officers on the frontline, protecting Karkloof is a shared mission.
Thank you to all those who contribute to this crucial work.
🔗 www.rockwood.co.za
☎️ + 27 73 465 4335
📧 [email protected]
