Amakhala’s new Bushman’s River wildlife corridor and the birth of its first black rhino calf together show the power of collaborative conservation success across the reserve.
Blog | news | 09/12/2025
One year ago, a ribbon was cut on the old bridge over the Bushman's River, marking a defining moment in Amakhala's history: the opening of the Bushman's River Corridor beneath the N2 highway. For the first time in more than a century, wildlife can move freely between the northern and southern sections of the reserve, reconnecting landscapes that had long been divided.
Envisioned by Amakhala's founding farmers 26 years ago, this bold conservation project has reshaped the rhythm of the land. Since the underpass opened, elephants, lions, cheetahs, hyenas and countless other species have begun to roam as nature intended, crossing back and forth, expanding their ranges and restoring ecological balance.
It took the elephants only five days to explore the corridor, venturing north into territory their ancestors once knew. Lions and cheetahs soon followed, marking territories, hunting and re-establishing natural hierarchies. Their movements have rebalanced grazing and browsing patterns, reduced pressure on vegetation and supported the long-term sustainability of prey species. Even the elusive brown hyena has used this passage to reconnect previously isolated populations, strengthening genetic diversity across the reserve.
More than just an engineering achievement, the Bushman's River Corridor is a living symbol of what can be achieved when people work together to give space back to nature. It embodies Amakhala's founding vision to restore, reconnect and protect the Eastern Cape landscape through collaboration and shared stewardship.
As Amakhala celebrates its 26th year, and one year since the opening of the underpass, the corridor stands as a testament to that original pioneering dream: that with courage, unity and care, fractured land can heal, wildlife can return, and balance can be restored. Each step through the corridor is more than movement; it is renewal, resilience, and hope for a wilder, more connected tomorrow.
One year ago, a ribbon was cut on the old bridge over the Bushman's River, marking a defining moment in Amakhala's history: the opening of the Bushman's River Corridor beneath the N2 highway. For the first time in more than a century, wildlife can move freely between the northern and southern sections of the reserve, reconnecting landscapes that had long been divided.
Envisioned by Amakhala's founding farmers 26 years ago, this bold conservation project has reshaped the rhythm of the land. Since the underpass opened, elephants, lions, cheetahs, hyenas and countless other species have begun to roam as nature intended, crossing back and forth, expanding their ranges and restoring ecological balance.
It took the elephants only five days to explore the corridor, venturing north into territory their ancestors once knew. Lions and cheetahs soon followed, marking territories, hunting and re-establishing natural hierarchies. Their movements have rebalanced grazing and browsing patterns, reduced pressure on vegetation and supported the long-term sustainability of prey species. Even the elusive brown hyena has used this passage to reconnect previously isolated populations, strengthening genetic diversity across the reserve.
More than just an engineering achievement, the Bushman's River Corridor is a living symbol of what can be achieved when people work together to give space back to nature. It embodies Amakhala's founding vision to restore, reconnect and protect the Eastern Cape landscape through collaboration and shared stewardship.
As Amakhala celebrates its 26th year, and one year since the opening of the underpass, the corridor stands as a testament to that original pioneering dream: that with courage, unity and care, fractured land can heal, wildlife can return, and balance can be restored. Each step through the corridor is more than movement; it is renewal, resilience, and hope for a wilder, more connected tomorrow.