Newsletter - April 2026

April has been a productive month for the Foundation. Following the initial announcement of our conservation and safari journeys, we have now finalised two new destinations, Kenya and South Africa, expanding experiences that connect wildlife conservation with community-led development.

In South Africa, we visited the Peninsula School Feeding Association, gaining first-hand insight into their work in the field and the scale of what is delivered every day.

This month also marks World Earth Day, a moment to pause and reflect on the broader context of our work, and to reaffirm the values that guide our efforts across regions and projects. It is also a reminder that progress often comes through consistent, on-the-ground action rather than visibility.

We are also introducing two new organisations this month.

WTM Africa also took place in April, with a focus on regenerative tourism. Three of the partners we work with were recognised, a meaningful acknowledgement of their long-term commitment.

On the ground, progress continues. In Zimbabwe, the installation of solar-powered electricity has begun, bringing reliable energy to a school environment where it directly supports daily life and learning. In Mozambique, Ibra has started his dive training, a first step in a long-term commitment to building local capacity in marine conservation.

Conservation Safari in South Africa - May 2027

We have introduced a new 13-day voluntourism and safari journey in South Africa, set in KwaZulu-Natal. This experience combines hands-on conservation work with time in the field, offering direct exposure to how a wildlife reserve is managed day to day.

A significant part of this journey takes place at Loziba Wildlife Reserve, a reserve that is still in development. The project was initiated to secure and protect a herd of more than 30 elephants that have now become permanent residents of the area.

The reserve is in the process of establishing its long-term conservation model. Permits for the reintroduction of white rhinoceros are underway, a key step towards building a viable ecosystem.

Loziba was founded by conservationist Grant Fowlds, known for his work on Save the Last Rhino and Rewilding Africa. It offers a rare opportunity to witness the early stages of a reserve taking shape and to understand the complexity of protecting wildlife while working alongside local communities.

The journey concludes with a safari in Nambiti Private Game Reserve, providing a different perspective within a Big Five reserve.

This is a small group experience, with a strong focus on practical involvement and time spent on the ground.

→ View the detailed itinerary: https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/746fe5ce-694b-4efe-a0fe-f869af857dba​

Kenya Conservation Work and Mara Safari - November 2026

We have also introduced a 13-day journey in Kenya, set within the Greater Maasai Mara ecosystem. This experience combines time in the field with direct involvement in conservation and community-led initiatives.

A central part of the programme takes place at Enarau Conservancy, a community-based conservation area established in 2022. The conservancy offers a different perspective, as a recently established conservation area built in partnership with local Maasai communities. The work focuses on restoring land that was previously used for grazing, using a combination of scientific research, native plant nurseries, and structured land management. It provides a direct view of how conservation is being developed in real time, balancing ecological restoration with local livelihoods.

Participants take part in a range of field activities, including habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and data collection, alongside time spent with local communities through education and cultural initiatives. The journey also includes time in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy and the Maasai Mara National Reserve, offering a broader view of conservation across the region.

This is a small group experience, designed to give a practical understanding of how conservation, research, and community engagement come together on the ground.

→ View the detailed itinerary: https://wetu.com/ItineraryOutputs/Discovery/ae195290-33fa-4a90-8604-697f8dc3b3a3​

World Earth Day

22 April marked World Earth Day, offering a moment to reflect on the natural world around us. From life on land to life below the surface, these environments reflect the focus of the initiatives we support and the importance of protecting them.

Visit to Peninsula School Feeding Association in South Africa

During our time in the Western Cape, we visited the Peninsula School Feeding Association with Chantal Crook and Charles Grey, following how the programme operates in practice. Ingredients are stored and organised at the warehouse before being delivered to schools, where meals are prepared on site by women from the local communities, many of whom are trained through the programme.

Around 33,000 children are fed every school day, across roughly 200 days each year, with two meals a day. This represents more than 13 million meals annually. In the school we visited, the impact was clear, children who are healthy, active, and able to engage fully in their day.

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Regenerative Tourism Awards from WTM Africa

World Travel Market Africa took place this month in Cape Town, bringing together travel professionals and recognising leading initiatives through its Responsible Tourism Awards. Within the Regenerative Tourism category, three of the partners we support were recognised. This category recognises organisations that go beyond sustainability to restore and strengthen ecosystems and communities.

EHRA Namibia received a Silver Award for its work to reduce human-elephant conflict and protect desert-adapted elephants. Its approach combines practical infrastructure, research, and community engagement in one of the harshest environments on Earth.

Imvelo Safari Lodges was also awarded Silver, recognising its long-term work across tourism, conservation, and local communities in and around Hwange National Park. This includes the reintroduction of white rhinos and sustained investment in community-based projects. This work can be experienced through our Voluntourism and Safari trips in July 2026 and October 2027.

Saruni Basecamp received the Gold Award for its community conservancy model in Kenya, where tourism revenue supports large-scale conservation and local livelihoods through structured agreements with landowners. This initiative is part of our Conservation and Safari trip in November 2026.

Lighting Teachers’ Homes at Mlevu Primary School

The installation of solar-powered electricity at Mlevu Primary School in the Tsholotsho district of Zimbabwe has begun. Indigo Earth Foundation is funding the solar installation in the teachers’ cottages, as part of a wider programme led and funded by Imvelo Safari Lodges and the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, who are coordinating and supporting the project on the ground. The system will bring light and power to both teachers’ accommodation and classrooms.

Mlevu is a remote, under-resourced rural school located close to the boundary of Hwange National Park, where human-wildlife conflict is part of daily life. Many students walk long distances to attend school, often through areas where wildlife is present.

Alongside the solar installation, work is also being carried out to repair teachers’ housing and support the development of a community garden. The reel below shows the first stages of the installation, with further updates to follow.

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Explore the trips to understand how conservation, education, and local livelihoods connect.

​July 2026​

​October 2027​

Ibra Begins His Dive Training

In Mozambique, Ibra has begun his dive training in Ponta do Ouro, taking the first steps towards becoming a dive master. Supported through a collaboration between Gozo Azul and Indigo Earth Foundation, the programme provides both practical and theoretical training.

Ibra already works at a local dive centre, and this training creates a clear pathway for him to develop his skills and progress professionally within the marine environment.

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We also shared more detailed insights into two additional initiatives in Southern Africa.

Meet Mara Elephant Project (Kenya)

The Mara Elephant Project operates across Kenya’s Greater Mara ecosystem, focusing on the protection of elephants and the landscapes they depend on.

Over the past decade, the main threat has shifted from poaching to habitat loss and human-elephant conflict. As populations grow and land is increasingly used for agriculture, encounters between people and elephants have become more frequent, often with significant consequences on both sides.

The project works across several fronts, combining monitoring, field operations, and community-based solutions. This includes tracking elephant movements, supporting ranger teams on the ground, and developing alternative approaches to reduce conflict, such as testing crops that elephants avoid.

As part of our November 2026 Kenya trip, participants will visit the Mara Elephant Project headquarters, meet the teams, and gain direct insight into how these challenges are managed in practice.

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Meet Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation Trust (Tanzania)

The Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation Trust operates in the Mufindi District of southern Tanzania, where conservation work is closely tied to community support.

Founded by the Fox family, whose work in the region began through safari operations in the early 1980s, the Trust addresses a challenging local context, including high rates of HIV/AIDS, low-income levels, and limited access to healthcare and education.

Its work spans several areas. This includes providing care and education for vulnerable children, supporting families through social welfare programmes, and improving access to healthcare through clinics, outreach, and home-based care. At the same time, environmental initiatives focus on protecting the Mufindi rainforests, with ongoing tree-planting programmes and daily forest patrols to reduce logging and poaching.

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From education and community support to wildlife conservation and ecosystem restoration, the initiatives presented this month reflect the range of work taking place across regions. Our trips are designed to give direct access to this reality, through time spent in the field with the people leading it.

If you would like to explore these initiatives further, we invite you to follow the updates or join us in the field.

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Indigo Earth Foundation