Wildlife is front and center at andBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge, but beyond spectacular safari drives, guests can take part in wildlife conservation projects. Join researchers as they fit elephants with radio collars or contraception to manage population size, capture elephants to remove their horns for protection or notch their ears, and complete a health check on a pangolin. Additionally, a program called Echo gives students in South Africa the chance to head out on game drives, learn about ecotourism, and discover related job opportunities.

andBeyond regularly collaborates with Wild Impact, a nonprofit dedicated to helping African communities and the planet as a whole. The Future Foundations program examines the needs of local children, providing new school campuses, the Mange Health Post medical facility, the 24-hour emergency Mduku Clinic, and the Mbhedula Craft Centre, where artisans can make arts and crafts to sell to make a living. The craft center also has a borehole for water access as well as safe storage space for artistic equipment.

Through its partnership with Wild Impact, andBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge helps native Africans develop business skills, improve their productivity, and embrace mentorship opportunities to help them earn a living. The Community Leaders Education Fund is also part of the collaboration, providing scholarships to more than 1,200 local college students from 62 different rural villages. A community service component helps the students give back to their community rather than paying back the funds they received. All of this contributes to the region’s earning potential, helping those who are struggling to find success.