The project addresses several interconnected challenges:

1. Lack of certified game meat processing facilities that meet export standards and food safety requirements
2. Limited economic opportunities in rural areas lead to poverty and unemployment
3. Pressures on wildlife habitats and biodiversity from unsustainable land use practices
4. Limited participation of black entrepreneurs in the wildlife economy value chain
5. Inconsistent supply of high-quality game meat products to premium markets
6. Poaching threats to wildlife populations due to limited economic incentives for conservation

Mputsu Farming and Tourism Investment has developed an integrated business model that combines wildlife conservation with sustainable economic utilisation through multiple complementary activities:

• Game farming and wildlife breeding programmes on the 1,200-hectare Koedoesfontein property, with plans to expand to 4,200 hectares through the acquisition of Schoonkloof;
• Sustainable hunting operations that generate revenue whilst maintaining ecological balance;
• Tourism accommodation facilities, with plans for a new 12-room mountain lodge development;
• Game meat processing through an abattoir facility that creates value-added products for retail markets;
• Anti-poaching services that protect wildlife assets and contribute to regional security.

This integrated approach creates multiple revenue streams while ensuring the property's long-term ecological sustainability. The business model demonstrates how black entrepreneurs can successfully participate in and transform the wildlife economy sector.

Mputsu Farming and Tourism Investment has created a comprehensive solution through a vertically integrated wildlife economy business with four complementary components:

Game Farming and Conservation:

company manages wildlife populations through scientific ecological studies and breeding programmes, including participation in the SANParks Wildlife Donation Programme. The Farm hosts diverse species, including recently acquired White Rhinoceros, Buffalo, Eland, Red Hartebeest, and Black Wildebeest.

State-of-the-Art Abattoir:

Establish a modern game meat processing facility in the Bodirelo Industrial Park within the Buchanala Special Economic Zone, designed to meet the highest hygiene and regulatory standards for domestic and export markets.

Premium Market Access:

The company has secured offtake agreements with Woolworths and other major retailers, providing a solid foundation for consistent revenue generation.

Luxury Ecotourism:

Development of a 12-room contemporary mountain lodge to provide exclusive nature experiences while diversifying revenue streams and enhancing the financial sustainability of conservation efforts.

1. Expanding protected wildlife habitat through acquisition and conservation management of private land
2. Wildlife population management based on scientific ecological studies that balance species needs with vegetation availability
3. Protection of endangered species, including White Rhinoceros and rare antelope
4. Conservation of Indigenous vegetation, particularly endangered tree species, including Marula trees
5. Water resource protection, including regular cleanup operations for the Kolonist River that runs through the property
6. Anti-poaching operations that extend beyond the Farm's boundaries to support regional conservation efforts
7. Providing helicopter support for broader anti-poaching initiatives in collaboration with government reserves

Economic Development:

• Establishment of a viable wildlife economy enterprise integrating conservation, tourism, and sustainable utilisation
• Creation of 25 current jobs, increasing to approximately 54 lodge staff and 8 permanent farm staff positions
• Development of a wildlife economy hub in the North West Province that stimulates related businesses
• Value addition to game products through certified processing, increasing market value and export potential

Job Creation:

• 25 current staff (18 from local communities)
• Additional jobs through lodge expansion (targeting 90% local employment, 95% black South African employment, and 60% female employment)
• Indirect employment through the supply chain, including logistics, packaging, and maintenance services
• Skills development in wildlife management, hospitality, meat processing, and anti-poaching operations

Conservation:

• Protection and expansion of 1,200 hectares of wildlife habitat, with plans to increase to 4,200 hectares
• Breeding programmes for various wildlife species, including threatened and endangered species
• Enhanced anti-poaching capabilities, including helicopter support extending to neighbouring conservation areas
• Sustainable wildlife utilisation demonstrates the economic value of intact ecosystems

Social Impact:

• Economic empowerment of surrounding communities through employment and entrepreneurship opportunities
• Skills transfer and capacity building, particularly for women and youth
• Enhanced food security through sustainable protein production
• Conservation education and awareness in nine surrounding villages
• Black economic empowerment in a traditionally white-dominated sector
• Preservation of cultural heritage and Indigenous knowledge systems

The project faces several challenges that require strategic intervention:

Environmental challenges:

Extreme weather events, including floods that damage infrastructure and fencing

Regulatory hurdles:

Delays in permit issuance affecting hunting operations and seasonal revenue generation

Market constraints:

Competition from established players in game meat processing and luxury tourism

Community engagement:

Limited uptake of opportunities by local communities despite outreach efforts

Skills availability:

Challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified staff in rural locations

Infrastructure limitations: 

Reliable water and electricity supply in a remote location

Financial constraints:

Access to growth capital for expanding operations and implementing new initiatives

Security concerns:

Poaching threats to valuable species, particularly rhinoceros, require significant security investment

The funding support required:

The project is located in the biodiversity-rich North West Province of South Africa, strategically positioned adjacent to the internationally acclaimed Madikwe Game Reserve. The property falls within an important wildlife corridor and includes habitat for numerous species of conservation concern. The area hosts diverse vegetation types and is part of the broader savanna biome that supports significant biodiversity. The landscape features a variety of habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, and riparian zones along the Kolonist River, contributing to high species diversity and ecological resilience.

The project directly contributes to the expansion of protected areas through:

1. Secure conservation management of the existing 1,200-hectare Koedoesfontein property
2. Ongoing negotiations to incorporate an additional 3,000-hectare Schoonkloof property, which would increase the protected area to 4,200 hectares
3. Wildlife management practices that enhance habitat quality and species diversity
4. Protection of water resources, including the Kolonist River that flows through the property
5. Creation of wildlife corridors that connect with neighbouring conservation areas

The BCPA’s vision of Poverty Alleviation, Job Creation, Income Generation and Economic Upliftment, can best be achieved through taking advantage of the Barokologadi land’s proximity to the established Madikwe Game Reserve, as well as the opportunity to partner with conservation agencies and private sector, to create tourism products which can attract much needed jobs, small business development and income for the advancement of the poor Barokologadi community.

Extension of the protected area through creating a more attractive game and nature viewing area adjacent to both Madikwe and Molatedi Dam as well as covering the additional portion of the Dwarsberg mountains. In addition to this, the establishment of lodges which will cater for both the local and international markets.

1. Protection of wildlife species: In addition to the existing species on the land which include Impala, Kudu, Blou Wildebeest, Reedbuck, Zebra and Waterbuck, we already imported Rhino and Giraffe onto the area.
2. Creation of lodge accommodation and wildlife watching for guests wanting to enjoy wildlife experience.
3. Extension of the protected area in the region. Over 6000 hectares of conservation area is to be added to the 65 000 ha Madikwe Game Reserve.
4. Instilling conservation awareness among neighbouring communities.

The project is meant to extend the conservation area and further improve the conservation awareness within the Barokologadi community, which occupies 4 villages, as well as over 10 surrounding villages.

It is also meant to create over 200 permanent and 240 temporary job opportunities from within Barokologadi and the surrounding communities.

The project would also boost the local economic empowerment as some of the services required would be rendered by the local small business entities.

Other expected spin-offs include training for the local community members, corporate social investment programmes and poverty alleviation programmes.

Scarcity of trained people among communities:

Our community is faced with having to source labour for participating in the project, which is trained for specific job opportunities. This unfortunately requires more investment in accelerated empowerment programmes within the communities and such programmes need funding and other resources.

Funding:

In addition to training, funding is also required to boost small business development in the locality. 

Marketing of available products:

While our vicinity to Madikwe will have a positive impact on our access to the markets, the project would still need some vigorous promotion to the broader market given the high competition in the industry.

*Please provide Full Financial Projections in the Business Plan*

Since the start of the project over 60 temporary work opportunities were created.  We also have over 20 people who are permanently employed currently. Of these, about 12 are members of the Barokologadi community.

The partnership between BCPA and ERP has also resulted in the following benefits within the communities:

1. For the past 3 years, BCPA in conjunction with ERP, has been conducting an “End User Computing” learnership program which involved learners (youth of up to 28 years of age) from the 4 Barokologadi villages and other 2 neighbouring villages. Each of the learners has been earning a monthly stipend of R3500 for the 12 months of each program. So far 80 learners have graduated from the program, while 50 learners are currently enrolled.
2. To further boost the quality of education for our youth, about 43 Maths and Science learners at our high school were supplied with smart phones programmed with study material for Mathematics and Science syllabi.
3. ERP and its partners have also so far donated over 350 bicycles to learners in the Barokologadi and surrounding villages for easier and timeous access to their respective schools.
4. As a poverty relief measure, over 2000 food parcels were also donated to needy households during the Covid lockdown period.

While the actual project operation is still at its initial stage, the partnership has managed to establish and sponsor a bee keeping and honey production cooperative comprising 13 youth members from the Barokologadi villages. The main purpose of the bee project includes the future protection of big trees from being damaged by elephants and rhinos, as well as honey production for income generation by the cooperative.

The cooperative has recently extracted over 50 kilos of honey and started supplying it to resellers and preparing packaged honey for store shelves.

• Grant
• Reimbursable grant

Yes

As indicated, the project will expand the current protected area by over 6000 hectares and hence positively impact on conservation. It will also improve conservation and environment protection awareness among the Barokologadi and other surrounding communities.

The project’s job creation, poverty alleviation, income generation and economic upliftment imperative will positively to the livelihood of local communities. The envisaged creation of over 180 permanent job opportunities, the empowerment of SMME’s through involvement in supporting services, and the engagement in poverty relief programs, are some of the interventions to improve these livelihoods.

The project can definitely continue to thrive post investment given the income generation activities and the partnerships attached to it. It encompasses the establishment of up to 110 beds lodges linked with traversing rights for game-viewing experience as well as boosting of small business activity through the supporting services like cleaning services, maintenance, food supply, laundry services, tour guides, construction, etc.

The success of similar models in many other areas in the country and the structuring of the model around partnerships between communities, private sector and government entities like North West Parks and Tourism Board, will indeed make the model viable.

1. Business Plan (including current financials, employees, business history) and projected cashflows
2. Company Registration documents