About our facilities
The outside lapa
The Ulovane Camp was completed in March 2009; we are very proud of our training facility and believe it is one of the TOP training facilities in South Africa.
Our lecture room includes a large work station, desks and chairs as well as two white boards and data projector. The data projector is used for presentations for lessons, as well as for the students themselves to use for their presentations. We believe that if our students are comfortable and have all they need, it will ENHANCE their learning experience.
Our awesome facility has shared accommodation with two students per room; the rooms have en suite bathrooms and are equipped with furniture, electricity and linen. Our stunning rock face rooms, have a great view of Amakhala. They are warm in the winter and cool in the summer – a great place for studying.
The lecture room
The main area consists of a comfortable living space including an open plan lounge and kitchen. The lounge opens up to a magnificent veranda overlooking the fertile grass plains surrounded by the beautiful Bushman’s River. Adjacent to the lounge is where the delicious aromas enter from the funky kitchen.
Students do their own cooking most of the times and we encourage, interesting dishes and team work in the kitchen. The camp also hosts a laundry where dust, mud, sweat and grass seeds can be removed from your uniform after a busy day in the bush. We believe that by providing our students with a home away from home feeling, they will settle into life at Ulovane much easier and be able to focus on their studies and future plans.
Our camp is green
Like our logo, like the bush – the Ulovane camp is GREEN! How have we achieved this and how are we achieving this? The idea behind the new camp was that is should be long term sustainable and have a minimal impact on the environment (zero carbon emission).
The lounge
During building we used locally available building materials to reduce the transport of materials. We built with locally quarried stone and paved the pathways with locally available gravel. The lodge is thatched, not only because it looks great and reduces the costs of heating and fully eliminates the cost of cooling, but also because it is durable, locally available and reduces the carbon footprint for building.
Energy supply is fully serviced by solar panels that feed in a battery bank and in that way guaranteeing a constant supply of energy to run all the appliances, such as a deep freezer, fridge, washing machine, as well as all the energy for the data projector, various computers and of course all the cell phone chargers, and all the lights. The latter of course being the latest energy saving lights.
Our braai area
We pump our own water from a depth of 140 meter with a solar operated pump. Our hot water supply is also created by the sun; the hot water for the lodge is supplied with a very efficient solar heater equipped with the latest technology. The showers in the rooms also use solar heated water. Furthermore we recycle all our waste materials; a fairly easy job if you live in an urban environment, but quite a task when you live out in the bush.
We not only preach the concept of energy saving and zero emission, but we truly live it and make everyone aware that we have to change our lifestyle to save our beautiful planet. All this in a very conscious way, but without giving up to much of the modern way of life.
Our location
The view from the rooms
Our operating reserve, Amakhala Game Reserve and surrounding areas are set amongst the country’s most interesting geological and paleontological history. An amazing variety of fauna and flora represent Amakhala Game Reserve including The Big 5, cheetah and hyenas. The Ulovane reserve which borders Amakhala is operated by Paranthodon Investments – a small company owned by one of our very first Ulovane students.
The Ulovane camp has the most stunning 360 degree view of Amakhala Game Reserve. The position of the camp allows you to see the herds of antelope roaming the plains below and hear the elephants call in the late afternoon. The birding is truly incredible and our visitors include a pair of Fish Eagles, Stanley’s bustards and Egyptian geese.
Amakhala Game Reserve and our new reserve is a dream come true success story of reclaiming farmland and rehabilitating the area back to its former beauty. Projects on Amakhala Game Reserve include a Vet project, which the on-site vet Dr. William Fowlds operates. This project is aimed at getting international vets out to South Africa and giving them a taste of what it is like to be a wildlife vet in Africa, as well as opening their eyes to conservation in South Africa.
Study time at Ulovane
We also have a Conservation Center which is run by Dr. Jennifer Gush, the on site Zoologist. Jennifer is very involved in community projects and often has days where local school children come out and go on game drives and learn about conservation. The conservation center is also the hub of where all the senses and monitoring projects information is gathered.
Click here for directions to Ulovane.
Our surroundings
- The garden route (Tsitsikamma Forest, Knysna heads, George and so much more).
- 50km from Grahamstown, a small University town filled with History.
- 85km From Port Elizabeth – known to all as the friendly city.
- One hour’s drive from beautiful and secluded beaches.
- One hour’s flight from Cape Town.
- Half an hour’s drive from Addo Elephant Park.
- Bordering Shamwari Game Reserve.
- In close proximity to study Marine Biology and the opportunity to see whales and dolphins.
- Undulating coastal plains and short grass results in excellent game viewing.
- The area is rich in historical and natural heritage dating back to before the 1820’s.
- The Eastern Cape is currently the fastest growing, MALARIA FREE, tourism destination in South Africa.
