The history of Inverdoorn is a testament to the deep connection between the land, the local community, and the native Karoo wildlife. The reserve’s journey, from a colonial-era farm to a thriving wildlife sanctuary and boutique safari lodge, tells a remarkable story of transformation and commitment to preserving South Africa’s natural heritage.
It might be hard to believe but, before this 10,000 hectare conservancy became home to the iconic Big 5 animals, lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, and rhinos, Inverdoorn began as a modest citrus farm.
Today, Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve is celebrated as one of the Western Cape’s top safari lodge destinations, having recently won the global luxury hotel award for the best boutique safari lodge in Africa. However, the story of Inverdoorn as a private big 5 game reserve has only just begun.
From Fruit Farm to Big 5 Game Reserve
Originally founded by French and Dutch settlers, Inverdoorn was a family-owned farm, formally established as a fruit farm in 1907. By 1915, Inverdoorn had earned the title of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest fruit farm — a position it held until 1972.
Orchards of apricots, peaches, and plums once flourished in the Tankwa Karoo soil, a surprising oasis of productivity and life bordering the Great Karoo. But, as the years passed, Inverdoorn’s farm began to evolve.
By the 1970s, global markets were shifting. Environmental awareness and wildlife tourism in Africa was spreading, and the focus at Inverdoorn started to move away from agriculture. What had once been a hub of fruit production in the Western Cape slowly transformed into something quite extraordinary — a private nature reserve dedicated to the protection of South Africa’s natural wildlife.
Also Read: Conservation and Game Reserves in the Western Cape
In the last two decades, Inverdoorn has gone through a complete transformation. Native trees were encouraged to grow again, Karoo shrubs and native fynbos vegetation began to transform the landscape once more. Birds returned to the area, rivers and streams flowed in the spring, and large-scale land regeneration initiatives were carried out throughout the area.
Life began to blossom once more. From the beautiful wild flowers and endless grasslands, to the nutrient-rich compost naturally created by the animal droppings, Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve’s role as a Big 5 wildlife conservancy and protected Karoo habitat had just begun.
Also Read: About Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve
The History of Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve
The establishment of “Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve” marked the beginning of a new era for the Western Cape’s native wildlife, but the journey was not without its challenges. Large, free-roaming game like Eland, Giraffe, Buffalo, Zebras, Ostriches and Springbok were dotted throughout the terrain, but the impressive antelope herds, top predators (lions) and power-grazers (elephants and rhinos) had not yet been reintroduced.
While Inverdoorn was originally intended to be a nature-based game reserve, focused on restoring the Tankwa Karoo’s natural landscape, one of the reserve’s early conservation initiatives was a cheetah breeding project, aimed at protecting the Karoo’s cheetah populations.
But, as the years rolled on, the original cheetah project lost sight of its conservation roots and began leaning heavily into the profit-driven side of wildlife tourism. Sadly, captive-bred cheetahs were paraded around for the entertainment of guests, with collars and leads transforming these remarkable big cats into mere photo props.
Read: Inverdoorn’s Cheetah Conservation.
A Turning Point: Inverdoorn’s Wildlife Conservation Efforts
In 2019, Inverdoorn underwent its most significant change to date. Under the new ownership of Searl Derman and the Aquila Collection team, Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve was returned to its original purpose — wildlife conservation with integrity.
Just days after taking ownership of the reserve, a strict “no touch” policy and animal welfare ethics committee was implemented with immediate effect. The focus shifted back to ethical wildlife care, where the well-being of the animals took precedence over tourist attractions.
Today, the cheetah conservation programme, with its responsible and ethical format, offers an engaging guest experience, providing valuable community involvement within Inverdoorn’s rehabilitation initiatives while also providing vital cheetah educational opportunities for guests on safari.
Staying true to the reserve’s core focus, Inverdoorn’s new cheetah conservation programme is tirelessly working towards releasing all the reserve’s captive-bred and rescued cheetahs back into the wild. In partnership with the Animal Rescue Centre (ARC), Inverdoorn is now home to one of South Africa’s leading wildlife rescue teams.
From rehabilitating injured cheetahs, to providing a natural habitat for lions rescued from the canned hunting industry and providing a home to elephants from over-populated reserves across Southern Africa, Inverdoorn has become a true wildlife sanctuary in the Western Cape.
Becoming a Big Five Game Reserve
In 2024, Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve is an example of modern conservation practices and ethical tourism in South Africa, where visitors can witness the beauty of Africa’s Big Five—lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinoceros—in their natural habitat while contributing towards the preservation of the land, community, and wildlife.
The reserve’s commitment to conservation is evident not only in its wildlife protection efforts but also in its sustainable practices. Most of the vegetables served at the lodge are still grown on the reserve, a nod to its agricultural past and a commitment to self-sustainability.
Guests who visit Inverdoorn are treated to more than just a safari; they are invited to be part of a conservation story that spans over a hundred years. The reserve offers a tranquil escape into the wild, where the nights are filled with the brilliance of Karoo stars and the days are spent exploring the country’s untamed landscapes, only 2.5 outside of Cape Town.
