1990
andBeyond is founded as The Conservation Corporation Africa **
5 separate farms are transferred? Farmland is transferred into Phinda Land North (Pty) Ltd **
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1991
Zulu Nyala farms are transferred into Phinda South land
The first Ranger Training course takes place with 15 potential candidates, of which 11 are selected
Phinda Nyala Lodge opens (now andBeyond Phinda Mountain Lodge)
26 rhino are translocated from Malachite Reserve to Phinda, the largest single-day translocation of 21 animals, followed thereafter by the additional 5. These joined the 12 white rhino counted on Phinda property (Zulu Nyala)
6 male and 11 female elephants all under 10 years old arrive from the Kruger National Park. They are kept in a boma for 3 months to habituate
An original predator boma is taken from Malachite Game Reserve and re-assembled at Phinda, in preparation for introducing predators
1992
Rural Investment Fund (now Wild Impact) is founded and continues to be the primary non-profit community and conservation development partner. There are two full-time community officers working in the communities surrounding the reserve. The Rural Investment Fund is rebranded as Africa Foundation and finally as Wild Impact in 2024
Zibane Mzibuko is caught poaching on Phinda and is found guilty by the Tribal Court. He is sentenced to three months community service at Phinda, where he is given a job making bricks. With developments happening across the reserve, Zibane uses his skill to start his own business with assistance from the Rural Investment Fund, supplying over 300 000 bricks for the construction of andBeyond Forest Lodge
2 adult male and 4 adult female cheetahs – all unrelated – are introduced to the reserve
The first research project commences running until September 1995. Luke Hunter studies “The behavioural ecology of reintroduced lions and cheetahs in the Phinda resource reserve” for his PhD
2 adult lionesses along with sub-adult males and females arrive by truck from Sabi Sands and are introduced to the reserve
3 adult male cheetahs are flown commercially from Windhoek to Johannesburg by Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Laurie Marker. At Johannesburg they are collected and driven by Les Carlise to Phinda
A further 20 young animal’s – 7 male and 13 female – are also brought in from Kruger National Park. They are released in the South and join other young**
The first adult elephants – part of a group of 4 adult cows and 2 calves – arrive from Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe
1993
Adult elephants are translocated from Kruger National Park and introduced into andBeyondPhinda
The Munywana Conservancy is originally conceived between andBeyond Phinda and the Bumbani and Lulubush farms, with the inaugural meeting of the then named ‘Mun-ya-wana’
The second documented Phinda introduction group: adult females and sub-adults from the Hoedspruit area **
3 sub adult female cheetah, all from the same litter, are introduced **
Mnqobokazi Primary School is one of the first schools supported with infrastructure development
andBeyond Forest Lodge opens
1994
One additional adult female cheetah is introduced
A full breeding herd of 14 elephants moved from Kruger National Park. The herd consists of 1 adult male, 4 sub adult bulls, 5 adult cows, 2 sub adult cows and 2 calves
2 unrelated adult male cheetah are introduced
Mduku Clinic construction commences – establishing the first permanent clinic to serve the community of Mduku and surrounds
1996
3 cheetah; 2 male and 1 female – are removed from the reserve and translocated to Pilanesberg National Park, marking the first translocation from Munywana
The invasive alien plant work programme begins
Phinda Vlei and Phinda Rock Lodge open **
Tuberculosis free buffalo are quarantined and released, thereby creating a source for other reserves
Visiting turtle nesting sites at Sodwana Bay becomes a guest experience
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1997
The Community Leaders Education Fund (CLEF) launches, offering tertiary education bursaries to high school leavers in the region to access university
The Community Leaders Education Fund (CLEF) launches, offering tertiary education bursaries to high school leavers in the region to access university
The first buffalos arrive from Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, placed initially into quarantine at Phinda bomas
1998
The first 5 hippos are introduced into Mvubu Dam, Phinda brought in from the Crocodile River in Mpumalanga
Phinda donates 10 lions to Bongani Mountain Lodge, southern Kruger National Park
Phinda Rock lodge and Phinda Vlei lodge open. SN has 1996 – FACT CHECK**
Prof Winston Trollope and Andrew Lewis commence a study into grasslands and fire impact, with Veld Condition Assessment (VCA ) sites positioned
23 Buffalo are released out of quarantine bomas into the northern area of Phinda
1999
The Hippo Water Roller community water security project is launched by Rural Investment Fund (now Wild Impact)
Rural Investment Fund has raised over R6,000,000 at this point, for community development with the perceived benefits of the related work being referenced in James Currie’s MSc research – “Towards sustainable conservation: community perceptions of game reserves in the Maputoland region of South Africa.”
Intensive rhino monitoring commences with ear notches put into ears of white rhino on the reserve
iSimanagaliso Wetland Park, bordering Munywana Conservancy, is listed as South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site
A further 12 buffalo are released from quarantine bomas onto Phinda.