Tomjachu Bush Retreat highlights restoration and biodiversity wins
Earth Day on 22 April 2026 has renewed focus on conservation in South Africa, often centred on national parks and major programmes. In days after the observance, smaller privately managed reserves show how degraded land can recover.
Near Nelspruit in the Crocodile Valley Conservancy, Tomjachu Bush Retreat demonstrates restoration of Lowveld bushveld ecosystems.
Over three decades the 500 hectare reserve expanded from 180 hectares, restoring about 300 hectares of former farmland used for crops including tobacco and tomatoes. Rehabilitation and invasive control supported indigenous vegetation recovery.
‘The transformation has been remarkable,’ says Jack Fillery, Director of Tomjachu Bush Retreat. ‘Former farmland has returned to Lowveld biodiversity,’ he says.
Invasive species including lantana, guava and pom pom weed are removed through ongoing clearing supported by volunteers.
Wildlife including giraffe, zebra, kudu, nyala and wildebeest has returned, while camera traps recorded serval, honey badger and leopard. Around 300 bird species are recorded, including secretary birds and crowned eagles, reflecting improving habitat quality.
Solar energy provides about 60 percent of power use, alongside recycling and composting systems reducing waste. The reserve forms part of a proposed wildlife corridor linking Barberton Valley and Kruger National Park.
Fillery says Earth Day highlights conservation beyond parks, with private reserves supporting biodiversity recovery and ecological resilience.
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Picture: Supplied
