Education 

Complete Refurbishment of Mkambati Primary School 

January 2026

Since opening in June 2023, GweGwe Beach Lodge, located in the northern concession of the Mkambathi Nature Reserve, has reached a meaningful milestone that highlights the impact of conservation-led tourism.

Operating in partnership with the Mkambathi Land Trust and the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA), the lodge contributes directly to the long-term sustainability of the reserve and its surrounding communities. In line with its agreement, GweGwe pays a monthly base rental and 9% of its gross turnover to the Land Trust and ECPTA.

This commitment was marked in September 2025 with the handover of GweGwe’s first official royalty payment — a proud moment symbolising tangible benefits flowing back to the community.

These benefits were further realised in January 2026 with the handover of an upgraded Mkambati Primary School following an extensive refurbishment, the first of several planned school upgrades in the area. The improved facilities now provide a safer, more inspiring learning environment, reinforcing the link between conservation, education and community upliftment.