Study Site

The Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) has been the sole location for the project’s long history of research and conservation, providing support wherever needed.

It consists of a collection of five privately owned reserves on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park in north-eastern South Africa. These reserves are namely Klaserie (600 square kilometres), Timbavati (540 square kilometres), Umbabat (310 square kilometres), Balule (350 square kilometres) and Thornybush (140 square kilometres).

The APNR is a cooperative organisation established to coordinate the interests of its members and to act as a single body in interacting with government entities. In 1993, fences between the APNR and the Kruger National Park were removed to encourage wildlife migration, and the Greater Kruger National Park was born. In December 2018 a landmark cooperative agreement was signed with the Kruger National Park.