North of South Africa’s Soutpansberg Mountains lies a wild and resilient landscape where people and animals have learned to thrive against the odds. In this remote bushveld, Saving the Survivors works to protect wildlife while communities adapt to the challenges of heat, drought, and distance — showing how life endures in one of the country’s last great wilderness areas.
North of the Soutpansberg Mountains lies a rugged and remote stretch of bushveld where Saving the Survivors often operates — a landscape defined by rocky outcrops, mopane woodlands, and sweeping savannas that merge into the edge of true wilderness. This northern bushveld is unlike the more open plains further south; it’s wilder, harsher, and more ecologically diverse, where ancient baobabs stand sentinel over dry riverbeds and the air hums with the sound of cicadas and hornbills. It is home to a remarkable variety of wildlife — from elephants and rhino to elusive leopards and rare antelope like Roan and Tsessebe — all adapted to its hot, semi-arid conditions. What makes this environment special is its sense of isolation and resilience: life here has learned to endure extremes of heat, drought, and distance.
