WHO ARE WE? WHAT DO WE DO?
Here’s a highlight reel with clips from past and present projects.
Or, if you have a little more time, check out our short films below!
2024
Wild & Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Mpumalanga, South Africa
This year we have taken on our biggest project to date, building a state of the art wildlife centre, south of Kruger National Park. We were introduced to the skilled team at Wild & Free Rehabilitation by our friend, Dereck Milburn of We Wild Africa. This dedicated team had lost their previous facility and were considering shutting their doors. To follow our progress, click on the above link which we update often!
Kenya, as a biodiversity hotspot, has three species of giraffe, Masai (Giraffa tippelskirchi), reticulated (Giraffa reticulata) and Nubian (Giraffa c. camelopardalis).
Nubian giraffe were declared critically endangered by the IUCN given their decreasing numbers over the last 35 – 40 years. The main threats include habitat loss and poaching. While it is important to educate the whole community in general, Tony’s series of the program will use the Nubian giraffe of Ruma NP as a focal species to help raise awareness on wildlife and environmental conservation in primary schools adjacent to the park and in Homa Bay County.
2023
Tony Wild
Annual Grant Recipient
Tony and his team will teach a series of environmental education programmes and experiential park visits focusing on schools in the islands of Rusinga, Mfangano, and some in Mbita and the area close to Ruma NP.
Reticulated and Masai giraffe are widely distributed in and outside of protected areas in northern and north-eastern, and southern Kenya respectively.
Nubian giraffe on the other hand are only found in protected areas in central and western Kenya Ruma National Park (NP) is one of the areas in Kenya with favourable conditions for the Nubian giraffe and supports the largest population followed by Lake Nakuru NP and Mwea National Reserve. Ruma NP is also home to endangered species like the bird blue swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea), the Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) that are endemic to the park and black rhino (Diceros bicornis).
2023
Lioness Rewilding
Our partnership with the Aspinall Foundation has been incredibly rewarding for all. Together we’ve been able to fund the translocation and population of the new Babanango Game Reserve with endangered wildlife. So far we’ve assisted with cheetah rewilding on the reserve, saving an imperiled elephant herd to relocate them in the safety of Babanango’s care, and most recently with four lionesses. Here’s a quick thank you from Ryan, their General Manager CLICK FOR MORE….
2023
Elephant Herd Translocation
We first learned about the need for this elephant translocation at the end of last year. So to see the massive undertaking handled so successfully at the end of July was truly heartwarming. Our partners on the ground, Babanango Game Reserve and Manyoni Private Game Reserve know exactly what they’re doing and all of the elephants were transferred safely! Thank you to the entire Over and Above Africa community who tireless donate to support vital projects like these, that will ensure their safety and see the herd grow over the years. CLICK FOR MORE…
This is Nkanyiso and she has been rewilded successfully! Such a thrill to be a part of her success story.
2023
Cheetah rewilding Program
An update on how well Nkanyiso who has adapted to her new environment perfectly, she’s a complete success! We will be bringing you news and videos of the two male cheetahs in our program very soon!
We're happy to share an update on Nkanyiso (formerly Edith!) from this week. She has now moved into a great cheetah area, being in the eastern plains where much of the plains game spends time. She hasn’t secured her own food since scavenging on the Red Hartebeest carcass, so the team fed her a portion on Wednesday. She is now responding well to the feeding whistle we use to let her know when we have food for her. This together with the fact that we only feed her from a certain truck, means she doesn’t associate our safari vehicles with food. Because of this, sightings of her are great in that she shows behaviour that is natural; she is very comfortable with the safari vehicles and her behaviour is not much impacted by their presence. CLICK FOR MORE…..
2023
Lake Ossa, Cameroon
Our 1st Aquatic Initiative
Project title; Save African Manatees (Trichechus senegalensis) in Lake Ossa, Cameroon.
While we wait for footage from the work we’ve funded, please enjoy some progress photos provided by Alchare and his team. This work seeks to contribute to conserve and sustainably restore lake Ossa’s rich biodiversity while safeguarding the aquatic megafauna especially African manatees. Lake Ossa is a freshwater of international importance which has a wealth of biodiverse aquatic megafauna including over 80 families of fishes, crustaceans, oysters, snakes, lizards, marine turtles, crocodiles, vulnerable
African manatees the most charismatic species in the lake. The conservation focus species for this project is the African manatees, which is classified by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable.
To prevent elephants from raiding Brian Lyth’s village in Uganda, we worked together with the community to provide materials and supplies to set up bee hives along the parameters.
Elephants have a deep fear of bees. Nobody is exactly sure why, one thought is that bees on the attack, might swarm up an elephant’s trunk and cut off their water intake. Maybe it’s the sound of bees on the attack, or that they attack an elephant’s sensitive areas. We may never know, but it is a deep rooted fear, but a humane and holistic solution to their very real crisis.
2023
Human/Wildlife Conflict Between Elephants and Villagers Project
Uganda, Africa
Elephants were raiding their crops, destroying property in the process and drastically limiting the food supply his community depends on. It was only a matter of time before Human/ wildlife conflicts erupted. There was already an outcry to kill the elephants. Continued: “Many of us in the community realize elephants are part of the beauty of the area we have grown up in surrounding Queen Elizabeth National Park here in Uganda. We understand they are part of our community, they sustain our forests and they are a vital resource for the land and ecology. We believe if one species is removed, we all perish eventually. We want to live in harmony and richness together. It’s been working well with no casualties so far.
2022
Nyungwe Educational Program
Rwanda - SAEB Update
SAEB moved from Central African Republic to Rwanda after COVID hit the area. It’s an initiative to plant avocado trees (1,000) and introduce local school children to their regional wildlife through educational programs that highlight biodiversity and sustainability issues and challenges.
Many African children do not have the opportunity to experience wildlife because game park fees are cost prohibitive and they lack transportation. SAEB’s children saw primates in the wild for the first time and learned about the importance and value of planting more indigenous trees and fauna.
2022-2023
Supported surgeries and wildlife rehabilitation at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinarian Hospital, in South Africa.
Nicci Wright and her business partner, veterinarian, Karin
Lourens requested funds to aid in the treatment and rehabilitation of their wildlife emergencies.
2022
Tony Wild
2nd Annual Grant Recipient
In March, 2021, one hundred youth from 23 countries in Africa were recognized as the top youth leaders in conservation in the continent, a collaboration between the Africa Alliance of YMCAs, World Organization of the Scout Movement, African Wildlife Foundation, and WWF to empower the efforts of young, talented Africans and inspire other youth.
We reviewed the 100 deserving finalists and selected Tony based on his work in connecting young students to their wildlife and surroundings, through the arts.
Full Press Release: https://www.awf.org/pressroom/top-100-young-african-conservation-leaders-list-2021.
2022
Munda Wanga Environmental Park Lion Rehabilitation Project
When conservationist, BruceWoods learned of a pride of lionsdying of malnutrition and disease in a sanctuary in Zambia,
he reached out to us to help.
See how the story unfolded.
2021-2022 Ongoing - Phase 1 completed
Over & Above Africa’s 1st Grant Recipients: Ontulili Primates Guardian Project, Ontulili River, Central Kenya - (OPP)
Now in Phase 2, the Ontulili region is home to a variety of wildlife species, including the colobus and Sykes' monkeys, and bush babies/galagoes. We have funded the launch and continued progress of this women lead initiative.
Their efforts have been richly rewarded by the community effort to improve their environment and they now also equip local women with the knowledge, skills and tools to build long-term primates protection teams.
Over the last 40 years, the once-thriving primates plummeted in numbers due to loss of habitat and human/primate conflict. This program has commenced cleaning up a 3km stretch of the Ontulilil river, planting to enhance the canopy, to protect the river and to bring back the wildlife - they are already seeing positive results and we are looking forward to fuding Phase 3!
2021-2022
SAEB - Planting 1,000 Avocado Trees in Rwanda & Youth Training
Our Kelly Doyle details our most recent funding in Central African Republic (CAR)which moved to Rwanda due to Covid. We provided 1,000 papaya seedlings to offset the avocados left in the CAR and included a wildlife awareness program!
2021-2022
Manyoni Private Game Reserve’s pangolin and orphan rhino project!
Our friends at the Manyoni Private Game Reserve have the
difficult job of contending with poachers who kill wildlife for
their for black market value. This means that sometimes
babies are left without mothers, after being killed for their
horns. Baby rhinos need round the clock care. The same is
true for wildlife that somehow escape the poachers through
orchestrated raids or good samaritans. This is the story of
Callan and Lekko.
2021
Bruce Woods - Python rescue and rehabilitation - Zambia.
Probably our most unusual project to date! We followed Bruce on social media after he came across this severely wounded rock python. Bruce needed funds to build a home for her and fund her rehabilitation. We’ve been following their journey ever since! You can too - here
2021
Pangolin Telemetry and Tracking - South Africa
When we were asked to help fund a new telemetry system for rehabilitated pangolins, rescued from poachers, we couldn’t wait to dive in! Currently, pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world. Thanks to programs like these, they stand a chance of not becoming extinct! This pangolin was suffering from dehydration and organ failure. Now much healthier, he's young and well enough to be released into the wild where he can be monitored for his safety and live the long life that he was destined for!
2021
Educational Rhino Dehorning with Nomusa Zikhali’s Children
South Africa - Nomusa Zikhali was featured in “Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War.” Formerly, the Founder of Nkomo Primary School, Nomusa now oversees 24 schools in her homeland, South Africa. Working with Nomusa and Simon Naylor of AndBeyond at Phinda and their amazing team of rangers, veterinarians and staff, we organized our second educational rhino dehorning trip for her children.
2020
Water Supply System For
Rangers in Kenya
Raabia Hawa of the Ulinzi Africa Foundation asked us if we could fund a water system for her remote camp in Kenya where she and her rangers protect pregnant elephants about to give birth. Your contributions created a fresh water and retention system and paid for a year’s worth of monthly water deliveries by tanker to offset the rainy season! Watch and share the video of your dollars working at ground zero!
2020
Cheetah Relocation Project at Manyoni Reserve
To strengthen the gene pool of endangered cheetahs, some game reserves in Africa have exchange programs set up with other reserves to share their big cats. This also increases the global cheetah population, which is sadly under 5,000 in the wild right now. The Cheetah Relocation Project at Manyoni Private Game Reserve selected two cheetahs they had hand reared to give to a neighboring reserve to ensure their survival! Your funds helped relocate these two cheetah males!
2020
Breaking Their Silence-Trailer
We Co-Produced “Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War” a multiple award winning documentary by the Founder of Over and Above Africa which shines a bright and inspiring light on the intelligence, compassion, strength and tenacity of the women fighting on the frontline of the poaching war. Our film has invoked a deeply passionate response from viewers around the world as they watched in amazement how bravely these women face and conquer seemingly insurmountable odds.
From the Multiple Award Winning “Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War”
2020
Community Rhino Dehorning
Your funds enabled us to bring a group of local children in Kwa Zulu Natal, S.A. to observe and learn about Rhino Dehorning. These children have never seen a rhino this close as rhino live in game reserves where only wealthy tourists can visit. Your funds provided this educational program to help these children understand how important their wildlife is to them!
2020
Megan Lategan, Manager of Zululand Rhino Orphanage
Our O&AA Members and Donor’s funds were used to help rhino calves and these hippos, orphaned by a poacher’s attack with their medical costs, staffing salaries and feeding needs. Your help will aid in their recovery as the kind staff at Zululand Rhino Orphanage prepare them to be released one day!
2019
Pangolin Telemetry Project
Nicci Wrights’ ground pangolin tracking and telemetry program desperately needed equipment to tag and follow some new pangolins admitted to their rehabilitation center. Watch our mini documentary to see how your funds provided the much needed funds to successfully keep eyes on them!
2020
International Women’s Day
For 2019 International Women’s Day we wanted to celebrate many of the women we have encountered during the four short years we’ve been helping to protect and defend Africa’s wildlife and the impacted communities around them, through Over and Above Africa!
2019
Zululand Conservation Trust - Creche
Zululand Conservation Trust reached out to us to help build a recently destroyed creche for the local community. They also needed food and medical supplies for recently rescued rhino and hippo calves. Thanks to your generosity - we didn’t hesitate! Watch the new creche being built for the Nkukwini Community! These thanks are for you!
2020
School Game Drive
Frances Hannah of Zululand Conservation Trust gives us an update on our donations to fund the children’s creche and wildlife needs. Africa has a lot of challenges as you’ll discover here, but you can see how happy you made Frances and the local community with your contributions!
2019
Bicycles for Park Rangers
While filming in Africa, many of the rangers complained how much easier it would be to patrol if they weren’t all on foot. We questioned whether bicycles would be helpful and they beamed! Your funds donated these bicycles that not only allow rangers to cover more ground (more safely!) but also help them when they return home. Buses are an expense they would rather not pay on their small ranger’s salary! The rangers here are in the Northern most territory of the Kruger National Park and cover great distances. Your donation for bicycles extends their range and effectiveness. Thank you!
2018
Elephant and Rhino Relocation at Nambiti Private Game Reserve
Sometimes game reserves are so successful in their conservation that animals must be moved to another game reserve to conserve the land for the remaining animals. We worked together with our friends on the Nambiti Private Game Reserve to move a bull elephant and male rhino!
2018
Thank You from Raabia Hawa, Walk with Rangers
A thank you message from Raabia to Over and Above Africa members and donors for our funds that were used to enhance their anti-poaching elephant program.
2018
Thank You from Damien Mander
A thank you message from Damien Mander thanking our Over and Above Africa members and donors for helping to fund the launch of the all-female anti-poaching unit, the Akashingas. We were thrilled to be a part of such an important milestone for women and conservation in Africa.
2018
Thank You from Zululand Rhino Orphanage
A thank you message for you from Megan Lategan and Frances Hannah from Zululand Rhino Orphanage for raising funds for their orphaned animals and their community outreach program for children!
2017
Saving the Survivors
Dr. Johan Marais, Dr. Zoe Glyphis and their impactful team see far too much wildlife trauma. Mostly due to poachers leaving animals in agony and confusion after cutting out their horns and tusks - while still alive. Dr. Marais and Zoe work tirelessly to triage and rehabilitate the rhino and other wildlife. Your kindness helped by providing crucial medical supplies and transportation costs! Thank you!
2017
Care for Wild says Thank You!
Petronel Niewoudt is a central character in Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War and Founder of Care For Wild, rhino sanctuary. Here, she shares how much your donations contributed to the care of their orphaned rhinos. Petronel’s work has become legendary over the years and she offers excellent volunteer programs!
2017
Boots for Rangers
While walking out on patrol with the anti-poaching unit at Nambiti in KwaZulu-Natal, we observed how little equipment and fundamental supplies the rangers had. When we returned we held our very first fundraiser; “Boots for Rangers” and we provided not only boots, but camel packs for water and night vision goggles and socks! You’ll see how happy the rangers were when the boots arrived! Thank you!
INTERVIEWS WITH FELLOW CONSERVATIONISTS
DAMIEN MANDER - FOUNDER/CEO OF I.A.P.F.
INTERVIEWED BY: O&AA FOUNDER, KERRY DAVID
Damien Mander, founder of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation and Founder of the all female anti-poaching unit; Akashinga, speaks exclusively with Over and Above Africa on why he committed to Conservation. Damien gave up his career where he was a Delta 6 sniper in Australia (12 tours of Iraq) after an experience he had in Africa that he describes so well here. His story is heroic, but yours needn’t be! You can help us with as little as $5 a month to participate!