Kuzuko Lodge is where CARE’s vision came to life—restoring ecosystems, empowering communities, and proving that conservation and enterprise can thrive together.

In South Africa’s Eastern Cape, CARE helped transform a degraded landscape into a thriving eco-tourism destination. Guided by local partnerships and a regenerative model, the project offers a blueprint for future growth across the globe.

Before the lodge, this land had suffered from overuse and underinvestment. Biodiversity had declined, unemployment in surrounding communities was high, and tourism potential remained untapped. But the region held promise: rich ecosystems, stunning terrain, and cultural heritage that could support an experience-based economy.

“We took our time looking for the perfect spot… leaving weather stations out to find that perfect mix of views, sunrises, sunsets, and weather protection.”

This was the kind of region the CARE model was built for—where conservation and development needs overlap, and long-term transformation is possible.

CARE and its partners implemented a multi-phase strategy grounded in ecological restoration and community empowerment. The initiative focused on rewilding degraded land, launching a sustainable eco-tourism enterprise, and building lasting infrastructure for local economic participation.

Key actions included:

• Restoring critical habitats through land rehabilitation and species reintroduction
• Establishing a luxury eco-lodge designed to support long-term environmental and financial sustainability
• Creating a regional employment pipeline through hospitality training and enterprise development
• Structuring partnerships with local leaders to ensure community ownership and benefit-sharing

The Kuzuko project became a catalyst for both ecological recovery and inclusive growth:

• More than 35,000 acres of wilderness were restored, leading to measurable gains in biodiversity
• Over 500 jobs were created for community members, many of whom received training for the first time
• A financially self-sustaining lodge continues to generate revenue to fund conservation and social programs
• The project established a proven model that now serves as the foundation for CARE’s global replication efforts

The success of Kuzuko Lodge is just the beginning. CARE is actively identifying new regions where the overlap between biodiversity loss and rural poverty presents both urgent need and extraordinary opportunity.

From Central Africa to Southeast Asia, we’re applying the same rigorous model—Discern, Design, Deploy—to build new partnerships, restore ecosystems, and unlock sustainable enterprise at scale. Each project is locally led, data-informed, and designed to create lasting impact for both people and planet.