Guardians Beyond Borders

A Shared Vision for Cape Vulture Nature Reserve

Our Story

Cape Vulture Nature Reserve is more than a place on the map – it is a living promise. A promise to protect, to restore, and to inspire. In the Mopani District of Limpopo, between the mighty Drakensberg escarpment and the legendary Kruger National Park, lies this 1,800-hectare sanctuary. It is home to one of South Africa’s largest Cape Vulture colonies, with more than 700 breeding pairs – a population of global significance and a symbol of resilience.
But the true heart of the reserve beats not only in the cliffs where vultures soar or in the rivers that carve through the land. It beats in the vision of three international partners who came together across borders, united by one purpose: to protect life, preserve heritage, and empower communities.
Cape Vulture Nature Reserve is proof that conservation is not bound by nationality. It is a shared responsibility – a calling that belongs to all humanity. Here, we safeguard not just landscapes and wildlife, but hope itself.

Werner & Violanta Ruedy

Visionaries of a Living Sanctuary

The vision of Cape Vulture Nature Reserve took flight in 2021, when Werner and Violanta Ruedy, through their Swiss foundation Fondation pour une Solidarité Internationale (FSI), purchased the land and dedicated it fully to conservation. FSI is committed to advancing science, culture, education, and humanitarian aid – and in the reserve, the Ruedys saw the chance to bring these values to life in a powerful and lasting way. Their mission was clear from the start: to safeguard the endangered Cape Vulture, to heal ecosystems, and to strengthen the communities that surround the reserve. With FSI’s support, they provided not only the financial foundation but also the unwavering belief that such a project could thrive. Today, their commitment pulses through every aspect of CVNR – from sustainable food systems and waste reduction, to conservation science and education. It is their dedication that became the heartbeat of the reserve.

Ashley Lambert

A Champion of Community and Connection

Joining hands with the Ruedys, Ashley Lambert brought with him a profound commitment to humanitarian values and a boundless passion for conservation without borders. His presence has strengthened CVNR’s mission to build bridges between protecting wildlife and uplifting people, proving that the two are inseparable.
Ashley has played a vital role in shaping the reserve’s three guiding pillars—Education, Employment, and Conservation—and ensuring they are not just words, but lived realities for the communities of Limpopo. Through job creation, training opportunities, and youth engagement, he has helped weave the people of The Oaks and Ga-Moraba into the very heart of the reserve. Thanks to his dedication, CVNR is more than a sanctuary for endangered species—it has become a catalyst for human dignity, opportunity, and shared hope.

A Shared Dream Beyond Borders

Together, Werner and Violanta Ruedy and Ashley Lambert embody a rare kind of courage: the courage to care for a land not their own and to safeguard a heritage that belongs to us all. Their shared vision has shaped CVNR into a living model of harmony between people and planet. Every guest who stays at Cape Vulture Lodge or takes part in an activity becomes part of this mission. Each contribution directly supports thriving ecosystems, protects endangered species, and uplifts local communities. The reserve also welcomes Ambassadors of Hope—individuals who carry this story into the world, inspiring others to stand for conservation and humanity. In a time when borders too often divide, Cape Vulture Nature Reserve reminds us that love for the earth unites. Here, vultures soar above restored cliffs, communities thrive beside protected rivers, and three partners—far from their native homes—stand as proof that humanity’s highest calling is to give back, together.