The Karoo region in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa is one of Vincent Mai’s favorite places in the world. Mai, who was born in Karoo, has worked in London and New York, and his philanthropic efforts have spanned the globe.
But, says Mai, “I’ve always had a hankering as part of my philanthropy to do something in the place of my roots.” Mai is a GPC Member, chairman of investment holding company Cranemere and former chairman of AEA Investors.
After meeting Andrew Muir, a world-famous environmentalist who runs the Wilderness Foundation (www.wildernessfoundation.co.za) in South Africa, Mai began to look for a conservation project in Karoo. It took several years, but the Vincent Mai family eventually purchased three large farms on 20,000 acres in the Camdeboo plains that were in desperate need of restoration.
Although Karoo is best known for its livestock, especially sheep, “Sheep are disastrous for the environment,” Mai explained. Because of overgrazing, chunks of the property are completely denuded.
The Wilderness Foundation is managing the project to restore the property to what it was like “before humans mucked it up,” Mai said. The foundation has been removing non-native invasive plantsthe most stubborn of which is agaveand reseeding the barren land. Workers have torn down more than 100 miles of fencing and put a high-quality game fence around the perimeter. They have restored plant life, which ranks among the most brilliant and diverse in the world.
“The transformation we’ve managed in five years is stunning. It really looks magnificent,” Mai said.
Because there used to be lot of hunting on the property, the indigenous animals population had been depleted. The foundations now are reintroducing indigenous game, including various types of antelope, wildebeest and Cape mountain zebras. “We now have wonderful game, and they are multiplying nicely,” Mai said. He added that there are no dangerous animals such as lions, rhinos or elephants on the property so that visitors can hike, bike or simply relax and take in the breathtaking views.
The farmhouse has also been restored to provide accommodations and the restored barns have been turned into meeting rooms for offsite retreats. An underground water system was installed and the reserve uses all solar power. “We want this to be a place where people come to experience the beauties of the wild,” Mai said, “and to make it as environmentally sound as possible.”
Mai explained that organized groups are just beginning to visit the site, called The Plains of Camdeboo Private Nature Reserve. His foundation is in the midst of building three cottages that will double the number of guests that can be accommodated, from 12 to 24. Guides are available to take visitors around the site and talk about the rich array of plants, animals and fossils on the property, and how they fit into the ecosystem.
The nature reserve is not being marketed overseas. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. For us [the point] is to give people an experience of the environment,” Mai noted. “We are not looking for people with binoculars who want to see a lion or an elephant.”
Eventually, Mai wants to offer school trips for underprivileged children to come for the day and see what nature and conservation are all about.
For philanthropists who want to do similar work, Mai recommends finding an extraordinary partner who knows the area, such as the Wilderness Foundation. Synergos’ Chair Peggy Dulany visited Karoo last year and agrees. “Vincent and his team have taken on a big challenge in restoring an ecosystem that’s been under a lot of pressure. That’s tricky, and philanthropists shouldn’t try to go it alone.” she says.
Beyond that, he advises undertaking the work only if you have a real passion for nature, the environment and conservation. “We’re not doing this to get rich,” he said. “We really are doing it for a love of nature and to restore this beautiful property and the environment.”
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