Great art sold for the rhino
SUPPORT ENDANGERED ANIMALS WHILE YOU GET CLOSER TO NATURE
From May 5 to 7 Rhino Art Eastern Cape will stage its highly anticipated charity art auction under the personal supervision of its founder and celebrated explorer, Kingsley Holgate, and courtesy of the beneficence of its host venue, Kuzuko Lodge.
The luxury lodge, which is located high on a hill in the private Kuzuko contractual area of the greater Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape, under management is a property of Legacy Hotels and Resorts.
“In the Xhosa language of the region, Kuzuko means “Place of Glory” and it only takes a minute of soaking up its natural splendour to appreciate the aptness of this description,” said Catharina De Lange, General Manager at Kuzuko Lodge. “We are honoured to host the Rhino Art charity art auction, which will be open to all lodge guests, regardless of whether the auction is the purpose of, or incidental to their visit.”
What makes Kuzuko the ideal accommodation partner and host for this conservation charity auction is its own long history of conservation and community upliftment, which began with the reclamation and restoration of its land to the natural state of indigenous vegetation of the Little Karoo. This was made possible by Kuzuko’s main funder and founder Dr Kim Tan who bought and merged 22 stock farms, before restocking them with all the endemic wildlife, including Black Rhino and Cheetah, in partnership with SANPARKS.
While the auction will undoubtedly be the focal point between May 5 and 7, visitors are in for a rare treat at the family-friendly, five-star Kuzuko Lodge. The lodge features 24 beautifully appointed chalets, each with its own private deck overlooking the splendid Big 5 reserve below. From the deck, bar and restaurant of the Main Lodge, guests can drink in unrivalled views while savouring fivestar traditional Karoo cuisine.
As anticipation builds for the auction event, lodge guests will have plentiful opportunities to reconnect with nature – also a key objective of the Rhino Art initi- ative – via “Boots on the Ground Wildlife Activities”. This includes nature walks among more placid wildlife, like giraffe, within the non-Big 5 area; exploration of the “Bushman” paintings of the Khoisan in this national heritage site; a “Plant & Gogga” walk for the kids; and even a Big 5 walk for the more adventurous, to track members of the Big 5 for a possible up close and personal encounter.
“As proud as we are to welcome guests to Kuzuko Lodge and show off the many delights of the Addo Elephant National Park, we are most excited about the charity art auction and the potential to raise funds for the educational work of Rhino Art,” said Robert Hodson, General Manager – Marketing at Legacy Hotels and Resorts.
The artworks that will be auctioned include sculptures, paintings, photography and pottery. To date, the auction has secured the following pieces from these talented artists: three bronze rhino sculptures from Bruce Little; three canvas oil paintings from Duncan Stewart; two vases and four platters, all rhino-themed, from Donve Branch; several photographs of wildlife taken in the Kuzuko Reserve from Mike Holmes; and a painting of Sylvester the Lion and another of a rhino, from Tarnia Sabbadin.
The auction will be conducted by 2 Sisters Auctioneers, an auction house with significant experience in fundraising auctions and a deep commitment to conservation.
For more information about the Rhino Art project visit