Our Roots

In 1987, the Conolly family bought Antelope Park: savannah land filled with plains game, a few lions in enclosures and a small tea room for day visitors. They cleared the skulls out of an old museum room and set up a makeshift home. A journey of discovery began and many travellers stopped to enjoy this wild space with us. 

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. – William Shakespeare

The Lion Legacy

One stormy night, Wendy Conolly could not ignore the yowling of a rejected, bedraggled lion cub. She bravely rescued and nurtured her back to health. One day, while walking with the cubs through the grasslands, Andrew Conolly was lamenting the idea of future generations not witnessing lions in the wild. (The loss of 75% of African lions was headline news). Watching them hunting and stalking, he had an idea. What if new prides could be bred and reintroduced to wild spaces again? Defying skeptics, in 2010, Antelope Park released their first pride of lions to the Ngamo release site. They hunted, bred and raised cubs to do the same!  The joyful possibility of future generations witnessing lions in the wild was alive!

This amazing time was captured on the Animal Planet  documentary:

Building a Haven

Many people were welcomed to share in the wonder of this wild space. Tented youth camps along the river birthed the picturesque campsite, which was soon bustling with overland adventurers. A series of wildlife activities began to take shape, sparking joy and sustainability. Funds raised made it possible to care for wildlife. In 1992, during a severe drought in the country, four orphaned elephants were able to take refuge at Antelope Park. Our favourite gentle giants still keep us all entertained and humble!

Despite the collapse of the national economy in 1998, Andrew continued boldly building a wild haven. A couple of fairy tale weddings helped speed along development: Riverside Lodges, Safari Tents, Self-catering Lodges and the beautiful Island Lodges now host over 80 people. The safari dining area, conference venues, pool with a view, sunset Deck, popular coffee shop and the evening fire pit all nurture the warmth of our hospitality.

Love your neighbour

Antelope Park is surrounded by remarkable communities; many live in tough circumstances, with simple joy. We are glad to make a difference through employment and skills development, as well as partnering with local schools, clinics and enrichment projects. Benefiting local communities increases the value of wildlife to them, which promotes conservation.  You may notice small groups of cheerful people drifting through camp: they are international volunteers, looking to learn and grow as they serve in other countries. They assist with all our conservation and community projects, helping us to do far more than we could on our own.

Our People, Our Pride

Antelope Park is known for one of the friendliest welcomes on earth – this comes naturally to our team.  Maybe your guides will teach you to use the toothbrush bush or show you which berries will keep you alive, but their love for the flora and fauna is infectious and you will find it hard not to be amused by their stories of meerkats and monkeys, silly wildebeest and noisy grey herons.  Our wonderful team is naturally gifted in kindness and optimism – perhaps it is the beauty of the place they get to call home.

The Miracle of the Chishamiso

15 July 2023 marks the day when 3 white rhino arrived at Antelope Park. Jonathan Conolly undertook an extraordinary rescue operation, miraculously removing them from a compromised area just as 4 others were butchered. The beautiful prehistoric creatures settled into their new haven, surrounded by armed guards and vocal lions, a wonderful deterrent to poachers. Well clearly they think so! On 24 February 2025 we received a message:

“Guys there’s a one hour old baby rhino on Antelope Park!!!!!” 

To our deep awe, Chishamiso or “miracle” was born. As soon as she could run she was prancing about chasing the bull, happy to be alive. Her curiosity delights every visitor. 

Our gratitude runs deep. Our hopes and dreams are woven into the very fabric of this wild land. As we rewild nature and our stories, we hope every footprint leaves a legacy.