Protests which began in opposition to the Nigerian government’s widely unpopular Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have morphed into a widespread, leaderless movement against police brutality, economic mismanagement, rampant corruption and arbitrary state power.



But as the protests gain traction — both at home and abroad — there are growing concerns about the state’s response to the movement and what all of this could mean for the country’s economy.



The government is under growing pressure to deliver reforms amid the mass civil unrest, but analysts are concerned that the planned fiscally conservative policies, which may have aided the economic recovery, will become increasingly difficult to implement.



What’s more, the heavy-handed nature of the government’s response to protests has damaged its standing both domestically and internationally, heightening political uncertainty as the country looks to emerge from the crisis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oil-and-economics">Oil and economics</h2>



Africa’s largest economy remains heavily dependent on oil, which constitutes around 80% of its exports, 50% of government revenue and 30% of banking credit, according to the World Bank.



The latest OPEC figures confirm that Nigeria is sticking to supply cut agreements by keeping oil production below 1.5 million barrels per day in September. Combined with low global oil prices, this means tighter foreign exchange liquidity conditions with adverse consequences for businesses importing goods from abroad, according to NKC African Economics Head of Macroeconomic Consulting Cobus de Hart.



“In turn, tight FX liquidity, product shortages, higher fuel prices, and flooding serve to push inflation sharply higher, weighing on consumer demand,” de Hart said in a recent research note.



He suggested that, as the civil unrest shows few signs of abating, some of the government’s planned policies — which were designed to bolster the economy — could be reversed in an effort to avoid further opposition.







“This now raises the likelihood that we could see a reversal in positive policy shifts such as the decision to deregulate fuel prices – the government has already started backtracking on electricity price hikes,” de Hart said.



“Regrettably, many of these reforms should have been implemented at a much earlier stage, along with pro-business policies to drive diversification and growth.”



The social media-fueled #EndSARS protest movement is taking place against the backdrop of the country’s worst economic recession in over 30 years, with inflation rising above 13% and GDP (gross domestic product) contracting by 6.1% in the second quarter.



As such, the hit to the oil sector, combined with the economic disruption from the pandemic and falling remittance payments from abroad, is expected further constrain the government’s ability to deliver social programs and address the grievances of protesters, exacerbating tensions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-driving-protests">What is driving protests?</h2>



The SARS, accused of decades of brutality, rape and torture, was dissolved on October 11, but protesters have continued to demand broader fundamental reforms. In recent weeks, the demonstrations have descended into violence, coming to a head on October 20, when soldiers allegedly used live ammunition to disperse peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city.



Amnesty International says at least 12 protesters were killed and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said 25 people were injured, claims the army has dismissed as “fake news.” The incident unleashed a wave of violence and vandalism in Lagos and elsewhere, although protests have since dwindled in Lagos.







Meanwhile, pro-government demonstrations elsewhere in Nigeria have underscored a deep north-south divide and have heightened the risk of worsening violence in the oil-producing Niger Delta region. Supporters in the largely Muslim north, from where President Muhammadu Buhari hails, have accused protesters from the largely Christian south of trying to sow chaos to discredit the administration.



Following global condemnation of the government’s response to the protests, Buhari urged the international community and public figures to “seek to know all the facts” before “rushing to judgment.”



Buhari has also sought to highlight concessions the government has already made and suggest that protests were being hijacked by “subversive elements” to “cause chaos,” while opting to project an overall image of strength and deploy military personnel to key areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commercial-disruption">Commercial disruption</h2>



According to a report published last week by political risk consultancy EXX Africa, there are a number of distinct groups involved in the unrest. The first comprises young, educated and progressive reform advocates, many of whom have a strong social media presence. This part of the #EndSARS movement has been able to gain global traction and elicit endorsements from celebrities, political figures and even Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.



A second, larger group comprises less educated and often unemployed youths lashing out at economic hardship, while a third, smaller section consists of “hardened criminals,” according to the report. On top of this, government supporters have been carrying out attacks along sectarian and ethnic lines.



A key economic risk, according to EXX Africa, is the potential for disruption to commercial assets.







“Assets that are most exposed to opportunistic attacks include cargo in-transit, commercial stores and stationery vehicles. Targeted attacks are largely driven by political, sectarian or ethnic motives,” the EXX Africa report said.



NKC Political Analyst Louw Nel suggested that although Buhari may have an understandable grievance with the international scrutiny of the situation, compared to similar unrest across the continent, he will need to moderate the government response.



“Whatever the case may be, there is a desperate need for the Buhari administration – and governments elsewhere on the continent – to recognize the limits of responding to protests over state brutality with more state brutality,” Nel said in a research note.



“We expect protests will continue, and further repression, or another Lekki toll gate tragedy, will only fan the flames and weaken Mr. Buhari politically.

106773415-1604302637693-GettyImages-1229251460

As Nigeria’s SARS protests swell, its economic recovery hangs in the balance

The fight over the internet

The fight over the internet, under the sea | CNBC Explains

The perils of developing a vaccine at warp speed | CNBC Explains

How the economic crisis is hitting young people the hardest | CNBC Reports

Is sustainable investing just a marketing ploy? | CNBC Reports

Why is tourism picking up so slowly in Southeast Asia? | CNBC International

The accounting oligopoly: What’s next for the Big Four? | CNBC Explains

Whether it’s building a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/28/billionaire-warren-buffett-teaches-this-20-slot-rule-to-getting-rich-at-business-schools.html">successful business</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/17/i-got-10000-more-when-i-negotiated-my-salary-offer-heres-the-exact-script-i-used.html">climbing the career ladder</a>, you can find inspiration from people who have done the seemingly impossible: Change the world and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/26/money-mistakes-millionaires-like-warren-buffett-bill-gates-google-eric-schmidt-never-make.html">become&nbsp;a billionaire</a>.



It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to have a conversation over dinner with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/microsoft-billionaire-bill-gates-these-5-books-are-so-good-they-kept-me-up-past-bedtime.html">Bill Gates</a>&nbsp;or Oprah Winfrey, but you can still learn their secrets and advice from the books they’ve written.



Below are nine must-reads by some of the world’s most influential billionaires:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1.&nbsp; “The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Path-Made-Clear-Discovering-Direction/dp/1250307503" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Oprah Winfrey</a>



Committing to a life of purpose takes courage. “There was a time when I felt torn between who the world was telling me I should be, and what I felt to be the truth of myself,” media mogul Oprah Winfrey writes in the introduction of her 2019 book “The Path Made Clear.”



The chapters are organized to help you recognize your most important accomplishments along the road to self-discovery, laying out what you really need in order to achieve a life of happiness, significance and success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. “Principles: Life and Work”</h2>



By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Life-Work-Ray-Dalio/dp/1501124021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ray Dalio</a>



Investor and entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/04/billionaire-ray-dalio-was-once-broke-and-borrowed-money-from-his-dad-to-pay-family-bills.html">Ray Dalio</a>&nbsp;shares the principles he developed while running Bridgewater Associates, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ray-dalio-is-still-driving-his-160-billion-hedge-fund-machine-11580504150" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manages about $160 billion</a>&nbsp;— making it the largest hedge fund firm in the world. The book offers hundreds of practical lessons that can help individuals and organizations make smarter decisions and build stronger teams.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. “Shoe Dog: A Memoir By the Creator of Nike”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike/dp/1501135910" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Phil Knight</a>



In “Shoe Dog,” Nike founder Phil Knight offers a refreshingly honest memoir about how he built a shoe empire that earned him the nickname “the man behind swoosh.”



Bill Gates named it one of his five favorite books of 2016,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Shoe-Dog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">calling</a>&nbsp;it a “reminder of what the path to business success really looks like. It’s a messy, perilous, and chaotic journey, riddled with mistakes, endless struggles, and sacrifice.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. “Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Losing-My-Virginity-Survived-Business/dp/0307720748" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Richard Branson</a>



“Losing My Virginity” is an autobiography of how Virgin Group founder Richard Branson found success by doing things his own way. The internationally best-selling book describes the many life events that shaped Branson’s character&nbsp;— his naivety, his sense of adventure and steely resolve — and led him to revolutionize the music and airline industries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. “Business @ the Speed of Thought: Succeeding in the Digital Economy”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Business-Speed-Thought-Succeeding-Digital/dp/0446525685" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Bill Gates</a>



Although published more than two decades ago, the Microsoft co-founder’s examples about how to use information flow to gain a competitive edge are still relevant today.



If you run your own business, Gates’ book will prompt you to think about how you can improve your company’s work process and whether your managers have the right tools to get the information they need to make smart decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/0385349947" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Sheryl Sandberg</a>



Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” became a massive cultural phenomenon when it released in 2013, sparking conversations about women and ambition in the workplace.



Inspiring and well-researched, the Facebook COO offers advice&nbsp;on how to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment, as well as how men can benefit by supporting women both in the workplace and at home.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">7. “How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Sport-Business-Can-ebook/dp/B006AX6ONI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Mark Cuban</a>



Incorporating some of his best advice from his popular&nbsp;<a href="https://blogmaverick.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blog Maverick</a>, “Shark Tank” investor and Dallas Mavericks owner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/21/billionaire-mark-cuban-advice-to-college-grads-most-comforting-thing-you-hear-today.html">Mark Cuban</a>&nbsp;gives readers some insider knowledge on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.



If you haven’t heard Cuban’s rags-to-riches story (he was selling powdered milk and sleeping on friends’ couches before reaching billionaire status), this book will be the inspiration you need to push forward during hard times.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">8. “Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Peter Thiel</a>



Peter Thiel has a history of building and investing in breakthrough companies. A co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, Thiel was the&nbsp;<a href="https://money.cnn.com/2012/08/20/technology/facebook-peter-thiel/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first investor in Facebook</a>.



In “Zero to One,” he explains the philosophy he used along his path to financial success and offers a new way of thinking about innovation: It starts by learning to ask the questions that lead you to find value in unexpected places.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">9. “The Power of Many: Values for Success in Business and in Life”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Many-Values-Success-Business/dp/0307591220" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Meg Whitman</a>



Meg Whitman, former president and CEO of eBay, writes about the core values&nbsp;—&nbsp;such as trust, authenticity, courage and validation — that steered her to success without ethical compromise.&nbsp;



One of my favorite lines from the book:&nbsp;“The difference between a competent executive and a superstar often boils down to the willingness to decide to move forward, even when the path is not crystal clear.



<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.linkedin.com/in/tpopomaronis/__;!!PIZeeW5wscynRQ!-yxevb0q1Zq7aZKC07Qq8U1Qg8X-W_L_2SjyDtzpjHBU7X04MhOWDyRqw6_KBj8$" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Popomaronis</a>&nbsp;is a leadership expert and vice president of innovation at&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.massivealliance.com/solutions/elb/__;!!PIZeeW5wscynRQ!-yxevb0q1Zq7aZKC07Qq8U1Qg8X-W_L_2SjyDtzpjHBU7X04MhOWDyRqp-WuWVU$" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Massive Alliance.</a>&nbsp;His work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and The Washington Post. In 2014, Tom was named one of the “40 Under 40” by the Baltimore Business Journal. Follow him on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpopomaronis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>.

Bill Gates: ‘I wish I had done more’ to warn world about pandemic danger

9 books written by self-made billionaires to help you succeed in business and in life

<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube alignwide wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="What is ByteDance? | CNBC Explains" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QxISCiUzq7o?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



A judge has temporarily blocked an order from the Trump administration that would have banned TikTok from being downloaded from U.S. app stores.



At the end of the day on Sunday, the U.S. government could have forced app stores run by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=AAPL">Apple</a>&nbsp;and Google to remove TikTok.&nbsp;



But after a hearing on Sunday,&nbsp;Judge Carl Nichols of United States District Court for the District of Columbia, granted an injunction against that order.



The judge, however, did not block a much broader ban set to come into effect on Nov. 12 in the U.S., which could effectively make TikTok unusable.



TikTok said in a statement: “We’re pleased that the court agreed with our legal arguments and issued an injunction preventing the implementation of the TikTok app ban. We will continue defending our rights for the benefit of our community and employees.”



“At the same time, we will also maintain our ongoing dialogue with the government to turn our proposal, which the President gave his preliminary approval to last weekend, into an agreement,” the statement said.



The U.S. Commerce Department said it will continue to defend the executive order which is “consistent with the law and promotes legitimate national security interests.”



“The Government will comply with the injunction and has taken immediate steps to do so, but intends to vigorously defend the E.O. and the Secretary’s implementation efforts from legal challenges,” the department said in a statement.



Earlier this month, the Department of Commerce said TikTok would have to be removed from U.S. app stores on Sept. 20. That order was delayed by a week, to Sept. 27, as deal talks over the future of TikTok in the U.S. continued.



<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/19/tiktok-files-complaint-against-trump-administration-to-try-to-block-us-ban-.html">TikTok filed a request for an injunction</a>, which was granted by Judge Nichols on Sunday. 



Meanwhile, the state of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/25/tiktok-deal-timeline-the-latest-in-the-messy-saga-as-ban-looms.html">deal remains in flux</a>.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=ORCL">Oracle</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=WMT">Walmart</a>&nbsp;will take a 20% stake in a new U.S.-based company called TikTok Global. ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/21/bytedance-says-it-will-own-80percent-of-tiktok-us-refutes-5-billion-taxes-claim-.html">says it will own 80%</a>. But Oracle has contested that, saying ByteDance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/25/tiktok-deal-timeline-the-latest-in-the-messy-saga-as-ban-looms.html">will have “no ownership” of TikTok Global</a>.&nbsp;



Washington maintains that TikTok, under ByteDance’s ownership, represents a national security threat because American user data could be sent back to China. This is a claim that TikTok has repeatedly denied.



During the unusual Sunday morning hearing, John E. Hall, a lawyer for TikTok, said any download ban would be “unprecedented” and “irrational,” according to comments reported by Reuters.&nbsp;



“This is just a blunt way to whack the company,” he added.



Lawyers for the U.S. argued that “ByteDance has significant and close ties to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)&nbsp;which could potentially be leveraged to&nbsp;further their agenda and exact pressure on ByteDance.”

The Rise Of TikTok

Judge blocks Trump administration’s ban on new TikTok downloads from U.S. app stores

After closing its borders six months ago, South Africa is scheduled to reopen to international travelers on Oct. 1. 



Kruger National Park and the country’s winery-laden Western Cape&nbsp;— which includes the capital city of Cape Town and its most famous natural wonder, Table Mountain&nbsp;— will likely dominate travelers’ itineraries. But there are other parts of the country that offer secluded, socially-distanced experiences for those who are willing to venture beyond the usual tourist routes.&nbsp;



One such place is KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’s eastern-most province. There travelers who want to be immersed in nature and who have a yen for conservation can stay at a private game reserve that allows guests to participate in efforts to protect local rhino and elephant populations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Combating poachers</h2>



It’s estimated that three rhinos are poached every day in South Africa. In the whole of Africa, an elephant is poached approximately every 15 minutes. With only 18,000 white rhinos and 400,000 elephants left in Africa, in 20 years’ time at current rates, both animals will be completely gone.&nbsp;



Private game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, such as &amp;Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and<a href="https://nambiti.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Nambiti Private Game Reserve</a>,&nbsp;are trying to change that. Each has accommodations that range from comfortable to luxurious, and cuisine that varies from good to outstanding.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide"><img decoding="async" src="https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106715151-1600928662243-Nambiti_Hills_Luxury_Suite_2.jpg?v=1601015206&amp;w=678&amp;h=381" alt="A luxury suite at Nambiti Hills, a game lodge at Nambiti Private Game Reserve."/><figcaption>A luxury suite at Nambiti Hills, a game lodge at Nambiti Private Game Reserve.Courtesy of Nambiti Hills Private Game Experience</figcaption></figure>







Apart from the Big Five — lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo — Nambiti is home to giraffes, zebras, blue wildebeests and many varieties of antelope. Night drives reveal nocturnal animals such as porcupines, aardvarks, hyenas and civet cats.



For Manager Mike Potter, security against poachers is his biggest budget item — more expensive than roads, fences or looking after the animals.



“It’s financially crippling,” he said, “but we have to do it.”



Poachers are mainly locals who work with syndicates from Mozambique. A total of five rhinos have been poached from Nambiti, three of them in February 2013.



“The poachers came in by helicopter,” said Potter. “We could see where they had landed.”



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide"><img decoding="async" src="https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106715177-1600929849549-Nambiti_Hills_Zebras.jpg?v=1601015136&amp;w=678&amp;h=381" alt="Nambiti's lodges are situated in a malaria-free part of KwaZulu-Natal."/><figcaption>Nambiti’s lodges are situated in a malaria-free part of KwaZulu-Natal.Courtesy of Nambiti Hills Private Game Experience</figcaption></figure>







Security was dramatically increased, and since then no rhinos have been lost. Lodge guests pay a daily rhino levy of 50 South African rand ($3), which helps the cause. &nbsp;



Nambiti is part of the World Wildlife Fund’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wwf.org.za/our_work/initiatives/black_rhino_expansion.cfm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Black Rhino Range Expansion Project</a>, which aims to boost the rare black rhino population in South Africa. The WWF funds Nambiti’s team of four rhino monitors, who track the animals’ movements via motorbike. An annual grant of about $5,000 covers the cost of their bikes, boots, binoculars and other equipment.



“We download all the animal positions weekly,” Potter explained. “If we haven’t seen one of them for a week or two, we focus on finding it.”



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide"><img decoding="async" src="https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106715149-1600928276400-Nambiti_Hills_Game_Ranger_Joe_in_vehicle.jpg?v=1601015228&amp;w=678&amp;h=381" alt="Nambiti's 23,000 acres of land are monitored to protect the animals within the game reserve."/><figcaption>Nambiti’s 23,000 acres of land are monitored to protect the animals within the game reserve.Courtesy of Nambiti Hills Private Game Experience</figcaption></figure>







The job isn’t easy either. “These men are vulnerable to being chased by angry black rhinos or attacked by lions,” said Potter.&nbsp;



Though it’s sad to see a dehorned rhino, Potter agrees that “dehorning” them — removing their horns so they won’t be targeted by poachers — is the best way to protect the animals. But at approximately $2,400 for each rhino dehorning expedition, it’s hugely expensive.



That is where conservation-minded travelers can get involved. It’s possible to participate in rhino dehorning by paying a fee to join a team, usually arranged through a tour company.



That contribution covers the helicopter, pilot, wildlife vet and drugs involved. At the end of the day, travelers return to their luxury lodges with the satisfaction of having helped to protect a rhino’s life.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">An academy on Shaka-Zulu’s hunting grounds&nbsp;</h2>



Thula Thula (pronounced “tula tula”) is a Zulu name that means “peace and tranquility.” It’s also the name of a game reserve located on the historic hunting grounds of King Shaka, founder of the Zulu empire. The reserve is famous for its conservation work, its herd of 29 elephants and its charismatic ex-Parisian owner, Françoise Malby-Anthony.



She and her late husband, Lawrence Anthony, founded the&nbsp;<a href="https://thulathula.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thula Thula Private Game Reserve</a>&nbsp;in 1999 with a troubled herd of just seven elephants. When he died in 2012, she took over the management of the reserve, expanding it and establishing a rehabilitation center for orphaned animals.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide"><img decoding="async" src="https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106715047-1600927462269-Thula_Thula_Anti_poaching_unti_during_the_transfer_and_arrival_of_rhinos_Mona_and_Lisa.jpg?v=1600937089&amp;w=678&amp;h=381" alt="Françoise Malby-Anthony with Thula Thula's anti-poaching unit."/><figcaption>Françoise Malby-Anthony with Thula Thula’s anti-poaching unit.Courtesy of Thula Thula Private Game Reserve</figcaption></figure>







To fix problems affecting wildlife, said Malby-Anthony, we must address human problems. Not only has powdered rhino horn been used in Chinese Traditional Medicine for thousands of years, but it is used today to display wealth and status.



“Seventy percent of Chinese people do not know that the rhinos and elephants are killed for their horns,” she said.



It’s vital that local people be involved in conservation, she said, so all of Thula Thula’s staff comes from nearby communities.



Visitors come from around the world, but mainly from the United States, Europe and, of course, South Africa. Accommodations are in two lodges — one of which is a luxury tented camp — and income from those finance the reserve’s conservation efforts.



Twice-daily game drives — usually in the morning and evening — are the highlight of any lodge stay.



“These safaris are guided by our experienced game rangers, who share their knowledge and their passion, raising awareness of environmental issues and the necessity to protect endangered species,” said Malby-Anthony.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide"><img decoding="async" src="https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106715035-1600926929081-Thula_Thula_Franoise_and_rhino_Thabo_with_vet_team_for_dehorning.JPG?v=1600927453&amp;w=678&amp;h=381" alt="Thula Thula's Françoise Malby-Anthony and her vet team with Thabo, a rhino at the reserve."/><figcaption>Thula Thula’s Françoise Malby-Anthony and her vet team with Thabo, a rhino at the reserve.Courtesy of Thula Thula Private Game Reserve</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-cnbc-africa"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/2020/08/13/kenya-elephant-numbers-more-than-double-in-1980-2018-tourism-minister/
</div></figure>



<a href="http://www.volunteer.academy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thula Thula Volunteers Academy</a>&nbsp;is a different form of eco-tourism. The academy holds regular two-week stays for eight volunteers at a time. Volunteers work as conservation assistants, the idea being that they will not only contribute to the work on the ground, but also go home and spread the message.



“I used to think that a rhino without a horn was not a rhino,” said Malby-Anthony. “But I changed my mind in February 2013 when five heavily armed men killed two of our rhinos — both were only 18 months old and still with such small horns.”



“Since then, we have deployed intensive anti-poaching and security measures to keep our wildlife safe,” she said. “This is our priority.”



Thula Thula’s dog unit patrols 24 hours a day, and a plane comes weekly to check the fences. When she had surveillance cameras installed, the elephants removed them because they didn’t like foreign objects in the trees. The solution was to apply a hot chili paste all around the camera.



“That did the trick — elephants don’t like chili at all,” said Malby-Anthony.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide"><img decoding="async" src="https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106715049-1600927605163-Thula_Thula_Shaka_the_Elephant_and_Thabo_the_Rhino.JPG?v=1601000704&amp;w=678&amp;h=381" alt="Thabo, without a horn, rubs heads with an elephant named Shaka at Thula Thula Private Game Reserve."/><figcaption>Thabo, without a horn, rubs heads with an elephant named Shaka at Thula Thula Private Game Reserve.Courtesy of Thula Thula Private Game Reserve</figcaption></figure>







The all-inclusive daily rate depends upon your country of origin: $120 for those from North America, South America and Asia, $153 for Brits, $140 for Europeans and $70 for South Africans. This fee goes to Thula Thula’s conservation projects, including the expansion of its elephant habitat and anti-poaching measures.



Two books that explore the challenges of animal conservation include “The Elephant Whisperer” by Malby-Anthony’s late husband Lawrence, and its sequel “An Elephant in My Kitchen,” penned by Malby-Anthony herself.



“It’s a wake-up call to the tragic situation of our wildlife in Africa,” she said. “In 20 years’ time, when there are no more elephants, rhinos, lions and cheetahs, we cannot say we did not know.”&nbsp;

COVID-19: Liven up your lockdown routine with SA’s ‘virtual safaris’

Safaris are back, and luxury lodges are enlisting guests to help save animals

Why is poverty rising in Japan? | CNBC Explains

How Palantir Built A Data-Mining Empire

What Is An mRNA Coronavirus Vaccine?

The TikTok and WeChat download bans

The TikTok and WeChat download bans, explained: CNBC After Hours

Can Facebook Stop Election Manipulation On Its Platform?

Snowflake’s IPO Reignited A Silicon Valley Debate About How To Go Public: CNBC After

CNBC

As Nigeria’s SARS protests swell, its economic recovery hangs in the balance

The fight over the internet, under the sea | CNBC Explains

The perils of developing a vaccine at warp speed | CNBC Explains

How the economic crisis is hitting young people the hardest | CNBC Reports

Is sustainable investing just a marketing ploy? | CNBC Reports

Why is tourism picking up so slowly in Southeast Asia? | CNBC International

The accounting oligopoly: What’s next for the Big Four? | CNBC Explains

9 books written by self-made billionaires to help you succeed in business and in life

Judge blocks Trump administration’s ban on new TikTok downloads from U.S. app stores

Safaris are back, and luxury lodges are enlisting guests to help save animals

Why is poverty rising in Japan? | CNBC Explains

How Palantir Built A Data-Mining Empire

What Is An mRNA Coronavirus Vaccine?

The TikTok and WeChat download bans, explained: CNBC After Hours

Can Facebook Stop Election Manipulation On Its Platform?

Snowflake’s IPO Reignited A Silicon Valley Debate About How To Go Public: CNBC After

Why Car Colors Are So Boring

News Tips

Advertise With Us

CNBC

As Nigeria’s SARS protests swell, its economic recovery hangs in the balance

The fight over the internet, under the sea | CNBC Explains

The perils of developing a vaccine at warp speed | CNBC Explains

How the economic crisis is hitting young people the hardest | CNBC Reports

Is sustainable investing just a marketing ploy? | CNBC Reports

Why is tourism picking up so slowly in Southeast Asia? | CNBC International

The accounting oligopoly: What’s next for the Big Four? | CNBC Explains

9 books written by self-made billionaires to help you succeed in business and in life

Judge blocks Trump administration’s ban on new TikTok downloads from U.S. app stores

Safaris are back, and luxury lodges are enlisting guests to help save animals

Why is poverty rising in Japan? | CNBC Explains

How Palantir Built A Data-Mining Empire

What Is An mRNA Coronavirus Vaccine?

The TikTok and WeChat download bans, explained: CNBC After Hours

Can Facebook Stop Election Manipulation On Its Platform?

Snowflake’s IPO Reignited A Silicon Valley Debate About How To Go Public: CNBC After

Why Car Colors Are So Boring

News Tips

Advertise With Us

Newsletters