GKEPF was established in 2016, in direct response to the alarming number of endangered animals killed by poachers in the region of the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP) – an area which encompasses more than 20 million hectares of unfenced wilderness and which is host to the largest wild rhino population in the world.
Eleven founding members, including nine private reserves, one provincial park and one national park, came together to form an alliance and registered a non-profit company, GKEPF, to service the protection needs of the western and eastern flanks of the Kruger National Park and the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier National Park. For the most part these wildlife and ecologically sensitive areas are open to the Kruger National Park with no fences separating them.
GKEPF aims to minimise wildlife crime in this area through aligned approaches, shared resources, effective communication and collaboration with strategic partners.
GKEPF collaborates with stakeholders and partners, provides ranger support, air support, training and operational support to poaching activity in the area with the allocation of substantial resources by both the state and private sector. Constant planning, monitoring and action protects global wildlife for future generations.
GKEPF, along with the participating reserves, assists with protection of the largest concentration of rhinos in the world and covers more than 400,000 ha throughout the Greater Kruger Area, South Africa and into Mozambique.
