Charl Pretorius, the founding member of Kwalata, grew up in Hammanskraal. He is also known as Maredi, the local Tshwana language, that refers to “the one that can get things done”. A qualified teacher in 1992 said farewell to formal teaching and started Kwalata Adventure camps on their family farm. These youth camps focused on environmental education and leadership development and is today still presented at Kwalata Adventure Camp. Charl was a passionate backpacker from student days and thoroughly explored Southern Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania since 1986. Today he and his family is still passionate overland and adventure travelers in Africa. The youth camp grew to the vibrant Fair Trade Graded Kwalata Game Lodge that is founded on the Ubutu principals with a true African ambiance, friendly staff and South African hospitality that ensure a memorable stay! Charl served on the Dinokeng Game Reserve Land Owners Exco from 2002-2012 and negotiated with neighbors, government and community to secure the establishment of the 20,000ha Dinokeng Big Five Game Reserve, that today accommodates all of the big five, free roaming. Community and youth development is Charl’s passion and the Kwalata Community Development Initiative (KCDI) was established to facilitate sustainable outcomes using education, conservation and tourism as the backbone. Charl’s ability to secure partnerships with government, corporate and international partners has been the key success of KCDI sustainable results. These partnerships are based on the overall mission of Kwalata, using education, conservation and tourism as a means to impact positively on your local community and the environment, in a manner that promotes human dignity. Over the past 10 years Charl has traveled internationally and presented Kwalata’s initiates in USA - Washington, Germany - Bonn, Munich, Frankfurt, Dusseldorph, Switzerland - Zurich, Austria - Vienna, Graz, Belgium - Antwerpen, Netherland - Amsterdam, England - London, Zimbabwe - Bulawayo and Harare.