About Us

What once was , still is !

We are a group of Wildlife Professionals and Biologists who have embarked on rehabilitating the wild areas we call home and the place of our work and professions, working with communities in ecological and climate change mitigation and to be an active part in restoration of damaged ecosystems, Forests, Wildlife Reserves, Marine Reserves, Wetlands and Communal agricultural areas. invasive species mitigation, flooding adaptation, environmental degradation and climate change adaptation. Creating home based practices.

We aim to restore indigenous Flora and Fauna, establish wildlife corridors and assist Nature to heal  and reform itself as it was.

 To give ecology and environmental  education to  the community, Youth, Guides and Rangers to become the protectors of the Earth and to conserve and maintain the balance achieved in restoration and to expand Ecological restoration and conservation practices

Charuma a Great Grand Aunt in her lay a she lion spirit, a mhondoro, a guardian and protector of the Earth with a well of knowledge and strength.

She is not gone, she walks with us on foot trails, she sings to us through the birds, whispers through the breeze,  crackles in the fire,tears in rainstorms, Thunder claps of expression in sadness on Earth’s fate, We have to continue her guardianship and protection of Mother nature. Charuma  is our light path and way .

“Love the soil, water, trees ,  animals, birds and bees for this is Life, it is Living.”    VaCharuma

We carry a strong ethos on ecology rehabilitation and community mitigation. Healing the Earth and adapting to the current climatic conditions for Earth to heal through harmonious  solutions with Human expansion.

Read More

Adapt

We have disturbed the balance of Earth. Further disturbance will end our existence. The environment and climate has changed, we need to initiate adaptation to the current conditions work with nature to survive and not cause any further destruction of our planet.

Rehabilitate

Rehabilitate damaged forests and reconnect wilderness areas through these rehabilitated corridors. Help create more space for wildlife and flora to thrive and recreate

Protect

Conserve and protect forests, wetlands , Flora and Fauna that we have left. This is the source of Earth’s rejuvenation.

Meet The Team

Tendekayi Guni
Foundation Director

Tendekayi Guni was born and brought up in Zimbabwe. As a child he regularly visited his father’s ancestral home of Masvingo, where he would often visit his grand-aunt Charuma. Charuma had a close connection with nature. When she was blinded by a cobra, her other senses became keener, and she became even more in tune with her environment. She taught Tendekayi about wildlife tracking, wild living and cattle herding in the Great Zimbabwe area. As a child, he loved adventurous activities in the bush with his cousins and swimming in rivers, even when hippos and crocodiles were not far. While in school he participated in conservation and scout clubs and projects, developing a special interest in fly camping walking safaris and birds.
Tendekayi studied business administration in college in Harare, and moved to Tanzania in 2003, where he established an outdoor recreation and tourism company. Through his work, he enjoyed introducing clients and guests to Tanzania’s wildlife such as Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park through walking, boating, and driving safaris. He built up a strong reputation among regular clients with an interest in wildlife, as well as tourists and travellers. His clients regularly gave rave reviews of Tendekayi’s cooking and bush cuisine. In Tanzania he also organised long distance cycles to fund-raise for causes such as breast cancer and water projects. He collaborated with a community project Save Africa Nature (SANA) in Miseni to design and build an eco-lodge and community conservation programme, and provide alternative income generation opportunities to local communities, in harmony with nature. Tendekayi also designed and managed the building of an eco-home using sustainable local materials and a Zanzibari design.
Tendekayi founded Buhmi Safaris with his life partner Ivana which provides mobile tented camping safaris covering Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana, and South Africa. He studied FGASA (Field Guides Association of South Africa) to level 3 under the mentorship of Eugene Fuhri, specialising in savannah and regional birds of Southern Africa.
Through his work, Tendekayi has seen first-hand the destruction of the environment, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, degradation of natural areas, wildlife poaching, and local communities being pushed out of their way of life. This has given him cause to think about the world his children are growing up in. He remembered a promise he had made to his grand aunt Charuma to work towards protecting the environment and traditions of his culture, and pass on what she taught him to his family and others. He founded Charuma, named after his grand aunt, to contribute to rehabilitation and restoration of ecology, support local communities in living in harmony with nature, and support the education of the wider community and young nature enthusiasts in ecology and the environment.

Ivana Tosic
Community Relations Director

Ivana was born and raised in Serbia, while all along nurturing the idea of the whole world as her garden. And rightfully so – she has called “home” 4 different continents thus far.
After completing 5 years of studies of International Relations / Political Science in both Serbia and the United States of America, coupled with the second Masters in Psychology in the Philippines, she continued her personal and professional growth with Field Guide Association of Southern Africa, obtaining the Level 1 Nature guiding and Coastal-Marine guiding qualifications.
Her colorful professional experience expands from the United Nations in New York and diplomatic work in Belgrade, humanitarian engagement in Asia and to a big international corporation in France/Europe. Putting up projects, managing organizations, creating networks, conducting research and evaluation studies, fundraising and advocacy campaigns, emergency response, marketing and trainings, to now a lifelong commitment to nature and wildlife in Africa.
Ivana co-founded Bumhi Safaris with her life partner Tende, offering a unique tailored-fit mobile tented safari experience across Eswatini, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana.
On a personal note, she is mesmerized by the eternal dance of the peace & quiet and excitement & adrenaline that nature has to offer both on land and underwater.
Pursuing one’s dreams and greater good can be profoundly transformative, both in and outwardly. For Ivana, this means meaningful connections and the need for a healthy positive mindset shift – honoring existence and wildlife by putting people in service of nature, not the other way around. We live in a special place of immense intrinsic wealth and artificial vast deprivation – with an opportunity to make a difference.

Eugene Fuhri
Projects and Research Manager

Eugene grew up in Johannesburg and spent any free time that he had exploring the fields surrounding the city and learning about all that they offered. After completing school in 1995 he studied Nature conservation and soon found himself working in the Hoedspruit Centre for Endangered Animals. He was very quickly utilised by the lodges in the reserve for guiding guests through the reserve. This led to him moving into a hospitality role and. Eugene studied FGASA (Field Guides Association of South Africa) and has a Level 3, with specialist knowledge skills in viewing potentially dangerous animals, birding and marine. Eugene is a qualified FGASA assessor and is involved in training guides coming into the profession. Eugene has worked in top lodges throughout the country and by training and assessments has visited most of the larger reserves. An adventurer at heart Eugene loves to travel coupled with his love of photography he has contributed to many well-known publications. Eugene has managed Safari lodges, managed Safari teams and been involved in ecological management of the reserves.
Now based in Capetown , Eugene has been involved in various research programmes , leading expeditions both on land and under water.
He now travels Southern Africa as a specialist ( Gold Label) Safari guide. Fascinated with the smaller things he reveals entire Eco-systems and unravels their secrets. Eugene has studied the cultural and historical heritage of the country and is passionate about sharing this knowledge.
When not travelling, Eugene spends time with his Wife and 2 sons exploring the mountains and oceans of the Western Cape.

The only way to make this happen is to make action!

Donate Now!Act Now!
16,500
Hectares Conserved
16
Scientists
10,000 ha
Of Ecology restoration
30,000
Rangers and Guides to Educate

You are donating to : Charuma Conservation Initiative

How much would you like to donate?
$10 $20 $30
Would you like to make regular donations? I would like to make donation(s)
How many times would you like this to recur? (including this payment) *
Name *
Last Name *
Email *
Phone
Address
Additional Note
Loading...