Meet Sarah & Isabelle

Some legacies are inherited. Others are grown into. In the vast landscapes of South Africa’s Great Karoo, Sarah and Isabelle Tompkins share a story shaped by family, a deep connection to the natural world, and a vision for what a landscape can become when given the chance to heal. In 1997, Sarah and her husband, Mark, began restoring what would become Samara Karoo Reserve, transforming land once depleted by years of livestock farming into a thriving conservation landscape. As the land recovered, wildlife began to return, including cheetah, black rhino, elephant and lion. Izzy grew up witnessing this transformation. What began as her parents’ ambitious vision became part of her own story, shaping her understanding of conservation and her responsibility towards the natural world. Today, Sarah and Isabelle work alongside one another to carry this legacy forward, looking beyond the boundaries of Samara towards a future where connected wilderness areas allow wildlife to move freely across the landscape. Their story is about more than rewilding. It is about the relationship between people and place, the importance of community, and the generations who choose to protect what matters. Through their work, they remind us that we are not separate from nature, but part of it. Watch their story and discover the living legacy of Samara.