History

The initiative that became Tshulu Trust started in 2000 when the Makuya Traditional Council and Prof David Bunn started working together. In 2004 they raised funds from the National Lottery. Dr Lara Allen joined the team and active research and project initiation started. In June 2007 funding from the Department of Arts and Culture and Limpopo Department of Agriculture with FICA made it possible to employ 32 people and fully establish the programme.
 
The Trust now runs its core tourism project, Tshulu Camp and the HaMakuya Home-stay Programme, as well as other cooperative micro-enterprises in agriculture, catering, baking, sewing, crafts, building, and metalwork through a central administration office in Hamakuya.
 
With 8 salaried staff and a further 22 people involved in cooperative micro-enterprises, Tshulu Trust has been entirely self-sustaining since January 2009.