Africa Safaris & Holidays

This particular immobilisation safari co-operates with a private game reserve in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa to facilitate ongoing management procedures within their rhino population, while giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime hands on experience! This safari affords clients the opportunity to be involved in white rhino immobilisation, carried out by one of the Wildlife Vets, and the subsequent management procedures which form a part of ongoing rhino management in the reserve. The days preceding the immobilisation allow time for traditional game drives learning about wildlife in general, but specifically learning more about the white rhino and its management/conservation, as well as preparing you for the immobilisation procedure.  Guests are given the opportunity to participate in the procedure being carried out, once the animal is immobilised, and it is thus safe to move closer. Guests have the option of a hands-on approach, or, if they prefer, simply observing from up close and getting those pictures of a lifetime. Come join us for the experience of a lifetime and contribute to wildlife conservation at the same time.

Day 1
Arrive at Port Elizabeth airport in the morning – flights for your own arrangement. On arrival you will be met by a representative who will transfer you to the game reserve in which your safari takes place – approximately 2 hours drive to your lodge. The transfer will leave the airport at 10am. Early/late arrivals can be accommodated on request, but may incur a private transfer fee. Check in on arrival and enjoy some lunch and time to acclimatise/freshen up.Late afternoon you will head into the game reserve after tea, to explore the terrain and many species of wildlife that occur here, on an open game viewer vehicle, with your knowledgeable guide and tracker. Enjoy sundowners in the bush and return to the lodge after dark for an overview of the programme for the next few days. Dinner follows, and a good night’s rest.

Situated at the heart of the malaria-free Eastern Cape Province, this Private Game Reserve has wide open spaces and tranquil scenery that belie the area's turbulent history. Relics of the area's rich historical and cultural legacy can be found both on the reserve and nearby. The reserve consists of 22 000 hectares (54 400 acres) of a hauntingly beautiful but previously neglected part of the African continent where the area’s natural wildlife has been painstakingly restored. A conservation victory, the game reserve is home to thousands of animals, including lion, black and white rhino, buffalo, elephant and cheetah, as well as the most elusive of the Big Five – the leopard. The reserve is also a haven for a population of rare, highly endangered Blue Crane birds (South Africa’s national bird). The Reserve also provides sanctuary for other threatened species, such as the Knysna woodpecker, Cape grysbok, black wildebeest, crowned eagle and black-footed cat. A biological melting pot of various vegetation types, the reserve boasts a spectacular display of winter flowering aloes from June to August. The game reserve flanks both the north and south banks of the Great Fish River, which meanders for 30 km (19 miles) through this pristine, private wilderness.

Your accommodation is in a safari villa, laid out in a U-shape which enfolds up to eight guests in a warm and humorous embrace. This sole-use safari villa, where the smallest detail of your stay is planned according to your specific wishes, is perfect for this hands-on specialist safari. Both open and welcoming, the Manor’s inner courtyard provides a focal point for shared hours, while the deep verandas of each bedroom suite offer stunning views of the game reserve’s blue-lit hills.

Day 2
Enjoy early morning tea and coffee before heading out on an early morning game drive, focusing on rhino, but taking in all sightings and animals along the way. This drive is intended to specifically give you a more in depth understanding of the rhino and its habits.

Return to the lodge midmorning for breakfast. After breakfast there will be some informative talks on Rhino conservation issues, as well as the relevant veterinary and safety aspects for the immobilisation process. The talks focus on various interactive aspects of the immobilisation, to ensure that everyone gets the most from the experience in a manner that is safe for the patient, and safe and enjoyable for the guests. We’ll also enjoy a “dart gun session” where guests will fire darts loaded with water at a target, to demonstrate and experience the darting equipment! Enjoy lunch in-between activities, before setting out late afternoon on a practical rhino tracking excursion, which may include tracking on foot…Return to the lodge after sunset for dinner and to overnight. Sleep may be hard with thoughts of the morning’s excitement that awaits you…..

Day 3
After another early start, the team heads out into the game reserve to locate the patient(s)…
The moment of truth arrives when we dart the rhino from a helicopter….. (executed by one of our wildlife veterinarians). Once the rhino is safely immobilised, you will have the experience of your life while assisting with the various procedures – ear notching for positive identification and management reasons, and to help combat poaching, and also blood sampling for research purposes - all the while monitoring the status of the patient. All being well, there will be plenty of photo opportunities as you get hands-on with one of Africa’s endangered species….. Once the procedures are done, guests retreat to the safety of the nearby vehicle while the rhino recovers and walks off into the bush, sometimes a little disgruntled! We will attempt to immobilise and work with two rhino per safari, all being well. After the immobilisation and the rhino’s recovery, guests return to the lodge to rid themselves of some of the adrenalin that is sure to have flooded their bodies! Enjoy lunch, and some leisure time at the lodge.

Head out late afternoon on a game drive to locate and check up on the patient, and then continue on our evening game drive taking in all the species on the reserve. We enjoy sundowners for the last time, before heading back to camp. Dinner and the day’s tales are relished back at the lodge after sunset. Enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep after the day’s excitement….

Day 4
Early morning tea and coffee are followed by the final game drive, or simply sleep in and wake to the sounds of the bush. In the unlikely event that the previous day’s immobilisation attempt was not successful (weather problems/patient cannot be located, etc), there will be another attempt this morning. Breakfast is enjoyed at the lodge, before checking out late morning, and transferring back to Port Elizabeth airport for your further travel plans.  Arrive at the airport at approximately 1.30 pm.

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Costing 2012:

from EUR 1975 per person sharing- Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for guaranteed departure dates 2012.

Single supplements may apply. This cost is based on a minimum of 6 guests participating in total, and allows for a maximum of 8 guests. Larger groups may be accommodated on request.

This is inclusive of: all ground transfers; accommodation on a full board basis (including 3 meals daily, teas and coffees, and drinks: house wines, local brand spirits and beers, soft drinks and bottled water); all activities as laid out in the itinerary; the services of a Wildlife Vet and the services of local guides and staff, as indicated; tourism levies and Government VAT.

Cost excludes: additional optional activities; any drinks not included in the above (Premium brands); items of a personal nature; gratuities, and travel and medical (compulsory) insurance.

Please note:
•Due to the nature of this experience, times and plans may need to be adjusted slightly as we proceed, especially since elephants do not read itineraries very well! We will however always endeavour to complete all activities as laid out, but please bear with us should changes become necessary.

•Every effort will be made to ensure that the client participates in the darting procedure, as laid out in the itinerary, but the animal's welfare will not be compromised at any stage, and a procedure may have to be aborted and the animal revived in certain circumstances. The animal is the primary reason for this safari, and we need to bear that in mind and respect the patient.

Please note the following regarding the darting/other procedure/s:
While every endeavour is made to locate and dart the animal in question, factors such as severe weather conditions or illness involving the animal, which are unpredictable, may prevent the darting from going ahead. Every effort will be made to ensure that the client participates in the darting procedure, or similar, as laid out in the itinerary, but the animal's welfare will not be compromised at any stage, and a procedure may have to be aborted and the animal revived in certain circumstances. This may shorten the procedure/down time, and hence the close up experience for the client. The safari company, its staff, and appointed agents will not be held liable for any losses incurred by a client as a result of such situations, and accept no responsibility whatsoever. Every endeavour is made to ensure the health and safety of all our clients, but any procedure with a potentially dangerous wild animal is of such a nature that certain circumstances may be beyond our control. Should any such situation arise which leads to death or injury due to any reason whatsoever, the safari company, its staff, and appointed agents, will not be held liable for any losses incurred as a direct, or indirect, result of such a situation, or our actions in such a situation.