Elephant conservation safari in Southern Africa
| country: | Botswana, South Africa |
| departures: | 2010: 22 May, 18 Jun, 16 Jul, 13 Aug, 10 Sep |
| price: | From £2295 (9 days) excluding flights |
| more info: | Price includes all accommodation, all meals throughout (except for lunch on days 1 and 9), all road transfers, all vehicles and expertise throughout, conservation and park fees, contributions to the Mashatu Research Projects and the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve Wild Dog Project. Minimum age 16 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Elephant conservation safari in Southern Africa
Botswana is famous for having some of the largest herds of elephants left in Africa and the huge, never-ending, sparsely populated landscapes of the Tuli Block in the far east of the country make it an ideal habitat for studying these intelligent creatures. It is also here, near the mighty Limpopo River and its tributaries, that leopard and wild dog specialists are undertaking vital research on these elusive predators. We are proud to be working in collaboration with these exciting research projects, set up to create a scientifically sound, long-term ecological monitoring programme in the area. As a result we can now offer you an unique opportunity to go ‘backstage’ on wildlife research, gain insight into study techniques, track elephant, leopard and wild dog and gain an understanding of their remarkable behavioural patterns during this 9-day wilderness safari. The emphasis of this journey is on offering a relaxed and enjoyable safari with the added benefit of providing you with privileged insight into the research projects visited.
best time to go
All dates fall within the dry winter season when wildlife viewing is at its best. August departure is good for anyone particularly interested in seeing wild dog pups as this is the time that they usually den and remain in one area for a short period of time – not guaranteed!day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Little Muck Lodge. Following your early morning arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met and welcomed by your driver who will transfer you to your first camp, Little Muck Lodge. It is situated in the far northeast corner of South Africa, within the Mapungubwe National Park. This stunningly beautiful region has a rich and important cultural heritage, related to the Great Zimbabwe stone ruins of the first millennium. You will have a chance to relax at the lodge, with its breathtaking views over the Limpopo floodplain and in the evening you will meet a member of the wild dog research team who will brief you on the project over dinner. |
| Days 2-3: | Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve. Up before sunrise to make your way to the nearby Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve to search for the wild dogs, using telemetry equipment. Once you have picked up their trail, you can expect a bumpy ride over rough terrain and if you are lucky enough to come across them, you will observe their fascinating social relations which enable them to form strong bonds with the rest of the group. You will then return to camp mid-morning for brunch with some leisure time until late afternoon when you head out again to enjoy another thrilling encounter with the wild dogs. |
| Day 4: | Mapungubwe National Park. After an early breakfast, you will explore the spectacular Mapungubwe National Park, with its unique architectural heritage, the most important inland settlement in the sub-continent until its demise in the 13th century. You will then depart for the Botswana border, after passing through the Pont Drift border post, you will be transferred to Mashatu Tent Camp, located within the Mashatu Game Reserve. Here, you will meet the field assistant from the Central Limpopo River Valley Elephant Research project, who will run through the next few day’s activities with you. |
| Day 5: | Mashatu. Depart on an early morning excursion in search of elephants with the research assistant. During the morning you will search for the different elephant herds, learn to identify sex and age of different individuals and learn more about their behaviour and habits. Depart for Mashatu Main Camp where you will meet up with Andrei Snyman who heads up the Northern Tuli Predator Project. From here you will set out tracking the collared leopards, learning how to use the telemetry equipment and gaining an understanding about the leopards in this region. |
| Day 6: | Limpopo riverine. Today is another early wake up before setting off with Andrei on a predator drive. You will learn how to identify individual big cats as they are encountered on the drive and, time permitting, have the chance for some bird identification. This afternoon you will set out on foot with Darren, to learn about tracking in general, but also noting elephant paths and tracks and looking at elephant utilisation of the specific tree species within the Limpopo riverine and surrounding areas. |
| Day 7: | Mashatu. Early this morning, after checking the locations of the different collared elephant herds, the group will set out with Jeanetta to track one or more of the herds. The afternoon will be spent in and around camp, with an option to participate in any of the adventure activities on offer at Mashatu (mountain biking and horse riding at an additional charge). Alternatively, spend some time at the animal hide or a well-deserved siesta! In the evening, again depending on animal movements, you will join your guide for another exciting game drive. |
| Day 8: | Elephants of Tuli. A further morning with the elephants of Tuli, where you will spend time tracking and observing them in their natural habitat. You may also have time to discuss the controversial issues around elephants, the role of CITES, the ivory trade and managing the ever-increasing elephant herds. The last afternoon will be spent with Andrei, in search of the leopards in the area, enjoying sun-downer drinks before a night drive back to Mashatu Tent Camp, on the look out for nocturnal predators such as Hyena and Bat Eared foxes. |
| Day 9: | Johannesburg. This morning, after an early morning breakfast, you will bid farewell to the Mashatu team as you are transferred back to Johannesburg, stopping en-route for lunch. |
this holiday is operated by a wildlife specialist
Typically trips are expertly guided by a leading specialist with a good knowledge of the area to be visited. Inevitably, birds, plants and mammals are the main focus of attention however, the aim will be to incorporate all other aspects of the natural world in an attempt to be as broad-minded as possible. A local guide may often accompany trips.how this holiday makes a difference
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Community
Up to 30% of Mashatu Game Reserve is owned by the Botswana Government, through the Botswana Development Corporation, thus giving the people of Botswana a direct participating stake in the future benefits of the tourism industry in their own country. The research-drives hosted by the resident researchers at Mashatu Game Reserve are mutually beneficial to both research and eco-tourism. The lodge benefits directly by offering this unique activity and, indirectly, the reserve is provided with recommendations, based on scientific data, on how to conserve and manage its wildlife populations. This ensures the persistence of these populations and therefore the long-term sustainability of the eco-tourism venture. The main benefit to the researcher is lodge support in the form of food, accommodation and logistical assistance, as well as supplementary funding through an additional sum charged for research-drives, which goes directly towards his or her project. Environment In light of the proposed Shashe/Limpopo Trans Frontier Conservation Area, the Mashatu elephant population is a significant cross border population and research on these elephants and their movements supplies important basic information which helps towards formulating a management plan acceptable to all parties involved in the different countries and crucial to the formation of a Peace Park. Information gained from this study will be used in future in-depth studies on specific aspects of the elephant population. There are two aspects of this project that are new to science. (1) The splitting of a population in fragments has not previously been documented. (2) Habitat choice and identifying the factors that which influence it. Both aspects are of extreme importance to management of the elephant population. The Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve Wild Dog Project forms part of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Carnivore Conservation Group. One of the aims of this project is to manage and monitor the movements of the Venetia Limpopo Wild Dog pack to ensure maintenance of genetic integrity within the population and improve knowledge of behavioural patterns, hunting, utilization of available space and dispersal behaviour. This trip includes a contribution to the Carnivore Conservation Group. Mashatu Game Reserve initiated a research programme which incorporates scientists into the operation to study aspects important to the protection and conservation of the area. The research programme is ongoing and currently consists of the Central Limpopo River Valley Elephant Research, Northern Tuli Predator Project and the Northern Tuli Wild Dog Project. To mitigate the carbon dioxide released into the high atmosphere through your air travel we are giving £10 per client to Rainforest Concern. Rainforests have a central role to play in the slowing of climate change and yet we are removing forests from the planet at a faster rate than they can grow back. It is thus axiomatic to try and preserve the forests that we have rather than replanting. |
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