Wildlife conservation safari in Botswana
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
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.
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.
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