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BLACK RHINO IMMOBILISATION SAFARIS - 2008 & 2009 This safari assists a private reserve in northern South Africa with the responsible monitoring of their black rhino population, while giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime hands on experience! This safari affords clients the opportunity to be involved in a black rhino immobilisation procedure (hopefully at least two animals per safari!) in order to place a tracking device in the horn for monitoring, microchip the horns and body to help combat poaching, and ear notch for better identification of individuals and thus better management. The procedure will be carried out by Dr Peter Brothers - Wildlife Veterinarian and registered tourist guide, and one of your hosts throughout the safari. The time preceding and after the immobilisation allows time for traditional game drives and learning more about black rhino in general, as well as preparing you for the immobilisation. Guests are given the opportunity to participate in the procedures being carried out, once the patient 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! Guest participation
covers all veterinary and implant costs. Day 1 - Thursday This safari
departs early morning from Johannesburg International
Airport and the drive takes us approximately 5 hours north.
We arrive at our lodge early afternoon and settle in. The
Game Reserve is a vast tract of 190 square kilometres
of privately owned African bush - bushveld savannah - forming
part of the Limpopo Valley in the northern part of South Africa. The
comfortable accommodation comprises: There is no public access to the reserve, so you will be assured of privacy and exclusivity, whichever camp you select for your stay. Day 2 - Friday Early morning light breakfast/tea/coffee is followed by a game drive on the reserve, focusing on the black rhino. We will be accompanied by a local guide and thus gain a good insight into the species in this environment. Of course we are bound to come across several of the other wildlife species found in the reserve too... We return to the lodge late morning for brunch. After brunch there will be some informative talks on issues relating to black rhino immobilisation and conservation/management issues, and the actual procedure, equipment, drugs, etc. This will also cover safety aspects and guests involvement in the procedure. Time permitting guests will be allowed to load tranquiliser darts with water and fire them at a target! (This activity is time dependent today may be done on Saturday as it can take quite a while.) Mid to late afternoon we return to the reserve for another game drive, taking in the other wildlife species which we may not yet have encountered during our stay. Return to camp after sundowners for dinner and to overnight. Day 3 - Saturday This is the day we have all been waiting for, and we set out early morning after tea/coffee and snacks. We head into the area of the reserve in which we anticipate finding the specific black rhino that need procedures doing. Once located,
the black rhino will be darted from a helicopter by
Dr Brothers. This is a tense moment
since the black rhino could go down in a bad area ... Once our patient is safely back up on his/her feet, we head back to camp, no doubt filled with adrenalin and smiles! We return
to the lodge for brunch and leisure time for
the rest of the day. After high tea we head out to try locate our patient and do a visual check up, while enjoying a game drive on route. We enjoy sundowners in the bush for the last time, and return to our lodge early evening. We enjoy dinner in camp and are sure to spend some time sitting around the fire discussing the day’s experiences! Day 4 - Sunday We start early again today, with tea and coffee before heading out on our last game drive, or simply lie in and wake to the sounds of the bush ... Brunch is enjoyed at the lodge, before checking out. Late morning departure back to Johannesburg International Airport to arrive in time for connecting flights back home. Lunch en route for own expense. Your safari ends at Johannesburg International Airport, at around 5pm. If you are flying home today please do not book a flight departing before 8 pm. For guests not departing today, accommodation arrangements can be made on your behalf – not included in safari cost. *** END OF SERVICES*** Cost
per person sharing: This is based on 8 persons participating in total. Larger groups may be accommodated on special request. This cost includes board and accommodation as laid out above, all land transfers in a comfortable air-conditioned mini-bus, guides (Veterinarian Dr Peter Brothers throughout the safari, and various local guides), all tours, presentations and activities as laid out above, entrance fees, VAT and Government Tourism levies. Not included are drinks, lunch on day 4, any optional additional activities, items of a personal nature, gratuities, travel insurance (medical insurance compulsory) and flights. Please
note that due to the nature of this experience, times
and plans may need to be adjusted slightly as we proceed, especially
since black rhino 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. Departure Dates:
Please note the following regarding the darting/immobilisation procedures: While every
endeavour is made to locate and dart the animal in question, factors
such as severe weather conditions or illness involving the animal,
unable to locate or approach the animal close enough due to bush
conditions, failure of the animal to come to a bait, etc. which
are all 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. Brothers
Safaris, 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 and veterinary drug 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, Brothers Safaris, 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. |
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